Sweet Cat Left At The Illinois Shelter With A Note That Pulls At The Heartstrings
When Violet, a charming Siamese cat, arrived at the Effingham County Animal Shelter in Illinois,she immediately won over everyone with her stunning looks and gentle personality.
She formed a quick bond with her rescuer, Michaela Muzzy, who described Violet as a delightful kitty who loved receiving head scratches from the shelter staff.
Violet’s friendly nature suggested she had previously lived in a home, used to being around people.
But there was one more clue about her past – a mysterious note attached to her pink collar.
Curious to see what the note contained, Vanessa Skavlem, an animal control officer at the shelter, carefully unfolded the paper. It was covered in scribbles made with a purple marker, making it difficult to read.
It was clear that a child had written the note. The letter, corrected here for spelling, read:
“Bye Violet. I think that name chose you. I wish I could keep you. Bye Violet, I hope you get a good owner. To owner: Please take good care of her. By the way, I named her. Thank you! Love, Lacey.”
The heartfelt message from Lacey moved everyone at the Effingham County Animal Shelter.
Her words not only expressed the sorrow of a cat without a home but also the pain of a young girl having to say goodbye to her cherished pet.
In an interview, Vanessa opened up about the moment she read the note, saying:
“When we pulled it off and read it, it just tugs at your heartstrings. I just envision some child loving this thing, and knowing that they can’t keep it.”
Vanessa quickly scanned Violet for a microchip, hoping for a lead, but the scan came back negative.
Undeterred, she posted Violet’s picture online, sharing Lacey’s touching note in the hope of finding the perfect forever home for the sweet cat.
Violet’s charming face and Lacey’s heartfelt plea, describing the pet she could no longer keep, resonated deeply with the local community. One such person moved by the message was Cindy Murray.
Recalling the first time she read Lacey’s note, Cindy said it brought tears to her eyes. She shared:
“You could tell it was written by a child. You could tell she loved this cat but she just wasn’t able to keep her anymore and she wants her to go to a good home.”
Though initially unsure, Cindy felt a strong urge to adopt Violet in order to honour Lacey’s wish.
She decided to consult her husband, sending him a screenshot of the post while he was at work to get his thoughts. She told him:
“I want to go get this cat. I love it – talk me out of it.”
His reply was supportive:
“You know I can’t do that. If you want it, go get it.”
Encouraged by his response, Cindy took the day off from work and headed to the shelter to adopt Violet.
Adopting Violet was a simple and smooth process.
At first, the sweet kitty was shy and hesitant in her new home. However, once she understood she was in a safe and loving environment, she settled in, purring happily for her new mom and dad.
Cindy absolutely adored Violet but said how she wished she could let Lacy know her beloved cat was in good hands. She said:
“I thought about doing a little video to this girl saying, ‘Dear Lacey, I adopted your beautiful Violet. She’s going to have a wonderful life – full of treats, snuggles, and everything we can give her.’”
I hope Cindy found a way to let Lacey know that Violet had found a loving new home and that the little girl was overjoyed to learn that her wishes for her beloved cat had come true.
