Best Wishes Stormy

Dear Stormy,

It was March 2007 when we first met you. A series of bad luck had fallen upon your family, who had been travelling across the country with you, forcing them to leave you with us. As soon as WHS staff and volunteers saw you that day, everyone wanted to adopt you.

So we did.

We can’t believe it has been four years since you became an official Winnipeg Humane Society shelter cat. It has been a great four years and we’ve been through a lot together, including a move to an amazing, brand new shelter. It is a bittersweet moment as you now retire from your place with us to join a smaller family who will give you the best life a cat could ever ask for.

You definitely deserve a break after all of your hard work with us. You always took your job very seriously. By helping us with our dog assessments, you helped us determine whether or not a dog would safely be able to go to a home with cats or other small pets We always trusted your judgment implicitly. If a dog gave you a funny look, you’d let us know right away and we would always listen. If a dog was happy to see you, yet respectful, you’d give us the thumbs up. While we needed staff members to hold you in your kennel or in their arms (your safety was always our number one concern), many times you single-pawedly would make the decision as to whether or not a dog could be adopted to a home with cats. Thanks to you, thousands of cats were kept safe and sound when their owners brought home new family members.

You didn’t have long hours though and your abundance of downtime was usually eventful…in a very Stormy-like way. Your collection of beds and toys grew quite large over the years but you always preferred sitting atop the volunteer sign-in computer, just to be extra certain you said hello to every single person who walked in.

Most of the time you were snuggled up with someone or perched on their shoulders looking completely innocent, but don’t get us wrong Stormy, we know you had a mischievous side. How many times did we have to stop you from taunting our pet birds and mice? Thank goodness that fish survived that fishbowl upset and we’ve lost more than one cup of coffee as you eagerly rubbed up against us in the morning. Sometimes it became impossible to work at a computer with you around – you are the master at sprawling out over the entire keyboard. Then there was the time you managed to get up into our ceiling tiles…

In the end, you always got the love you were looking for. After all, who needs morning coffee when we have you to keep us company?

Mischievous our not, you were our constant companion. No matter how hard our day had been, you were there for us. Just imagine how much it meant to our Animal Protection Officers and Drivers when they’d come back from a difficult call in the middle of the night, feeling frustrated and alone – having you there for company was absolutely priceless to them. It’s amazing how relaxed we would feel as soon as we sat down to pet you and listen to you purr. We never had to feel alone when you were with us.

We could never count the hundreds and hundreds of friends you’ve made. You were the star of so many shelter tours, and you’ve brightened the faces of many, many children. Even those who dubbed themselves “dog-people” were drawn to your good looks and personality. You showed everyone how amazing cats are – how they can become a part of your family almost instantly.

Stormy, some called you a dedicated WHS volunteer, others considered you a valued co-worker, and yet others never gave it a second thought – they just knew you were meant to be a part of The Winnipeg Humane Society. To us, you are a friend, a loyal companion and a hero. We will never forget what you have done for our community and while you have earned your retirement and we wish you many relaxing stretches in quiet sunbeams, we will miss you each and every day.

The Winnipeg Humane Society Staff and Volunteers