When Violet, an irresistibly adorable Siamese cat, arrived at the Effingham County Animal Shelter in Illinois, she instantly captivated everyone with her beauty and sweet demeanor.
She quickly bonded with her rescuer, Michaela Muzzy, who described Violet as a lovely kitty who adored receiving head scratches from the shelter staff.
Violet’s friendly nature was a clear indicator of her previous life in a home, accustomed to human interaction.
However, apart from her sociability, one more thing hinted at Violet’s past – a mysterious note attached to her pink collar.
Eager to discover what was written in the note, Vanessa Skavlem, an animal control officer at the shelter, unfolded the paper, which was completely covered in scribbles made with a purple marker.
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 words of Lacey deeply touched everyone at the Effingham County Animal Shelter. Her message not only highlighted the sadness of a cat missing a home but also of a young girl forced to part with her beloved 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 immediately scanned Violet for a microchip, but despite her hopes, the scan came back negative.
Determined to find a loving forever home for Violet, Vanessa posted her picture online, along with Lacey’s heartbreaking note.
Violet’s adorable face and Lacey’s heartfelt plea for her beloved pet, which she couldn’t keep, touched the hearts of the local community, including a woman named 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.”
Although initially hesitant, Cindy felt compelled to adopt Violet to honor Lacey’s wish. She sought her husband’s advice by sending him a screenshot of the post while he was at work. 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 straightforward and smooth process.
The sweet kitty was initially shy and cautious in her new home. But once she realized she was in a loving and sweet environment, she finally relaxed, purring contently 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 inform Lacy about Violet’s new residence and that the little girl was happy when she learned her wishes for her beloved cat came true.
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