Here at the Kitsap Humane Society, we receive many e-mails daily from people asking if we have their lost pet. What makes a recent morning different was that we did. Sharon, one of our customer service employees, recognized their cat. Gifford, as we called him here, was 12 years old, scruffy and a little sick. Gifford’s owners came in a few hours later, and sure enough, he was their cat. But he hadn’t been their cat for long. They had rescued him off the street a few weeks ago, and it didn’t take them long to fall in love and call him their own.

Because Gifford had been here for quite awhile his fee to reclaim was high. Sharon found out that his elderly owner was on a fixed income and his daughter was worried about the fee. Because KHS has been full to capacity on cats, we are offering “Pay no adoption fee on cats over one year old” this week. Sharon told him she would do an adoption for him instead so that he did not have to worry about the cost.

She was told, “Oh no. This is my cat; I am responsible for him, so I will pay the fees to reclaim him.”

Sharon still discounted his fees and sold him a license for Gifford. His owners were so happy to have him back, and it was a great “feel good” start to Sharon’s day.

We wish Gifford and his owners the best, and are very happy they have been reunited. Now Gifford has a license to wear in case he ever gets outside again. But the best part? Because he had been here for so long he had been microchipped. Now that he has been reclaimed by his owners, that microchip will be registered to them, ensuring Gifford will always have a ride home.
                                            – Heather Kite, KHS Shelter Director

                                                              
                                                                  Gifford