"They that love beyond the world cannot be separated. Death cannot kill what never dies. Nor can Spirits ever be divided
that love and live in the same Divine Principle; the Root and Record of their Friendship.
Death is but crossing the world, as Friends to the seas; they live in one another still." ~ William Penn

In Memory of Lucia

Lucia came to DunRoamin' on November 16, 2021 from the Teed's Mill area where she had been hanging around a home. Lucia was relatively healthy, but she did test positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). This meant that she could only be housed with other FeLV-positive cats, as it could potentially spread to other cats. Lucia was born about November 5, 2019.

From the beginning, Lucia let us know she was in charge! She would keep us in line with a quick swat at the hand, but never once did she growl or hiss at us. She wanted affection on her terms; this usually included some head pats or a few little scratches by her tail.

Lucia made friends with several other FeLV cats during her time with us: Dazzler; Scrabble (who passed away in January 2023), and Wentworth and Glory (who both found loving homes). Lucia and Dazzler got along wonderfully. They didn't curl up together for cat naps, but they did enjoy each other's company. And they both loved being brushed; it was their favourite thing, and it was always a race to see who could get to the brush first!

In late November 2023, we noticed that Lucia wasn't feeling well and that she had lost some weight. She lost interest in most food but would happily snack on some Temptation treats. A check-up with her vet on November 30th revealed the reason for her decline in health, and it left us broken-hearted. Lucia had several cancerous tumours in her abdomen, with a larger one next to her stomach and others pushing on her bladder and colon.

We spent the remainder of that day and all of the next giving her as many treats, brushes and head pats as she wanted, and on December 2, 2023, we said goodbye. She was surrounded by some of the people who knew her best as she passed peacefully. We are going to miss you, little Lulu, but know you are pain-free, healthy and playing with all of your friends at Rainbow Bridge. We love you, Lucia.

In Memory of Kimchi

Kimchi came to DunRoamin' on August 18th, 2022 from the Woodstock area. She needed medical attention as she was obese, matted, had urine scald on her hind end and she had bladder stones. She was quickly assessed by her new vet friend who started Kimchi on the road to getting, and feeling, healthier. Kimchi was born around October 28, 2015.

Kimchi earned her name because, on arrival, she had a bit of a "spicy"” attitude. But who wouldn't when they're uncomfortable and in pain? As Kimchi began to feel better, her real personality began to shine through: she was an incredibly sweet girl who just wanted to be loved.

To help prevent bladder stones from forming again, Kimchi was place on prescription Royal Canin Urinary S/O food. She was invited to a wonderful foster home where she lived with a dog and other cats who required the same food. She ruled the roost for several months and was happy to have her foster mom spoil her and tend to her every need. Her foster mom wrote this: "Kimchi you are such a beautiful girl. I treasure the cuddles we had while you were here. I love you."

Kimchi came back to us and joined the boys in our S/O room. She kept a watchful eye on the three younger boys, Scranton, Brady and Marner, and was quick to put them in line if their shenanigans interrupted her naps. On occasion, she would be seen curled up in close proximity to, but never on the same bed, as Hatfield. Being around the same age, they both enjoyed curling up in the sun for a good, long nap.

That's not to say Kimchi didn't have a little burst of energy every now and then, especially if we brought out a wand toy or a laser pointer. She would play for a few minutes until she got tired, then would let the boys take over.

In September 2023, we noticed a little lump on Kimchi's neck and were alarmed when it doubled in size in a very short time. Her vet soon had Kimchi booked for surgery to remove it. Plans changed, however, when tests on the mass came back as being an aggressive form of cancer that had already begun to spread. The tumour was inoperable and incurable, so we vowed to spend our remaining time with Kimchi spoiling her even more than we already were.

We got to spend another couple of months with this sweet girl, but on December 2, 2023, it was time to say goodbye. It was a dreary Saturday morning when we helped our friend to Rainbow Bridge. We are going to miss you, Kimchi. We love you.

In Memory of Chip

Chip returned to us on February 27, 2018. He had originally come to DunRoamin' on June 29, 2012 from Bath, NB where he had come to a home displaying injuries. He had ear mites and a wound on his feet and the back of his right front leg, all of which were treated by his new friends at the Florenceville Veterinary Clinic. He was adopted to a home on January 15, 2014 where he lived happily. In February, 2018, Chip began to urinate inappropriately and was diagnosed with bladder stones. He underwent surgery to remove them and was soon doing well. Chip is a real sweetheart. He loves to lay upside down and have his belly rubbed and he's a great purrer!

