One very hot summer day in June in Texas, I was out with my cycling club on a 50 mile ride through the countryside near Pearland.  We were near the end of the ride and going at a pretty good pace , around 20 to 22 mph and one of the girls I ride with asked me if I noticed the kitten.  Not thinking I heard her correctly, I asked her what she meant. She said , "the kitten on the side of the road back there".  Well, Thats all I needed to hear.  I pulled out of the pace line and went back.  At first I didnt see anything, so I laid my bike down and started to walk in my bike shoes.  I saw some huge buzzards eating something and had a horrible feeling in my stomach.  Thankfully when I got closer , they flew away and they apparently had been eating something....not a cat.  I started calling "kitty kitty" and out of the tall grass came running a little tiger striped kitten screaming as loud as he could,  "get me outta here"!  He ran to me and I ran as fast as I could in bike shoes with clips on them and scooped him up.  He immediately bagan to purr.  The biggest blue eyes!  By that time,  the girl who had first noticed him had decided to come see what was I up to.  We looked around to see if he had a momma nearby and/ or maybe litter mates who may have been dumped. 

I grew up in the country and remember as a child that people would dump defenseless domestic dogs and cats near our home when they didnt want them.   I routinely had a new dog or cat in our garage at my parent's house in Bay City, Texas. I dont think I have had moment in my life without a beloved pet that someone gave me because they didnt want them or that I found somehow. 

My next problem was how to transport my new find the last 10 miles to a gas station where I could leave my kitten so I could take him somewhere safe.  Leaving him was out of the question.  It was 90 degrees out and there were buzzards!  Also he was miles from any houses, there was no way he was there on his own.  I was in a racing jersey and bike shorts. Not alot of room for things aside from Gus and maybe an ipod.  What to do!??  My friend suggested putting him in my pocket.  He didnt like that, and being a kitten, wiggled out.  I stuffed him down the front.  He was not going to cooperate.  I finally decided that the way to minimize the kitten claws on my skin was to wrap him in my sweat bandana, Sorry Kitty! I tied his little paws up and shoved him in my bra!  Off we went.  I am a good biker and ride almost 100 miles per week, but not with a kitten.  He was not happy and kept trying to get out.  I have a racing bike and did not want to wreck me, the bike or the kitten.  I ended up shoving his head under my armpit, again sorry Kitty! and holding him down with my arm so he wouldnt scratch me .... as much, ouch.  Thankfully after a couple of miles he gave up and gave a pitiful "meow" every minute or so.   

I left him at a gas station and went for my car and drove him to a shelter.  But something happened on the way there.  Those blue eyes!!  Sigh  The girl at the front counter explained that they were not equipped to treat the animals if they were not "adoptable".  I looked down at my new friend and just couldnt bring myself to hand him over the counter to an uncertain future after all we had been through!  Then a dog started to cry from somewhere in the shelter and I ran with my kitty before I adopted more animals. 

I already have four pekingese dogs that I love dearly. So last year when I brought home a little chihuaha mix that I found in the parking lot behind my office, my husband thought I was crazy.  We were going to "foster" him, but now his name is Rory and he has his name on his food mat and is very much a part of the family.  I made a few attempts to adopt out my kitten, but I think he was meant to be mine in much the same manner as Rory moved in. 

So we added Perry (named for Pearland where I was lucky enough to find him), to our home.  My Pekingese were not pleased at first, but Rory, my other street rescue took to the new guy immediately.  They now are best buds and run, play and sleep together.  We are all one happy family. My husband and I, four dogs and a cat.  Wouldnt have it any other way.

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Will You Help Rescue Others? You'll LOVE Our Work! Before: scheduled for euthanasia at the pound. After: His new family has a huge backyard!