I recently recieved a letter from FieldHaven adopters, Brian and Kimberly Davy. It made my day. No, let me correct that - it made my week! Thank you, Brian and Kimberly for seeing who Jacquo-Baire really was; a wonderful companion who may not be the handsomest dude on the block but a fabulous friend. I really can't add anything more - Brian says it all below......
Homer, AKA: Jacquo-Baire came to us when Field Haven called my wife and advised they had an adult cat that fit the type of lifestyle we had described for our new addition. I had fallen for the large grey boy called Major and I will say my first impressions of Jacquo-Baire were none too positive. His rough exterior was of immediate concern, torn ears, lopped off tail, tufts of hair and hide loose on his backside, and what appeared to be a couple of behavioral ticks that were of concern. One of the most compelling reasons I immediately adopted him was that he appeared to be one of the least likely to be adopted. His fur was full of the tufts of hair he pulled loose by his own claws attempting to twist around and clean the bottom half of his back, his eyes were nearly pure orange and his coat is all black………………….he is a Halloween Cat, thus part of his name…………………as an indoor only cat in our home he would not be victimized by some holiday pranksters or superstitious foolishness. He also exhibited his claws at all times, front and back, like an old grizzle bear………………….thus the second half of his name………………….he became Jacquo-Baire!
Adoptive parents need to understand that an Adult cat will never truly reveal themselves in a store adoption center environment, there are too many noises, smells, new people, sights and sounds that are all unfamiliar and intimidating to all but the most outgoing cat personalities. Jacquo-Baire was no exception, all but the smallest of hints were all he was going to show us but the reasons to bring him home were larger than any concerns I would have about his personality or appearance. So home he came. We began to get acquainted with each other and as the layers of the onion were peeled back, so to speak, what we found was pure kitty love and more of it than we have ever seen in any of the cats we have had over the years.
We have two cats that are a very affectionate pair and we cannot bring other cats into this environment for fear of losing the wonderful nature of this existing relationship. We had attempted to introduce a feral cat that had adopted us into our home after she was run over by a car, hoping that we could give her a better life than dodging cars in the mean streets of Lincoln. The resulting mayhem showed us that it just wouldn’t work. Jacquo-Baire was to have a companion when we moved my office temporarily to Susanville.
After becoming acquainted with Jacquo-Baire, his little loving heart was all I could see. He was quick to abandon his quirks, adopted Betty Boop, his new feral roommate, and is by my side at all times while in Susanville. He is the quintessential cuddle bug, anxiously awaiting my return to Cabin and lavishes me with doting attention and affection while I am there. His little crippled, cropped off tail is his first line of offense. If I come to Cabin and do not immediately saturate him with lovings, I will feel an insistent tap on the leg from Jacquo-Baire. He wants to greet me by loving the brim of my hat and would soak up all the lovings I can give him……………..non stop. His routines revolve around my schedule but the time I can devote to him are never enough. He knows that when I clean his potty box and pack my duffel he is going to be a couple if not several days without seeing me. He does not try to hide his disappointment and leaving him behind always feels a bit cruel but I know he has a much better life with me than without because at all times I yearn to spend just a little more time with him than I can, he is fed the best and healthiest diet and has the best Vet and medical treatment I can give him. He will never want for anything but to see me more and I the same with him.
I could go on and on about the loving relationship Jacquo-Baire and I have developed, but what I really want to share is not just the relationship and bond we have formed but the love that was found in a place where it may have not been expected. I had thought years ago about purchasing a cat for about 800 dollars, a Bengal, but I would not have known from the onset what personality I would have found in that animal. I could not have ever expected to find such a diamond in the rough as what I found with Jacquo-Baire, a rough looking GentleCat that could win over a Feral stray ruffian and me to the point that all I can say is: “Adopt your next pet…………..Give them a chance to become part of your family. Spay and neuter because there are just too many little lives lost to euthanasia (Execution) in shelters across this country………………ADOPT, ADOPT, ADOPT.” As was so eloquently stated in a movie I saw one time, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know just what you’re going to get”. Adopting Jacquo-Baire was the best thing I ever did, and the best thing Field Haven ever did was to rescue him from euthanasia at the Placer County Animal Shelter. What was lost is now found and although we cannot write the ending…………….Jacquo-Baire, AKA Homer, will enjoy the longest life possible, full of love and joy………………….But it is I that have received the gift!
Brian Davy
Adoptive parents need to understand that an Adult cat will never truly reveal themselves in a store adoption center environment, there are too many noises, smells, new people, sights and sounds that are all unfamiliar and intimidating to all but the most outgoing cat personalities. Jacquo-Baire was no exception, all but the smallest of hints were all he was going to show us but the reasons to bring him home were larger than any concerns I would have about his personality or appearance. So home he came. We began to get acquainted with each other and as the layers of the onion were peeled back, so to speak, what we found was pure kitty love and more of it than we have ever seen in any of the cats we have had over the years.
We have two cats that are a very affectionate pair and we cannot bring other cats into this environment for fear of losing the wonderful nature of this existing relationship. We had attempted to introduce a feral cat that had adopted us into our home after she was run over by a car, hoping that we could give her a better life than dodging cars in the mean streets of Lincoln. The resulting mayhem showed us that it just wouldn’t work. Jacquo-Baire was to have a companion when we moved my office temporarily to Susanville.
After becoming acquainted with Jacquo-Baire, his little loving heart was all I could see. He was quick to abandon his quirks, adopted Betty Boop, his new feral roommate, and is by my side at all times while in Susanville. He is the quintessential cuddle bug, anxiously awaiting my return to Cabin and lavishes me with doting attention and affection while I am there. His little crippled, cropped off tail is his first line of offense. If I come to Cabin and do not immediately saturate him with lovings, I will feel an insistent tap on the leg from Jacquo-Baire. He wants to greet me by loving the brim of my hat and would soak up all the lovings I can give him……………..non stop. His routines revolve around my schedule but the time I can devote to him are never enough. He knows that when I clean his potty box and pack my duffel he is going to be a couple if not several days without seeing me. He does not try to hide his disappointment and leaving him behind always feels a bit cruel but I know he has a much better life with me than without because at all times I yearn to spend just a little more time with him than I can, he is fed the best and healthiest diet and has the best Vet and medical treatment I can give him. He will never want for anything but to see me more and I the same with him.
I could go on and on about the loving relationship Jacquo-Baire and I have developed, but what I really want to share is not just the relationship and bond we have formed but the love that was found in a place where it may have not been expected. I had thought years ago about purchasing a cat for about 800 dollars, a Bengal, but I would not have known from the onset what personality I would have found in that animal. I could not have ever expected to find such a diamond in the rough as what I found with Jacquo-Baire, a rough looking GentleCat that could win over a Feral stray ruffian and me to the point that all I can say is: “Adopt your next pet…………..Give them a chance to become part of your family. Spay and neuter because there are just too many little lives lost to euthanasia (Execution) in shelters across this country………………ADOPT, ADOPT, ADOPT.” As was so eloquently stated in a movie I saw one time, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know just what you’re going to get”. Adopting Jacquo-Baire was the best thing I ever did, and the best thing Field Haven ever did was to rescue him from euthanasia at the Placer County Animal Shelter. What was lost is now found and although we cannot write the ending…………….Jacquo-Baire, AKA Homer, will enjoy the longest life possible, full of love and joy………………….But it is I that have received the gift!
Brian Davy
