the story of how it all began.

you know how when you do a good deed or you make a difference, you feel really good about yourself and your presence in the world?

that's how I feel when I look at my two cats, Opi and Puck.  A while ago, I had been inspired by a friend and his family who adopted two deaf dogs. that was when I started thinking about how I wanted to adopt a deaf pet.  My thoughts ran wild. I wanted to own a deaf cat, deaf dog and even a deaf rabbit. :)

In January 2010, I had lost my cat, Tyke, to cancer. He was 10 years old and my first pet. I am sad to not be with him as much as I wished since I was away at in college most of his life. He was really a tough cat to others but for me, I felt that I knew him so well. When he was put to sleep, I couldn't imagine not having a pet to call mine anymore. I moved back home after I received my masters degree and knew then my parents felt the same way.

Inspired by the family who adopted two dogs, I started looking for a deaf cat.  Just my luck, i found Opi who was only 20 minutes away from me. A month and a half later, I felt that Opi needed a friend. That's when I found Puck (an hour and a half away from me) and adopted him as well.

During the process of adopting them, I had learned how people can be really picky with adopting the right pet.  It's normal that we all want a healthy pet so that they're with us for a long time.  But you'd be amazed how many people shut down the idea of an animal that is slightly different than the norm.  Even my old veterinarian had speculated that deaf animals would come with poor health. Where she had come up with that, i have no idea. Opi was pregnant when a rescue group found her. After giving birth, people adopted all the kittens but no one was interested in her. Probably not because she was nearly 2 years old (which is still a "baby" if you ask me!) but because she was deaf.  Then the rescue group found a litter of kittens that had no mother. They let her nurse them for a while until they were ready for homes.  The same thing happened again; people adopted the kittens but showed no interest in her.  I came into the picture shortly after.

If you go to petfinder.com and search under special needs, you'd be amazed how many animals there are on the list that are "not normal" in the eyes of our society.  Some are perfectly healthy and just got that one thing that makes them unique. But they end up in foster care for too long or become euthanized. I had a conversation with a lady from the rescue group where she was telling me about one cat that is such a perfect cat, but because she had an bad infection in her eye, it had to be sewn shut.  There she is, waiting for a home longer than most just because she only has one eye open. I saw this cat and was she beautiful! I would adopt her if I could.

So if you're thinking about wanting a pet, I strongly encourage you to explore the animals out there. I mean, really explore. Don't just look for kittens or puppies. They're the ones that will most likely find a home in a heartbeat.  It's the ones that are deaf, have just an eye sewn shut or even an older cat that really needs a home. The older the animals are, the harder it is for them to find a home.  They need you and your love.

I promise you, you'll feel so good when you look at them everyday, knowing that you gave them the opportunity of a good life that every animal should have.