Be it known, good people/cats/beings of the interwebs: it happened.
Hold onto your hats and wives and children. Rumors of Dot‘s adoption have not been exaggerated.
After just a year and five months in the parallel universe known as the Dot Matrix, Tabby’s Place has had our most victorious tiny tabby wrenched from our lives.
By “wrenched,” of course, I mean “adopted into the best of all possible worlds.” Still, even when the brain comprehends “Good thing! Happy thing! Thing heap strong!”, the heart may whine, “Meehhhhh! Wrenched! Do not want!”
Silly, selfish, human heart.
If ever there was a “good goodbye,” this was it. I can now confirm everything you’ve heard:
Yes, this is the same Dot who, 18 months ago, was proclaimed by doctors to have deformities that were “incompatible with life.”
Yes, Dot is still alive.
Yes, she was adopted by the otherworldly-wonderful family who adopted Tashi and Gabriella.
Yes, Tashi/Gabby’s adoption was the event that enabled Tabby’s Place to take Dot in the first place.
Yes, this may mean that the entire universe has folded in upon itself.
No, this will not cause a power outage.
Dot demonstrates her opinion of the opinion that her condition is "incompatible with life."
That said, I’d be dishonest if I didn’t admit that we felt a mighty whoosh of power sail out of Tabby’s Place at approximately 3:28 pm Eastern time on Saturday.
But the power of Dot, like the Tashi-power that preceded and now accompanies her, leaves everything it’s touched better and richer and a little crazier forever.
We’ve already received our first glee-soaked update from Famiglia Dottia. Dot/Tashi/Gabby’s mom writes:
“I just wanted to give all of you an update on Dot’s first day with us. She is settling in very nicely so far! She was quite tired last night after her busy day, so she enjoyed relaxing in her bed. She ate a good dinner, took her medicine, and really seemed to enjoy being spoiled by all of us! We just couldn’t put her down and all took turns holding her. I think she was really enjoying being our little princess!! 🙂 : )
“We made sure that Gabby and Tashi got lots of attention too, so no one felt left out! Of course our (other kitties) Sammy and Priscilla got lots of attention also.
“Dot had a good night’s sleep in her little bed in our bedroom. She ate a good breakfast and was so good this morning when I expressed her bladder and bowels. She was so still and cooperative that it made the whole process nice and easy! Our sons are having so much fun deciding which diaper she should wear next! (In the photo below left, you can see Dot playing with her new “brothers.”)
Dot loving her new mama.
“Dot is truly such a special little angel, and we could not feel more blessed to have her in our lives! She just looks at us with those huge expressive eyes of hers and we all just melt!!!!
“I promise to be in touch again really soon with another update on our very special angel!”
That’s enough to get even the most maudlin heart lined up with a singing brain. (“The Singing Brains” would be an excellent name for a band. But I digress.)
So, even when our own emotions make us want to stand around Dot’s empty crate and sing “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” we know: this is a day, a story, and a life for happy songs. Happy hearts.
In a fiesta of irony, Jonathan sent me a wryly-worded email yesterday. If you heard a giant sucking sound emanating from central NJ, that was the noise from all of Dot’s sponsors having their sponsorships switched over to the General Special Needs Fund (which cares for everykitty from Cookie to Queen). Since an adopted Dot is no longer a sponsorable Dot, we also had to take down — or “disable” — her “sponsor-me” page on our website. This is the purview of a certain webmaster whose name may rhyme with Ronathan. When he’d done the deed, he emailed me to confirm:
“Dot is officially ‘disabled.'”
Her webpage may be, but Dot? Dot herself, disabled?
So the doctors said. So the short-sighted saw. But Dot, we now know, is anything but disabled. With a forever family that includes Tashi and Gabriella, she is now righteously enabled to overcome.
And if that doesn’t rock your universe, it’s time to get your stars realigned.
Aaawwwwww, Auntie Angela I know Dot is going to have a very happy special life with her new furrever human beans AND…. my Uncle Tashi and my friend Gabby! It’s great that the sponsors have generously switched to the General Special Needs Fund, that really helps the all the kitties who need just a little more help than some of the others. Momma told me that the Lobby felt a bit odd on Sunday morning without Dot, but that everyone was thrilled beyond words that she’s part of Uncle Tashi’s family! I never met them but I sure think they’re wonderful and purrrrrfect!
