From Heartbreak to New Beginnings

It was the end of March 2020. We were just beginning to grasp the extent of the pandemic that was causing havoc across the globe and our little world was about to implode in a different way. We had come to realise that it was time to accept the inevitable: we had to let our almost 18-year-old, much-loved tortoiseshell cat, Tabitha, go to pussycat heaven. It was heartbreaking. I didn’t know how I was going to manage without her.

I had rescued her from an animal shelter and she had chosen me, not the other way around. She just kept jumping onto my shoulder as I was looking at the cats for adoption and it became clear that I was not going home without her. Now we were bereft. The house seemed so empty without her. She had slept on our bed night after night and was always ready for a cuddle even before we had properly sat down. She had maintained the attraction for my shoulder and would sit there and travel around the house with me. Now she was gone.

Then suddenly, just a few days later, we were in lockdown. We could only go out if necessary for work or shopping. That was it. I was stuck at home while my essential services husband was at work and I was lonely.

I talked incessantly about needing a cat in my world. I have always been an animal lover and I couldn’t cope. I couldn't contemplate not having animals in my house to love and care for. My husband was less sure that this was a necessary thing to bring back into our lives, but finally in May he agreed – well I think he was just exhausted with my constant pestering and just gave in.

The problem of course was that although restrictions had lifted somewhat, and the animal rescue service was open again, they were limiting pet adopters to 2 every half hour and by appointment only. I managed, after several attempts, to gain an appointment. I was ecstatic. I checked their website for kittens and cats that were available and found one that I thought was perfect. We rocked up for our appointment, only to find that the last kitten had just been snapped up by the couple before us. My disappointment was huge. I was moody and difficult to get on with for the rest of the day.

But I have never been one to give up. I tried again and again and finally I managed to score an early appointment and there were the cutest little kitten brothers, just waiting for someone to adopt them. One had just been chosen, but the other had personality plus and was miaowing at me every time I went near. I had gone there wanting a little girl but he chose me. Again I had been chosen, not the other way around. There was no alternative, he had to come home with me. My husband often muses what it might have been like if the other brother had still been available. Who knows, we may have ended up with both of them.

And so Eliot became a part of our family. He was three months old and a handful from the start, with the constant miaowing - he was definitely a talker; the climbing up walls - literally; the inappropriate urination - incessantly. He was in danger of being turfed out and back to the shelter; my husband was sick of constantly having to wash the soiled bedsheets. He had been dreadfully skinny when we brought him home and it turned out the shelter had sold us a cat with a urinary infection. After some medication and lots of love he has turned into a loving, beautiful boy. Sadly he is not sociable with other people and will run and hide if anyone other than us comes near.

He makes us laugh when he hurtles down the passage, skidding as he goes around corners. He takes up more than his space on the bed at night, with we humans pushed to the outer edges. He follows us everywhere and doesn't understand what a trip hazard he is. He has become an integral part of our family and we could not be without him.

We love him dearly and we're so glad we rescued him. But we decided he needed a sister. This time I was going to get my girl. But not another cat. A puppy. We had no idea how Eliot would cope with another animal in the house, let alone a dog, but all of my research suggested that he would get used to it.

Again, this was not easy. We searched the shelter but there were none. We looked at breeders but due to the demand for dogs during covid, all of their waiting lists were full.

Finally, one of my husband's colleagues mentioned a friend who had a new litter. We wasted no time in contacting her. Yes, she had one female left unsold. Would she put her aside for us? Yes, she would. It didn't matter that the cost of buying dogs had risen due to Covid19 and the increased demand. There was only one problem. The breeder lived 1300 kms away, on the other side of the country. We could not bear the thought of a tiny puppy being put in a crate on a plane, on its own, and flown over. We would have to drive. In the middle of a pandemic.

We had a waiting period - the puppies were still only a couple of weeks old. We had to wait another six weeks before we could adopt her. We watched the news for details of border shutdowns and quarantine regulations. Somehow the stars aligned and the border between our states was open and we didn't have to isolate on either side. A neighbouring state was not open, however, and we had to go significantly off the normal route to be able to avoid crossing over into the forbidden state. But we made it. Two days solid driving there and two days back. We had our little bundle. We called her Hailey.

It seems a little strange having a puppy bought from a breeder, I have always believed in rescuing animals that need forever homes. Sadly there were no dogs needing rescuing at the time and Hailey was still needing a family and we're giving her the best family we can.

So how did our little boy cope? Quite frankly, he did not. The look of betrayal and disbelief on his face when we arrived home, was heart-rending. He disappeared to his "safe place" and we didn't see him for some hours. It took several weeks and a lot of angst but unbelievably now they are awesome together. They chase each other. They annoy each other; just like normal siblings. We are a family.

Hailey, however, is the naughtiest puppy in the world. Everything goes in her mouth - shoes, socks, underwear, tissues - everything! She refuses to come when called. She won't eat her food unless there's chicken mixed in with it. She has destroyed our garden. I see some significant training classes in her future. Despite all of this we love her. She loves people and loves life. When I see that little wagging tail, everything is right with the world.

These will probably be the last pets we have. We are not getting any younger and so we are lavishing all our love on these two. We miss Tabitha and the other cats and dogs that came before her. These will not take their place. But they are making their own places in our hearts.