“Sassy has changed our lives because she has already given us so much love and companionship,” –Linda Tapia, Sassy’s adopter.
One look at Sassy (formerly Verity), and anyone could see that this kitten was something special. Even the Good Samaritan who brought her to our Carson City Shelter mistook her striking looks and big personality for those of a baby bobcat.
When she arrived, she was still too young for a Forever Home, so Sassy was placed into our Foster program. It didn’t take our foster staff and volunteers long to figure out that there was something else different about this little one; her legs didn’t seem to work quite right, and her head-shaking—while adorable—gave them cause for concern. When our skilled Veterinary Team examined her, they diagnosed her with Cerebellar Hypoplasia and a healed cleft lip.
Despite these conditions, Sassy never slowed down in her foster home, and before long, she had many adoring fans; just watching her skeptical expressions and silly antics could make anyone fall in love, and Linda was no exception.
“I was interested in adopting a cat or kitten for a few months when I found her online. I saw her and just fell in love with how beautiful she looked with her pretty colors and big eyes,” she said.
Linda read her description online and wasn’t put-off by Sassy’s medical conditions one bit. She called and setup an appointment for her family to meet Sassy, and the whole family agreed she was a perfect fit!
Sassy took her sweet personality and courage with her to her new home and both helped her to adapt quickly. “Sassy has changed our lives because she has already given us so much love and companionship,” Linda said. “She takes turns spending time with each of us.” She follows Linda around the house while she’s cleaning; she watches Linda’s daughter play with dolls; she sits on the couch watching TV with the family; she’s always giving someone the pleasure of her company.
And her social nature doesn’t stop at the family. She runs to the door when she hears a knock or hears it open, and she greets everyone with a friendly leg rub!
But perhaps the best part of all is that while Sassy’s always going to be a little wobbly, she has been given a clean bill of health. As this year draws to a close, reflecting back on Sassy’s survival—one that required the support of our staff and our community—can give us all a little hope for ourselves, our animals, and our community.