Lola's Unspoken Story - #MyUnspokenPet | Lola The Rescued Cat
Friday, October 9, 2020

Lola's Unspoken Story - #MyUnspokenPet

This post is sponsored by CUDDLY

Hello, and Happy Friday! We are very excited to be partnering with CUDDLY for today’s post as part of their #MyUnspokenPet campaign.

#MyUnspokenPet CUDDLY intro graphic

My sister, Lexy, and I are strong supporters of animal rescue. Adopting us opened up our mom’s eyes to the rescue world and brought to light so many things she didn’t know before. Together, the three of us are proud to be voices for the animals that can’t speak for themselves.

As you all know, I am a former shelter cat. I like to tell people my story because I have a lot of important things to say. I don’t tell it because I want to make anyone cry, or because I want them to feel sorry for me (“woe is me” isn’t my style; I’m too happy-go-lucky for that!) My goal in life is to shed light on what happens to some cats when they are abandoned or find themselves in a shelter.

There is a part of my autobiography that I haven’t told yet. I’ve meowed about being found in a dumpster, but not about how I got there. Today I’m going to tell you.


My Unspoken Story


Abandoned

My story starts in the projects of East Harlem in New York City. Life in the projects can be rough, and you never know who you can trust. 

One cold, December day I was lucky to find a sunbeam in the windowsill to nap in. I usually slept with one eye open in case another cat or person tried to sneak up on me, especially since I heard the man say he didn’t really like cats and they couldn’t afford another one. But that day the sunbeam felt extra cozy and I fell into a deep, deep sleep dreaming about making it out of the projects like I had heard so many of the people talk about.

The next thing I remember is a pair of human hands grabbing me up and taking me outside. “Where are we going?” I meowed. “It’s cold outside! I don’t like it out here! Take me back inside! Please?” But no matter how much I pleaded the person wouldn’t listen to me. I looked up, and when I saw it was the man, I had a feeling this wasn’t going to end well for me. “Oh no, what are you doing?” I asked him. “That thing looks scary! No, don’t open it, it’s scary! Don’t put me in there! Please, I promise I’ll be good, I promise! You won’t even know I’m there and I won’t eat much! Please take me back inside?” He wouldn’t listen. “Oh no!” Slam!




Suddenly, just like that, my life of napping in sunbeams was over. It was so dark in the dumpster, and it smelled horrible. It was hard for me to stand up because I couldn’t get my footing on the garbage bags. I was so scared! I didn’t know what to do, so I just meowed. And meowed. And meowed.

Rescued

Finally, some nice people heard me and took me out. Long story short, I ended up in the city shelter where I got very sick. I never knew shelters and cages existed, and I never knew so many animals were unwanted and ended up there. I was only six months old (I was still a baby, geez!) and I didn’t know a lot about life, but I thought homes were supposed to be forever. I sure had a lot to learn. 

sick cat in a shelter
This is me in the shelter.


I heard people talking about the other cats that were there in the shelter with me. Some cats were scared and would hiss and swat at the people. Some were so sick that they couldn’t do anything but lie in their cage. I heard the people say things like “that one won’t make it out of here.” Even though I was so sick I was determined to get out, and I did! In the car on the way to my safe haven, I thought about all the other cats who didn’t get out. That’s when I decided to be an advo-cat for helpless cats and use my voice to prevent them from going through what I did.

Adopted

When I was in the hospital I saw a picture that someone took of me, and I looked like a hot mess! “How will someone fall in love with me and adopt me?" I wondered. 

sick cat rescued from a shelter
This is me in the hospital. I had such a bad cold!


Then one day a person who saw my shelter picture on Facebook came for a meet and greet. I laid on the charm and in two minutes the person (now my mom) fell in love with me and I had a new family! And the rest is history!

Since I’ve been adopted I’ve worked hard to keep my promise to be an advo-cat for cats in need, and I think I’ve done a good job so far (with the help of Lexy and our mom, of course.) I’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars through Facebook auctions for pets and people in need, I wrote a book about my story and donate 10% of my earnings to rescue, and we have written countless articles about rescue on the blog to educate people on this important topic. Not too shabby for a former dumpster cat, if I do say so myself!

This is me on my second day at home, feeling safe in my new home after being adopted.


CUDDLY Helps Shelters


I was lucky. I was pulled from the shelter by a wonderful woman who paid for my care herself. But not all cats are as lucky as I was. Some are severely injured or ill, and shelters struggle to pay for their care. That’s where CUDDLY comes in.