Chip underwent a second surgery to remove additional bladder stones and his penis had to be removed as a result of damage inflicted by the stones. He recovered well and was put on a prescription diet of Royal Canin Urinary S/O food to ensure he would not develop further problems.

In May, 2021, Chip was invited to the home of a very nice lady to be a foster cat. He enjoyed two wonderful years of being doted on and spoiled, just as he deserved. In late June, 2023, Chip's health began to rapidly decline. He had lost a lot of weight, had become anemic and was having difficulty walking. On June 22nd, 2023, Chip made his way to Rainbow Bridge to be with the other DunRoamin' cats and dogs who have gone before him.

Chip was a senior boy, having been born around July 1st, 2009. We are grateful to have known this sweet little boy and are comforted in knowing that his retirement years were filled with both human and feline company, lots of cuddles and an abundance of love.

We love you, Chip.

In Memory of Kismet

On June 9, 2023, a little tabby girl with the prettiest pale blue-green eyes became a ward of DunRoamin'. She had been hanging around a home in the McKenna area for about a week; a gentleman noticed that she was declawed and was very skinny, so he brought her to us for help.

We called her Kismet. She quickly won the hearts of staff and volunteers with her incredibly sweet personality. Her first days with us were spent catching up on sleep, enjoying some tasty canned food, and happily accepting all cuddles offered to her, and she returned the kindness shown to her by nuzzling in and purring loudly.

But soon her appetite began to wane and a drastic weight loss resulted in a trip to see her vet on the morning of June 14th; the results of her examination left us broken-hearted. Our new friend was diagnosed with a severe heart murmur and arrhythmia, resulting in fluid in her chest. It was likely that she would develop blood clots and/or start having seizures, neither of which she would recover from. So, later that afternoon, we gave her all the head pats and chin scratches we could as we helped her pass peacefully. Kismet was a senior girl, having been born around June 9, 2008.

Five days were all we had to get to know this beautiful little girl and it wasn't nearly enough time. But we are comforted in knowing that she was safe inside, warm, fed and was part of the DunRoamin' family. We are going to miss you, little Kismet.

In Memory of Atlas

Atlas came to DunRoamin' on November 27, 2019, from the Beechwood area. He had been urinating inappropriately for several months and his family could no longer keep him. He was assessed by his vet who found, along with his urinary tract infection (UTI), that he was thin, had enlarged lymph nodes and inflammation. He was diagnosed with irritable bowel disorder (IBD). Atlas was born about November 27, 2015.

His UTI was treated and his IBD was soon under control with a diet of Royal Canin Selected Protein food and some medication, which included a steroid and a probiotic supplement. He began to feel a lot better and started to put on weight. He moved in with Trez, another orange kitty with IBD; this was the beginning of a four-year friendship between the boys.

Atlas was a laid back and quiet guy; Trez is vocal and had enough to say for the both of them. They enjoyed curling up together for naps, playing with wand toys and rolling around in some catnip. They both enjoyed a laser pointer; Trez would chase it while Atlas would watch the red dot and chirp at it.

Atlas enjoyed drinking water from the tap, sometimes drinking straight from the stream of water, and sometimes letting the water trickle between his ears and down his nose so he could drink from the bottom of the sink. He had a water fountain, but that didn't compare to fresh, cold water straight from the source! He even taught Trez to drink from the tap and the two would sit on opposite sides of the sink to have a drink.

Visitors would often remark that they looked like brothers. They may have come from different places and circumstances but, in our eyes, they were indeed brothers. They had a very special bond; they were each other's comfort, company and best friend.

This friendship was cut short on May 26, 2023, when we had to say goodbye to Atlas. His appetite was waning and a trip to the vet earlier in the month yielded few clues to the cause of his ailments. He was offered all of the wet and dry food he wanted, and he soon put on some weight. He was, however, unable to keep the weight on and another visit with his vet on the 26th resulted in some devastating news - he had a fast-growing tumour in his abdomen that wasn't there a few weeks prior. It was a gloomy and rainy afternoon when we helped our friend pass peacefully.

