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For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday


For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday

When I was a young cat in the shelter, I often looked up to the elderly, gristled cats who had been in there forever. I had been on Companion Animal Placement's petfinder.com page for many months and was wondering if I'd end up like them. I'd go to adoption events, only to be brought back to the shelter. Many nights I'd pray to Ceiling Cat that I wouldn't have to die in a shelter like many cats do. Tomorrow is Remember Me Thursday, the day we set aside to think of and remember those cats.

Back in 2012, I shone the spotlight on six kitties from Cat Haven in Baton Rouge where a friend happened to volunteer. I learned of the adoptions of five of those kitties. Sadly, handsome Harley didn't find his forever home. Late last year I saw on Facebook that Harley had gone to the Rainbow Bridge while still at Cat Haven. I was saddened. He looked like such a sweetheart. He had some medical issues but he was a black cat and black cats are the least likely color cats to be adopted. #blackcatsmatter

For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday

"Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign uniting individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world as an unstoppable, integrated voice advocating for orphan pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them”. This campaign was created four years ago by Michael Arms of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California. It's celebrated on the fourth Thursday in September.

Just the facts ma'am.

  • only 30% of household pets in the U.S. come from rescue facilities
  • each year 3.4 million orphan shelter pets lose their lives without finding a forever home
  • last year 164 countries supported orphan pets on Remember Me Thursday
  • more than 500 animal welfare agencies will hold candlelight vigils for orphan pets

For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday

This year, you could win life-saving food or funds for a non-profit of your choice just by adding your adopted pet’s photo on to the #RememberTheRescue Photo Wall. Your photo and story will help shine a light on orphan pets waiting for forever homes right now.

For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday

Tomorrow, let’s get the entire world talking about pet adoption. Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media using the hashtags #RemembertheRescue and #RememberMeThursday. Let’s honor the lost pets who ran out of time and bring awareness to the pets we can still help by working together and using our voices.

For the Ones Who Didn't Make It #RememberMeThursday

For more information, click here. To view Harley's candle, click here.

Would you like to comment?

  1. This is such an important day, CK, and I'm glad you're shining a light on shelter pets.

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  2. I used to volunteer at a shelter and felt so bad for the ones nobody wanted. It seemed the longer one was in a shelter the less likely they would ever be adopted because people thought there was something wrong with them. I hope people turn their thinking around and look for pets that have been waiting too long.

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing this post, CK. Harley's story is such a sad one, but it's also such an important one to tell, so thank you for doing so. We purr and pray for shelter kitties every day, and we will be taking part in #RememberMeThursday tomorrow.

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  4. we will be posting....it is sad to watch some kitties age in shelters without being given a chance

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  5. We'll be joining in! We're so happy we have our new sister Sunny who spent 818 days in the shelter system and was considered unadoptable by many, but we also remember our Mom and Dad talking about other kitties who have been there for three times that long, and sadly, those who never knew another home. This is an important event and we hope we can help!

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  6. I am very sad for Harley and all those who never find their forever homes and die in the shelters.

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  7. I know what it's like to be a shelter cat...it's not fun. But I was one of the lucky ones. I got out. We'll be posting tomorrow for #RememberMeThursday, too, and shining a light for those that weren't as lucky as me.

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  8. Thank you for raising awareness about shelters. I am always pro adoption

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  9. Thank you for this post, CK. I'm very sad for sweet Harley and too many animals who left this world without knowing forever homes. I hope more and more shelter kids will find their own homes. xo

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  10. A great cause to raise awareness. We are participating too :)

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  11. CK, this is such a great post and so well written. I will try to get something together for tomorrow. Thanks.

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  12. Thank you for letting us know about this important day.

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  13. Wow, thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have such a big problem with cats in my area, the shelters are overcrowded and nobody is adopting ... there are so many strays ... it just absolutely breaks my heart.

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  14. What a wonderful and touching post, CK. You were one of the lucky ones to make it out of the shelter and I'm so happy you are in your perfect forever home.

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  15. It's hard knowing what so many cats are up against. It breaks ones heart to know that not everyone gets a home. (Harley)

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  16. Pawsome post BFGF. I'm making a special post tomorrow cuz I don't post on Thursday. Mom L and Dad P bought t shirts and have been wearing them lots. I waited over a year. I could still be waiting or in a sanctuary for the rest of my life if not for being adopted as a less desirable cat. I scored and will work to help others score too for as long as I live. Purrs

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  17. CK....we noe harley sendz love & thanx ♥♥♥♥♥ we R troo lee sorree buddy....honest ta cod we R....

    de direct linx iz on R side bar rite now, thanx for de ree minder post ♥♥♥

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  18. It is really sad how many cats are lost simply because they didn't have a home. I wish that ever kitty could have a loving home. Thank you for spreading the message, CK. I'm so sorry to hear about Harley. He was a handsome guy and he deserved to have a home. Hopefully, his story will touch someone and they will adopt a kitty and save a life.
    -Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

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  19. The thoughts of cats dying in shelters, either by euthanasia or just never being adopted, breaks my heart. We were the lucky ones, CK. --Mudpie

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  20. Thank you for the reminder of this important day, we will participate.

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  21. Oh thanks so much for the reminder, mom can never forget the cats she's seen left behind in shelters. They all deserve to be remembered. Love Dolly

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  22. Thank you for helping to raise awareness of shelter pets. It's a cause that's near and dear to our hearts, and we hope more people will choose shelter pets when they're ready to add a furry family member!

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  23. What a moving and important post, CK. We are always hoping, purring and praying, and advocating for shelter cats.

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  24. Beautiful post, CK. We are honoring and remembering all the cats like Harley who never made it to their forever home. I hope staff and volunteers gave Harley a lot of love at the shelter.
    xxoo
    Maggie

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  25. That so many cats never have homes makes me so sad. Bear was homeless when we met. Over the last 10 years, he's saved my life every single day ... I can't imagine my life without him. And yet, when I found him, most people would've considered him a nuisance and unwanted. Every life matters ... EVERY SINGLE ONE. For each cat that is killed because there isn't a home, we lose out on that potential ... the potential to make the world and humanity better.

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  26. SO many of us are ferals and would not have been adopted if Mom had taken us to a shelter instead of doing TNR on us! This is such an important cause.

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  27. Oh CK dat was a bootyful posty. We're so sorry 'bout Harley and all those who never find da luv we did. We purray every day fur all those less furtunate to be able to find da luv we have and da secure furevers. Big hugs.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  28. We're lighting a candle and spreading the word today, too. Thank you for a beautiful post.

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  29. As an adult, black cat who had been in the shelter for several months, I'm also very lucky to have been adopted. This was a fantastic post, and purrs to all the animals who are still looking for their forever home.

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  30. My heart hit the dpeths when I read about Harley.

    What the heck? Nto adopted? My heart broke. Even if he was in a rescue, my heart broke.

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