CUDDLY is a platform where rescues and shelters can create fundraisers to raise the funds they so desperately need to take care of the animals they have rescued. They can also create a wish list so people can donate much needed items. CUDDLY’S ultimate goal is to help each of their partner organizations acquire more monetary donations, as well as product fulfillment through wish lists so that more animals can be saved. Currently CUDDLY has over 2,000 animal welfare organizations on board with them.

You can help a shelter by donating to their campaign, purchasing items directly from their wish list, or making a monthly donation to CUDDLY to give ongoing support to the animals with the most urgent needs. 


CUDDLY graphic



If you’re looking to adopt a pet, you can do that right on the CUDDLY site. You can browse adoptable pets in your area here. All pets are vetted, and by adopting from one of the shelters you’re opening up a spot for them to be able to save another pet.

When we were browsing through the site we wanted to find a local rescue to support. The fundraiser for  “Dumped Cats and Kittens” for All About Pets Rescue caught our eye because both Lexy and I were “dumped.” This group of cats was just dropped off in a neighborhood in Long Island. The adult cats, who were once very sick with parasites and other infections, are all healed. But the kittens are still struggling. One little kitten has a bad intestinal issue that has left his little bottom raw. Poor little guy! We’re so glad they’re in good hands now with a great rescue.  

Pin Us!



Share Your Pet's Story


What is your pet’s unspoken story? Share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtag #MyUnspokenPet so the world can see it. Lexy and I can’t wait to read everyone’s posts.

 
My first Christmas at home. 


We hope you’ll consider supporting CUDDLY by finding a specific campaign that touches your heart.

Lola






Would you like to comment?

  1. Your story is so powerful, Lola! We're glad you found your Mommy and Lexy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We love you Lola and are so glad you got your second chance

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing that awful part of your story, Lola. We are so glad that you were rescued and feel terrible about all the cats who suffer. We are both very fortunate in that we have always been loved and cared for, and are vry thankful.

    Purrs,
    Tama and Genji

    ReplyDelete
  4. lola we haz yur book & reeded it two de food gurl; yur storeez izza most happee ever afturr....AND....ewe never looked a hot mezz ....ewe haz all wayz been gorgeouz ~~ ♥♥

    wavez two ewe lexy ~~~~~ ♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't think of a better and happy Cuddly kitty than you. That was quite the story!

    ReplyDelete
  6. While it's easy to get REALLY ANGRY at the man who put you in the dumpster, Lola, there is not enough information out there for the average folks to know how to handle pets that they cannot support. If he or his family knew of nearby rescue groups or programs, you may not have ended up like you did! While I make NO EXCUSE for animal cruelty, our country hasn't yet pulled on it's big-boy pants and stood up nationally for animal rescue.
    As for The Eastside Cats' stories, we don't know them. Da Boyz were found by a landlord after tenants moved out. The PO'M and Sweetie were strays, and we originally thought they were feral. How they got on the street, living rough, is anybody's guess.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm so happy you were rescued. You and your mom have done so much since then to be rescue advocates!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You've come such a long way for a kitty who had such a rough start to her life, Lola. I'm glad you are advocating for other kitties less fortunate than yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You were lucky to have been rescued, Lola...and have such a good home now.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am so glad you were rescued from the dumpster and got your wonderful forever home. I wish all animals could be as lucky.

    ReplyDelete
  11. We hate that your story started off so badly, but man... it sure ended up being a super happy one! You have the best family now, and we are so glad for you, Lola. Thanks for sharing your #MyUnspokenPet Story!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is a shame that people still treat us like we are trash. We love hearing your story and even more that you are safe. We did support the shelter last Unspoken post and continue to do so for our local rescues

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, Lola. Your story is amazing, and we are so glad you were saved, and now have the bestest, most loving home. Cuddly sounds pretty awesome. We will check it out. XO

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lola, you have a powerful story and you've been part of a tremendous effort to help homeless pets. I'll go check out Cuddly. It sounds like a fantastic resource.

    ReplyDelete
  15. It breaks my heart that people can be so cruel. Thank goodness for happy endings, kind animal lovers, no kill shelters, and organizations like Cuddly!
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  16. I’m so happy you ended up with your mom. And yes, you’re a great team and do a stellar job for cat advocacy. Thank you for sharing your untold story.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comment! We love meowing with you!