“Goodness,” Joan said, “that was fast! Um, if you’d like to stay here and bond some more with them, I’ll help your two friends find theirs.”
The L.T.C. nodded and sat down on the floor. Mimi the cat jumped down and joined Merlin on his lap.
“Wow, that’s a big one!” Klora said, walking up to an enormous orange striped cat with a fluffy tail.
“Oh, that one’s a surrender. His name is Duke and he’s a Norwegian Forest cat. He gets along with everyone, human and cat alike,"Joan grinned.
“So if he likes me, I can simply choose any other cat that also likes me?” Klora asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
I was startled as a cat leapt onto my shoulder and dug its claws in to steady itself. I placed my hand up to steady it and it took it as permission to start the head rubbing thing.
“Wow, the cats really love you guys!” Joan exclaimed. “That’s Tate.” She lifted him down from my shoulder and I saw it was a petite specimen, the fur multicolored patches on a white background. “She’s only a year old, also a surrender. Her owners moved to a place that didn’t accept pets.”
“And which cats does she get along best with?”
She looked sheepish. “Actually, she’s bonded to a dog she came in with.”
Klora laughed. “Told you to get a cat and a dog.”
“She’s a lovely Cocker Spaniel, three and half years old, named Molly. They’re both used to kids.”
“I should meet Molly before I agree,” I said firmly, directing my words towards Klora mostly. He was already cuddling Duke and reaching the fingers of his free hand to various cats to see if any of them really liked him.
“That’s a great idea! If you’ll just leave Tate here, I’ll take you on through.”
Leaving my companions behind, I followed her as instructed, feeling my heart tug at Tate wailing at the closed door between us. Soon, her cries were swallowed up by yips and barks from the surprisingly few dogs they had.
“The shelter clear out seems to be successful so far with the dogs,” I commented as she stopped in front of a chain link keel door.
“Oh my, yes. Tomorrow the remaining cats will be at Petco until five, to get more exposure. It’s rare we come back with any except for poor Merlin.” She opened the kennel door and I saw for the first time that she’d had a leash in her hand this entire time. Clipping it to the small buff colored and curly coated dog inside, she said, “This is Molly.”
Molly was probably the only dog here not barking. Instead, she looked at me with heart melting dark eyes, her tail gently thumping behind her. I knew immediately that Mitchell would forgive me as soon as she looked at him.
“What do I need to buy for them?” I asked and she squealed, handing me the leash.
“Let’s go do your paperwork!” she said. “Then we can show you what we have in our store area.”
I led Molly back through, Joan assuring me that Molly would ignore the cats and remain by my side. She did, until Tate came meandering over, and then I watched, touched by their affection, as Molly’s tail wagged faster and she licked the cat’s face as Tate purred and rubbed her head all over Molly’s head and ears.
“I’ll fetch some carriers,” Joan said, disappearing back to the office area.
“I can’t decide between these other two. Do you think three is too many?”
Sachuu shrugged. “If you’re happy to clean the box after three, why not?”
“I’ll take them both then,” Klora said happily.
I snorted. “You sound like Neal.”
“If I was Neal, you’d be bringing home each and every cat and dog here,” he countered.
“True. he would definitely try,” I admitted just as Joan reappeared with a man right behind her. “I have five carriers for the cats here,” she said.
“I need another one as I decided to adopt three,” Klora said.
“Oh!” she said looking thrilled. “Which ones?”