My husband and I were very lucky that we got to meet Dot in person on the very day she went home. We had been following the magick of the Dot Matrix since Dot was found, when she was bought to Tabby’s-in fact I’m doing my Masters Thesis on the Human Animal Bond and Social Work. It’s going to be called ‘Entering the Dot Matrix: how one small tabby kitten with Spina Bifida bought together the internet and Saved the World!’
Well, something like that!
Meeting everyone who was there-Tabby’s has a magicikal atmosphere-a very healing and wonderful atmosphere. We know why Dot thrived.
Dot’s family radiated good energy. They were very kind. At one point one of the little boys, noting Dot looking slightly confused by all these people and all this fuss said to her ‘don’t be embarrassed’. It bought tears to my eyes because these people are dream adopters. They have adopted cats that some might consider ‘special needs’ but that they know are special in a whole other way.
I want to thank Tabby’s for taking Dot…and other cats who are ‘special needs’ in. You guys are beyond wonderful.
After hearing sneaks and peeps of this news, I was patiently awaiting the official blog post. Having Levi take the spotlight on the front page was pretty telling, too! (He looks good up there, just sayin’.)
Many blessings upon DotFamily and their little brood of crookedy kitties!
Golly Gee Whiskers this is just the best news!
When Dad started following the news at TP he just had to sponsor that little bundle of energy with that huge purrsonality! Now we will support all that are in need which is just as it should be.
Thanks Angela! You blog makes our and Dads day! (It is one of the few he can sneak a look to at work)
Timmy Tomcat
Be it known, good people/cats/beings of the interwebs: it happened.
After just a year and five months in the parallel universe known as the Dot Matrix, Tabby’s Place has had our most victorious tiny tabby wrenched from our lives.
Her webpage may be, but Dot? Dot herself, disabled?
Aaawwwwww, Auntie Angela I know Dot is going to have a very happy special life with her new furrever human beans AND…. my Uncle Tashi and my friend Gabby! It’s great that the sponsors have generously switched to the General Special Needs Fund, that really helps the all the kitties who need just a little more help than some of the others. Momma told me that the Lobby felt a bit odd on Sunday morning without Dot, but that everyone was thrilled beyond words that she’s part of Uncle Tashi’s family! I never met them but I sure think they’re wonderful and purrrrrfect!
Wow! I am speechless. What a wonderful family…
These are people who know how to follow what’s been put on their hearts. May they ALL be blessed with a long, happy and healthy life!
My husband and I were very lucky that we got to meet Dot in person on the very day she went home. We had been following the magick of the Dot Matrix since Dot was found, when she was bought to Tabby’s-in fact I’m doing my Masters Thesis on the Human Animal Bond and Social Work. It’s going to be called ‘Entering the Dot Matrix: how one small tabby kitten with Spina Bifida bought together the internet and Saved the World!’
Well, something like that!
Meeting everyone who was there-Tabby’s has a magicikal atmosphere-a very healing and wonderful atmosphere. We know why Dot thrived.
Dot’s family radiated good energy. They were very kind. At one point one of the little boys, noting Dot looking slightly confused by all these people and all this fuss said to her ‘don’t be embarrassed’. It bought tears to my eyes because these people are dream adopters. They have adopted cats that some might consider ‘special needs’ but that they know are special in a whole other way.
I want to thank Tabby’s for taking Dot…and other cats who are ‘special needs’ in. You guys are beyond wonderful.
After hearing sneaks and peeps of this news, I was patiently awaiting the official blog post. Having Levi take the spotlight on the front page was pretty telling, too! (He looks good up there, just sayin’.)
Many blessings upon DotFamily and their little brood of crookedy kitties!
Golly Gee Whiskers this is just the best news!
When Dad started following the news at TP he just had to sponsor that little bundle of energy with that huge purrsonality! Now we will support all that are in need which is just as it should be.
Thanks Angela! You blog makes our and Dads day! (It is one of the few he can sneak a look to at work)
Timmy Tomcat
Timmy Tomcat…. Orange Ruffy says HI!!!!!
We were so happy to hear your daddy helped Dot! But then, we always knew your daddy is ‘good people!’