Not only do I volunteer for Shamrock almost every Saturday from 1PM-4PM, I take care of pets even at home. And I'm not talking about foster cats (I don't foster, my mother would have a heart attack if I even asked!), I own a Shamrock cat of my very own. His name is Carter, and he is a small 1 1/2 year old male.

Carter is not only slightly petite in length, he has a tiny tail. When he was found as a stray, part of his tail was missing and part was dead, so they amputated another inch or so. Now he has approximately a 4" "stub" left which he "wags" when agitated. He has a very rare and beautiful coloration: most of him is a deep, rich chocolate brown with cream white on his snout, chest, stomach, and paws. His eyes are brilliant green.

Carter is like a lovable brother to me. Although he acts very kitten-ish for his age and plays almost 24/7, he sometimes settles down to snuggle, too. When he does, he purrs loudly and rubs his face against yours. I can sit for several minutes just rubbing him. Carter is just as much a member of the family as my only other "siblings", my sister Triskit the dog and brothers Dusty the Chinchilla and Meijer the kitten. Some people may frown upon this, but I love my pets equally to ALL of my family and friends, and that is A LOT of love!

I urge everyone considering getting a pet to check out the Shamrock Foundation. Animals live in foster households and are treated with as much care as the foster's real pets. Unlike other places, animals here are vaccinated, healthy, and loving. Shamrock is a non-profit organization, and all money from sales goes to support the animals and to pay for their food, litter, toy, and veterinary bills. The fosters donate their time and often quite a bit of money to these cats. Remember, $95 is a small price to pay for a healthy, unconditionally loving, life-long friend!

Sincerely,

Jessica Vautard