Sweet Shelby, Always Loved, Forever Remembered

R.I.P. January 17, 2008

Shelby began his life in the city of Los Angeles.  Being a city cat, he never got to enjoy the outdoors.  One day, by accident, he got out of the house.  I searched for him for a very long time before resigning myself to the fact that I'd never see him again.  By some miracle, I was fortunate enough to be reunited with him, just in time to show him just how much I loved him, and just how much I'd do to keep him with me.

He was gravely ill when he was returned to me.  His kidneys were failing, and his heart was diseased.  I did all I could medically, and was able to give him 1 1/2 more years of life, most of which he enjoyed in the country.  He loved his new home in Yucaipa, CA.  Our yard was completely enclosed, and he was far too feeble to be able to climb over any chain link fencing.  I didn't work for most of his last year in my attempt to make up for lost time.

The year 2007 was a wonderful one for both of us, and it was very hard to let him go.  In building our new boarding facility "Shelby's Eden", we were forced to tear down his beloved chicken coop.  Not really a chicken coop, but we called it that for lack of better words.  It was some kind of big wooden structure wrapped in wire, but he sure loved to hang out there and roll around in the dirt.  In fact, I have hours of video of him doing just that.

It was with great sadness that we watched it be torn down.  I hope that Shelby would have been proud of us for moving on, and for thinking of him.  It was with him in mind that we dedicated the facility in honor of his memory.

We love you sweetheart!   We will never forget you and how very much you meant to all of us.