# No More Lifers: A Happy Shelter Story (and not-so-stealth brag) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537 "2023-08-13T23:01:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/1 "2023-08-13T23:01:21Z")
As you may know, I work for a no-kill animal shelter. When I started (10 years ago!) as a caretaker in the adult cat area, it was the absolute norm for cats to be in the shelter for years, if not their whole lives. The longest resident at the time was 15 and had been in the shelter since she was about 9 months old. And she was nowhere near alone. When I started, my co-worker introduced me to all the cats and told me why each one was unadoptable or why nobody would ever want them. I disagreed with that philosophy and was determined to change that. My feeling is, I love these cats, quirks and all. And I’m not that special. So who am I to assume that nobody else will love them? Cut to now- part of my job now is doing social media and marketing. I get to tell our animals’ stories to a larger audience. And the average length of stay (for everyone, but especially adult cats) is, overall, dramatically lower. For an adult or senior cat without serious challenges, it’s about a month once they’re ready to be made available for adoption. But shy cats still struggle. It’s understandable- people don’t want a cat they can’t pet when they first meet. They don’t want a cat who doesn’t seem to like them right away. Why take a cat who needs patience when you could have a cat who doesn’t? So, as of last week, we did have several (mostly black) cats who had been passed by many times and were officially “long-term residents.” Jade, who was very shy and had been there three years. Lacey, who was interactive on her own terms, but not always up for performing for adopters. She had been there a year and a month. Then, a group of four who had come from a hoarding situation 8 months ago- Bismarck, Long John, Jelly, and Cruller. And one little shy singleton, Noelle, who had just hit the six month mark. I put Lacey’s story on our socials last week and… I mean, they’re not all hits. But this one was. It got lots of attention and, miraculously, that attention translated to action. Lacey was adopted within the first hour of the weekend. The second person to come and ask about her was disappointed that they’d missed her until we told them that she was actually only the second-longest resident and it would REALLY be something if Jade found someone. So, after three years, Jade found her home! And that’s how it went all day- people coming in and telling us they could deal with shy. They liked black. They understood that it would take time and patience. They just wanted to give someone a chance who otherwise might not have one. Lacey’s magic kept on spreading. Jelly got picked. Cruller and Long John went together. And today, both Bismarck’s and Noelle’s families found them. That leaves us, for the first time in at least 23 years (since I started, plus 13 years before that, that I know of for sure) with ZERO cats in the adult section who have been there over a year. Not only that, but zero who have been there more than six months. No more little “long-term” icons by any of the names. Not one. It’s easy to start to hate people or to feel like it’s you against the world when you work in that setting. People can really be heartless when it comes to animals and they’re not shy about showing it. But then, you get a weekend like this one, where you get to see the opposite- big hearts, compassion, a willingness to fight for the underdog (cat). It’s been a good weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/2 "2023-08-13T23:13:42Z")
Hoo rah!! Good for you. Good on you. And good for the kitties!! ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/3 "2023-08-13T23:18:07Z")
Heart-cockles officially warmed. Congratulations. (Dunno if it’s irony that the thread immediately below yours on my screen is “Hey, lady your Cat is nuts!”) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/4 "2023-08-13T23:23:13Z")
You really ought to work that up into an article, and peddle it around to places like the Huff Post. I’ll bet lots of people don’t realize that No-kill shelters lead to animals living in them for years and years. Not to mention, America needs some happy stories right now. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/5 "2023-08-13T23:46:44Z")
I could die happy if I’d ever done something that wonderful. Congratulations, @SurrenderDorothy ! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/6 "2023-08-13T23:54:19Z")
Congratulations, **Surrender Dorothy**. That is one major victory, there. I’m impressed. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/7 "2023-08-14T00:45:22Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > That leaves us, for the first time in at least 23 years (since I started, plus 13 years before that, that I know of for sure) with ZERO cats in the adult section who have been there over a year. good for you!! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/8 "2023-08-14T04:48:27Z")
That’s a huge victory! There are so many situations that just need someone to put the pieces together, and it’s so rare that anyone does it so successfully. You’re a gem! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/9 "2023-08-14T05:38:27Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > They just wanted to give someone a chance who otherwise might not have one. Who the hell choppin’ onions around here? ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/10 "2023-08-14T06:42:33Z")
What a wonderful story. Thank you for helping the overlooked ones. ---
**Author:** ![SeaSun](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seasun/32/14820_2.png) [@SeaSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaSun)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/11 "2023-08-14T07:36:17Z")
**Congrats** on your success with getting those long-time residents the homes they deserve in record time. Sounds like you did a really good job telling their stories. I’ve seen a lot of videos on YT about people who adopt dogs and cats that no one wanted…those types of people _are_ out there, but they gotta be informed, and you’re doing just that…good job! 😀 ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/12 "2023-08-14T10:49:54Z")
This was a wonderful way to start my day, THANK YOU! (I have 15 cats. I’d have more if I had the set-up to take the old and shy) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/13 "2023-08-14T12:41:28Z")
This is awesome! Congratulations to the kitties, and to you for making it happen. And thank you for sharing the story! Such a nice way to start the week 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/14 "2023-08-14T13:46:42Z")
Congrats! Mrs. solost volunteers for a no-kill shelter, fostering cat moms and their kittens until the kitties are old enough to adopt. She’s fostered dozens and dozens of kittens and moms over the years, and we’ve experienced maybe half a dozen births. Our two family cats are what the shelter affectionately calls “foster failures”. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > You really ought to work that up into an article, and peddle it around to places like the Huff Post. Agreed! I know Mrs. solost has expressed frustration in the past with the lack of online visibility of the cats available for adoption at the shelter she does volunteer work for, although they seem to have good success getting the kittens, and even, eventually, the moms adopted. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/15 "2023-08-14T14:19:07Z")
We hear so much of the evils of social media, and make no mistake, those evils do exist. But social media can also do great good, and it’s great to hear a story of it. You’re doing a great job. Aside: Back in the day when “social media” consisted of “buying an ad in the paper”, I heard of someone who put out an ad for seven puppies, free to a good home. They got no takers. The next week, they put out an ad for six adorable and one ugly puppies, free to a good home. By the end of the first day, they’d given away the ugly puppy seven times. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/16 "2023-08-14T14:41:46Z")
As soon as I saw the title of this thread I knew it would be **Surrender Dorothy** with a story to make me teary-eyed. So I saved it for this morning. And sure enough, here I am all teary-eyed and so proud of our OP, and so happy for those kitties with homes. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/17 "2023-08-14T19:23:56Z")
That is awesome , as are you. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/18 "2023-08-15T00:22:28Z")
I adopted a cat that took almost a year to decide to get off my dresser. I have dogs, who didn’t bother the cats, but either just shyness or fear kept her up there. She had her food and water up there, and a box with a blanket. She crept down at night to use the litter box, but otherwise oversaw the chaos from her high perch. She got to the point where she’d want me to pet her as she ate - she’d wait to start eating until I’d stay and pet her. Finally she came down. I had her for15 years (she was about 18) when she died. I’d love another house cat, but don’t feel it’s fair to have them deal with 4 large dogs. StG ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-lifers-a-happy-shelter-story-and-not-so-stealth-brag/988537/19 "2023-08-15T03:41:20Z")
Oh, good job Dorothy! Shy cats are so hard to place, but can be wonderful cats. Our “unadoptable” foster fail went to the Bridge today. We got 18 years of secret purrs and cuddles, he was invisible to visitors until about 16 years ago. That’s when people started being able to see his tail as he scampered off. We will miss him for the rest of our lives.