We are sad to have lost such a sweet boy, but we know he's healthy and happy at Rainbow Bridge with all of his DunRoamin' friends who have gone before him. We'll miss you, Atlas. Don't worry about Trez - we'll give him lots of cuddles.

In Memory of Mariel

Mariel, along with her sister Vega, came to DunRoamin' on August 9, 2018 from the Beaconsfield area. The sisters had been living in and around a drain pipe and needed help.

Mariel wasn't in great shape: she had severe dental disease, parasites, a cauliflower ear, and she was dehydrated, skinny, and had an upper respiratory infection (URI). With some proper care and nutrition, she was soon feeling much better. She had chronic URI which left her sneezy and with a "snorky" sound to her breathing but, despite that, she felt the best she had in a very long time.

She was adopted in 2019 but came back to DunRoamin' in 2022. She needed ongoing medications for her URI - she didn't particularly enjoy getting her meds, but she allowed us to give them knowing that they would help her.

Mariel was a senior girl, having been born around August 9, 2008. She still had some kitten energy, though, and we could sometimes find her chasing toys around her room. But she really enjoyed curling up on her favourite heating pad for long, cozy naps.

We are sad to report that our little Mariel left us on the morning of May 1st, 2023. We are going to miss her sneezes, her snorky breathing and, most of all, her cuddles - she was great at giving cuddles, climbing onto our shoulders and nuzzling into our necks. We're going to miss you so much, Mariel, but know you're healthy and happy with your friends at Rainbow Bridge.

In Memory of Samuel

On June 20, 2013, we met a little orange and white cat who would change our lives forever. We called him Samuel and we didn't know then just how much of an impact he would have on us.

Sammy's life changed forever on that day too. He came to us from the Woodstock area needing help after experiencing three seizures within a week. Sam was diagnosed with epilepsy and, initially, his seizures were quite violent. But, with proper medication, his seizures became more controlled and far less frequent. He needed his medication at the same times every day, and his caregivers did just that for him: twice a day, every day, without fail for ten years.

It wasn't long before Sammy was feeling much better, the best that he had felt in years. He happily accepted the role of "Receptionist" here at DunRoamin'. He liked to hang out in our reception area and would often greet visitors, even if it was just to awaken from his slumber in his favourite bed to acknowledge their presence. He also enjoyed writing, penning many "Sammy Talks DunRoamin'" articles in his younger years. He became the face of DunRoamin' and was someone visitors and volunteers would seek out to give some head pats or just say "Hi" to.

Sam saw many cats and dogs come through our doors during his time with us and he treated each one of them the same: with kindness. He accepted everyone and not once did we see him raise a paw, hiss or growl at another DunRoamin' ward. He was a purrfect gentleman, one of his many admirable qualities. He made many feline friends over the years, including some of his receptionist buddies: Clooney, Barbarossa, Catsy Cline, Toonah, Wilson, Goochi, Kuffner and Harold. And he called King Louie, a dog, his friend too.

Sam was a patient and polite little boy. If he wanted a snack, he would sit calmly on the table looking at us until a dish of food appeared in front of him. If he wanted to visit the diabetic girls, he would sit outside their room until we opened their door; when he finished his visit, he would once again sit by the door until we opened it. Safe to say, Samuel had us trained well!

On April 6, 2023, the day we were dreading most arrived: it was time to say goodbye. Well into his teen years, Samuel's body was starting to fail. Although he didn't experience them as often, years of having seizures had taken their toll, along with other maladies that come with growing old. He told us he was tired, and we listened. He was surrounded by love as we helped him pass peacefully. Samuel was almost 16 years old, having been born about June 2007.

Words will never be able to describe just how special Sam was to us. He was the bestest boy and we will never meet another cat like him. He made a huge impression on our hearts and he will be forever loved and greatly missed. DunRoamin' won't be the same without him, but our lives were made infinitely better having known him. Our hearts are shattered at losing Samuel, but we know that he is happy, healthy and reunited with his friends at Rainbow Bridge.

We love you Samuel, forever and always.

In Memory of Valor

On November 8, 2021, a handsome grey cat entered our lives. In honour of Remembrance Day, we called him Valor. He had come from the Teed's Mill area where he had been trying to survive in a colony. He was in relatively good health, just having tapeworms and some tartar on his teeth. Valor was born around November 9, 2016.

