A New Year, A New Beginning
Two brave friends get another chance.
You ask the right questions, review the application over and over, check all the references — you do everything you can think of. Yet, even after years of experience and countless success stories, it still happens. When an adoption goes wrong, you feel angry and heartsick, but you must try again — and hope again — because their lives depend on it. Thus, the story of Apollo and Hercules.
These two sweet kittens were brought into my program separately seven years ago. Both on the shy side, they met in my foster room and bonded instantly. I knew that they needed each other.
Sadly, the email I received from their adopter in early December, seven years later (!), left me sick to my stomach. She described them as “feral kittens” and said she couldn’t handle or hold them all those years. She claimed they weren’t bonded at all. Then she said that a few years ago, she’d entrusted them to a friend when she had to move, but now the friend was moving and could no longer care for them. She also informed me that she explored taking them to shelters, but no shelter would accept “feral” 7-year-old cats.
My babies!
The most important stipulation in my adoption contract is that in the event the adopter can no longer care for a cat or kitten they adopted from me, they must never take the cat to a shelter. Instead, they must contact me, and we will discuss placement. Bottom line: I will always take a cat or kitten back!
What pains me most is the thought that Apollo and Hercules might have ended up in a shelter where they would likely have been separated. Plus, their shyness could have made it difficult to find another adopter. Gosh…the idea of them languishing in cages alone or, in the worst-case scenario, meeting the grim fate that many so many face in overcrowded municipal shelters… euthanasia…it’s just unbearable!
Although I had to scramble to make room in my house, I was grateful to get them back. The second they arrived and looked into my eyes, I knew they would be okay. During their weeks with me, they rebuilt trust, and it was clear that they love human company! Apollo craved chin rubs and was right there to greet me whenever I opened their door. I often found them eating side by side, and more than once, I caught Apollo grooming Hercules’ head. They were still so bonded.
And then it happened. A very special person contacted me, and after following their story on my IG, she felt she could be their forever mom. There was no question after we completed her application process. The boys are home!
I’m getting updates often, and they are doing really well, especially considering all the changes they’ve gone through. My heart knows this is their final stop.
Returns break my heart. In this case, the fact that Apollo and Hercules were neglected and misunderstood for all those years makes it even more painful. I can’t help but think I failed them the first time, but knowing that now, their happily-ever-after ending is truly happening… well…I’m beginning to tell myself that perhaps this is the journey they were meant to take.
Despite the ups and downs of this adoption story, it gives me hope, just as a new year gives me hope. For one thing, January means our planet made another successful trip around the sun! But even though I’m an optimist, I worry about our Earth’s health and future. It seems that every day, I hear about another threat. Just recently, I read that the rising temperature of the ocean around Alaska killed half of the population of a lovely seabird I’d never even heard of, the common murre. I also read that more than a third of the world’s tree species face extinction. And scientists are noting that as the earth warms, animals of all types are subtly and slowly becoming lighter in color! Can you believe it? It’s their way to adapt and tolerate heat. Think of wearing light-colored clothes in the summer. It makes sense!
Even insects are lightening up, and we’re just beginning to learn how crucial they are to Earth’s — and our — survival. They pollinate plants, spread seeds, and keep our soil healthy. It’s easy to worry about butterflies, moths, and bumble bees because, gosh, they are beautiful. But even invertebrates like the squirmy earthworm play a unique role in the environment. A couple of years ago, Howard and I were on our morning walk when we saw an earthworm in the middle of the road. We decided to help it and videoed the “rescue.” Some people commented that it wasn’t a worm but a baby snake. You know what? It doesn’t matter. We believed the little creature deserved a chance to live.
Happy 2025 from the Sterns, two-legged and four-legged!
xo
Beth
P.S. Don’t forget to tune in to the 2025 Great American Rescue Bowl on Superbowl Sunday, February 9, at 12p/11c on the Great American Family Network, available on YouTube. I’m delighted to be back hosting this event, which features dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens from North Shore Animal League America. All the furry competitors were adopted, making them, and their lucky families, World Champions! I hope it will delight everyone and inspire even more adoptions across the country! Join me!
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