This
is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Yogi, a resident at HART (Homeless
Animal Rescue Team). When I met
Yogi,
he was shy, seeming to want attention, but skittering away when
people approached. Yogi came to HART as a
stray
kitten in 1997. He developed a large tumor on his lower jaw. To remove the
entire tumor, part of Yogi's jaw had to
be
removed as well. Fortunately, the tumor proved to be benign.
Here's what a transcript of a communication looks like:

It seemed you had something you wanted to say to me? Yes.
What was that? Do you like the way I look?
Yes. I find your eyes and your demeanor quiet,
shy and appealing. What
about my jaw, does it gross you out?
No, not at all. I felt bad for you when I saw it
based on what I imagined
might have caused it, but it didn't make me like
you less. Ok.
So what did you want to tell me? I wanted
to know if anyone could like me
enough to take me home?
I think so. Marty said she would like to take you
home. She would? Oh that
would be great. I just adore Marty. She takes
care of us all you know.
Oh yes, I know. Would you mind being part of a
big cat family? No, that
someone would want me is good. You know, some of
the people who come say I
look gross. I don't, do I?
No, not at all. I think people just don't
understand that this was
surgical and it helped you recover and you're
fine, not in pain or
anything. So you're not ugly. You're strong and
brave and have prevailed
over adversity. You have courage and a body
sturdy enough to withstand
problems. Yes, that's true, isn't it. I can
be proud, not ashamed.
That's right! And if people pull away it's
because they don't understand
yet, not because I'm gross.
Exactly. Go for it-ask for love just as much as
your brother does. Ok, I
will.
Anything else you'd like to tell me? Yes.
What's that? Thanks. I'm a cat; I want to
see myself beautiful.
You are. Sometimes you just have to redefine your
parameters.

Two
weeks later, I received the following e-mail from Marty, HART's director, "…Yogi
let me pick him up today!!!"
And
then, the following week, "Yogi update….Almost everyone is able to pet
him now without him running away!!!!! Hurrah!!"
The week after that: "Yogi is doing great!! Loving attention."

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