Stories of the Cats

Sophie's Remarkable Journey

Sophie is a cat we helped to rescue in 2011, and whose story has reminded us of the amazing, improbably life journeys that bring so many animals through our little rescue. Sophie is a chocolate Siamese, and although the photo of her doesn't do her justice (we scanned it from a printed copy), it does give a sense of how lovely she is.

Sophie We became involved with Sophie’s journey after her elderly owner had passed away. The lady had made no provision for Sophie, and her family seemed to have little compassion for the animal other than making a couple of calls. Fortunately, one of the people who were helping the family with the lady’s passing knew of our rescue and contacted us. We worked with a rescue colleague and another group, who was able to provide a safe place for her. They arranged to pick her up, but when they went to the apartment at the agreed time, no one answered. When our colleague and we contacted the family again, they told us that they had found her a home themselves. Something in their tone, however, left us suspicious, and we began investigating. It turned out that, even though she had a placement, one member of the family had apparently decided that meeting the person picking her up was too much trouble. He drove this poor animal two miles from the apartment and threw her out the window of his car. In a few days, poor Sophie had lost her companion, her home, and very nearly her life.

Fortunately, a good Samaritan saw this, and rescued Sophie. He took her to a veterinarian, and she wound up in the care of the City, where our colleagues and we located her through our own search. It was then that Sophie’s all too common, tragic story took a remarkable turn.

An employee at the City Shelter found that Sophie had been micro-chipped, but the city's records showed the listed owner was not the elderly woman who had long cared for her. Apparently, ten years ago, a different woman had adopted Sophie (naming her Jasmine). The city had kept her microchip information in their database, but the information was not sent to the microchip company. Subsequently, Jasmine became lost and, we believe that the people who found her tried to trace her owner through the microchip company, but not through the City. Since no one had updated Sophie’s records, her home could not be found, and she was re-adopted by a woman who named her Sophie. Her new guardian registered the blank microchip with the microchip company, and kept her for ten years until the woman’s death brought us into the story. When Sophie/Jasmine wound up back at the city in 2011, an alert city employee checked the city’s own records and discovered the original owner. After ten years, Sophie/Jasmine returned to her original home.

There are many lessons to be learned from Sophie’s journey. It is important to make provisions for your animals should you be unable to care for them in the future, and these provisions should be specific and in writing. New Mexico allows pet trusts, and an attorney can help you with this. Also, be sure to have a backup plan in case those you selected to care for your animals cannot take on the responsibility. We have long talked about the importance of placing microchips for companion animals, since any knowledgeable person, rescue group, or the city will check a rescued animal for a microchip. But, be sure to contact the microchip company to insure proper registration of your companion. Perhaps the most important lesson Sophie has taught us is that the animals that come to us are all unique beings, and each and every one of them has their own complex life stories and destinies.

We are honored to be part of these brave creatures’ journeys.

Stories of the Cats

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Sophie's Remarkable Journey