In December 2013, loyal OHS supporter Susan Powers* was being treated for cancer. Although she was optimistic about her prognosis, she contacted OHS to make a plan for her two cats.

Susan had read about the OHS Friends Forever™ program, which guarantees the care of pets who survive their owners. Susan included OHS in her will, enrolled the cats in Friends Forever and informed her son Steve of the program. In turn, her family is proud to acknowledge Susan’s support of OHS and participation in Friends Forever.

Sadly, Susan passed away during the summer of 2015. Sharing his mother’s love of animals, Steve brought her pets to his home. Unfortunately, the beloved black and white cat named Shaggy was not able to adjust to Steve’s home. Shaggy was easily agitated and tormented the other resident cats.

Remembering that his mother had enrolled Shaggy in Friends Forever, Steve called OHS and was invited to bring the cat to the shelter right away. Shaggy would be cared for and re-homed, staying at OHS for as long as it took to find the right family.

During the initial health exam, the OHS medical team found a lump on Shaggy’s head. His head was shaved and the lump was removed at OHS Holman Medical Center. The lab results indicated the lump was a benign tumor and he was cleared for adoption.

Shaggy is a handsome cat and received a fair amount of attention from potential adopters. But his shaved head distracted from his dapper looks. One visitor, Dennis W., saw Shaggy’s pre-surgery photograph and was confident the cat would be just as handsome when his fur grew back.

He also felt that Shaggy would be a good match for his family. Shaggy went home with Dennis and his girlfriend Megan, and was soon renamed Uncle Leo, after the eccentric Seinfeld character.

“Uncle Leo,” said Dennis, “follows us everywhere … he has an expressive meow and loves to tell us when he wants to drink from the faucet. He is the first cat we’ve adopted from OHS and it was a great experience. Oh, and he loves to have the scar on his head scratched.”

The OHS Friends Forever program was founded in 1994 and has helped hundreds of OHS supporters plan for their pets. “Those pets have a lot of joy to bring to their new families, and the program creates peace of mind for pet owners,” said Gary Kish, OHS Director of Development.

*Susan’s family is proud to acknowledge her support of OHS and requested we publish her full name.

FOUR YEAR UPDATE: Uncle Leo (formerly Shaggy) still bright eyed

Uncle Leo lost his person, Susan, in the summer of 2015. Because Susan had enrolled Uncle Leo in the Friends Forever program, she knew that after her death, Uncle Leo would be lovingly cared for by OHS. Upon arriving at OHS, Uncle Leo received medical treatment for a benign lump on his head. Once he had recovered from surgery, he was made available for adoption. While some potential adopters passed him by because of his shaved head, that did not deter Dennis and Megan who adopted Uncle Leo into their family. Dennis reports that four years later, Uncle Leo is still a bright-eyed cuddle bug.  With the passing of time, Uncle Leo has developed kidney disease and now requires a special diet. They also administer subcutaneous (sub Q) fluids every three days to help his condition. They do report that Uncle Leo enjoys a good quality of life and enjoys his kingdom, otherwise known as their apartment. Even though Dennis works night shift, Uncle Leo always greets him when he returns home for their overdue snuggle time. “We love him” says Dennis. 

 

Read about other Friends Forever alumni.