Animal 911: Aggie’s Story

By Amber N. Yoo, HSSV Volunteer

One of the things I like most about Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is the extraordinary lengths the staff goes through for every single animal in their care. Just last week, I learned about a kitty named Aggie who is a shining example of the great work HSSV is doing.

Aggie, a 7-year-old kitty, was surrendered to HSSV when her family was no longer able to give her the attention she deserved. Aggie was a healthy cat who absolutely adored being petted. She’d stand up on her hind legs when offered a treat, and enjoyed napping in laps. Like all of the kitties at HSSV, Aggie lived in a luxurious cat condo, complete with a private bed and lots of attention from volunteers.

Despite staff’s best efforts to make Aggie feel at home, Aggie became depressed without a family of her own. The days went by and Aggie’s depression began to take its toll. She stopped eating. No amount of cajoling or coaxing convinced Aggie to eat. The veterinary team was called in for close monitoring. She was hand-fed and showered with love and attention. Most shelters might not have gone to such lengths, but, thanks to the perseverance of HSSV staff, Aggie recovered. And then they found her the perfect home.

Aggie, who now goes by Abbie, was adopted by a man named Scott. The two have settled into a routine that includes a lot of cuddling and playing with furry toy mice. “Every morning when I wake up, she’s right there,” Scott happily told me. While he’s at work she lays on the back of the sofa, looking out of their third floor apartment at the gardens below and “chirping at the birds.” When he returns, she tells him about her day. “I hear about it for about half an hour,” Scott laughingly noted. Abbie provides a positive energy to the house that Scott said was missing before. And now Abbie has her own special person to spend the rest of her days with.