Valor was initially very scared of his new surroundings and would often hide in his kennel. Having come from a colony, he was used to living with multiple other cats, but he now had strange new roommates he had to get to know. And he had these new humans who wanted to help take care of him - a concept very foreign to him. Little by little he began to trust us, letting us give him a little head pat here or a chin scratch there. He didn't like being picked up, and he certainly wasn't a cuddle cat, but he learned to trust us.

But it was Theodore whom he trusted and loved the most. Theodore had come to us earlier the same year and, like Valor, was initially timid. Valor found comfort in Theodore's presence and the two quickly became best friends. They could often be found cuddling together or walking side by side. Or, if they were on opposite sides of the room, would walk toward each other until they met in the middle and they would rub their heads together. It was a very special bond between the two that we are so grateful they had.

Near the end of March, 2023, Valor began to show signs of being unwell: vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss and dehydration. Despite the best efforts of his vet, his health continued to deteriorate. On the afternoon of April 4, 2023, we said goodbye to Valor.

We are grateful to have known Valor these past two years. He learned the comforts of living inside and having his every need met by his human friends. Most of all we are glad that he had his best friend, his chosen brother. Don't worry about Theodore, Valor - we'll give him lots of hugs for you.

In Memory of Frannie

On September 28, 2020, Frannie hit the jackpot when she met an amazing couple who decided to make her part of their family. She spent the next few years having the time of her life being absolutely spoiled and spending everyday with her two favourite humans. Recently, Fannie's health began to decline and last week it was learned that she had an aggressive mass on her kidney. On the morning of April 2, 2023, Frannie passed away in the arms of the people who loved her most. Our condolences to her family on the loss of this beautiful girl. You will be greatly missed, Frannie. We hope you have lots of water rat toys to play with at Rainbow Bridge.

In Memory of Quarry

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Quarry. On the morning of March 30, 2023, Quarry suddenly started having trouble breathing and she had become unsteady on her feet. Examination and x-rays by her vet showed that Quarry had advanced cancer in her lungs. She received lots of cuddles and head pats, and she had a belly full of her favourite treats, as we helped her to Rainbow Bridge.

Quarry was born around July 28, 2016. She came to us in the summer of 2018 with injuries consistent with being hit by a car. She was also diagnosed with pillow foot - a condition that can cause swelling and inflammation in the pads of her feet. Because she was safe inside and had regular monitoring of her feet, she only had one flare-up in the five years she was with us.

Quarry was very untrusting of her human caregivers at first, often hiding from us and hissing when we got too close. It took a couple years of patience (and lots of treats!) but we finally won her over. The first time she came to us to be petted was a very happy day! She wasn't a cuddle cat and she didn't like to be picked up, but she became much more comfortable around us and wanted attention on a more frequent basis. And, recently, she started coming when called to be petted. She certainly came a long way from the scared cat that we first met!

We are going to miss you so much, Quarry, as will all your friends in Gen Pop. We are honoured to have been your family for these past five years. We love you, Quarry.

"Scrabble" came to us on September 23, 2021 from Florenceville-Bristol where she was a stray who had been hanging around outside a home.  She was taken in, but was peeing outside the box and apparently did not get along with their dog.  Scrabble was born about September 23, 2015 and was a sweet little girl.

In late 2022, Scrabble's health began to decline. Her FeLV had progressed to myelodysplastic syndrome which left her weak, tired and with no appetite. She was given all of the head pats, the comfiest of beds, the tastiest of foods, and as many treats as she wanted, but on January 27th, 2023, Scrabble informed us that it was time to say goodbye. She was purring while we were petting her head as she made her way to Rainbow Bridge.

As a stray, we're sure your early years weren't kind to you. But we know this past year and a half was filled with so much love and you had so many friends, both feline and human. You knew how great it was to sleep on a soft bed, have good and nutritious food, and to have us humans wait on you hand and foot.

Scrabble, we are going to miss your larger than life personality. From the very beginning, you let us know who was in charge! You wanted affection on your terms and you were great about keeping us in line with a quick nip at the ankles or a swat at the hand when you'd had enough. Nobody kept us on our toes as much as you did, and we are going to miss that so much. We are grateful to have been a part of your life and, although we wish it could have been for longer, we know you are healthy and running free at Rainbow Bridge with all of the DunRoamin' cats and dogs who have gone before you.

We miss you, Scrabble.