2 minute read
VHS Adoption
SHE'S A GREAT GIRL - SO SWEET AND LOVING.
NORA
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VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT
Evansville's Josh Armstrong has a very selfless perspective when it comes to adopting pets. "My job is to serve the animal, not for the animal to be a plaything or diversion for me," he explains. And Armstrong certainly speaks from experience, having adopted no less than eight senior cats over the years, including Nora, a grey, domestic short-hair that he brought home from the VHS in May of 2021. 10 years old at the time, Nora (or "Snora" as Armstrong lovingly refers to her for obvious reasons), had lived with her previous owners since birth, basically, but as often happens, the eventual introduction of a newborn into the home made it difficult for the family to maintain Nora's proper care. Thankfully, VHS Executive Director Kendall Paul knew just who to call when she was returned to the shelter after a decade out in the real world.
"When I first saw her in the cage, I knew I had to adopt her," Armstrong recalls of his initial meeting with Nora. "She was pretty shy but with an older cat that's to be expected. I brought her home the next day and then spent a few days just being quiet and letting her understand what was going on at her speed. We worked on some behavior issues that older cats often have - now she's just a great friend." Indeed, the two quickly developed a tight bond that's only gotten stronger over time; in fact, Nora has brought so much joy into Armstrong's life that he felt compelled to email Paul with a very heartfelt message, thanking her for all the great work the shelter does. "It made me realize that the VHS is really a human services organization - bringing these loving animals into people's homes is amazing and truly improves your quality of life," he says.
Like most senior cats, Nora understandably sleeps a lot - and snores a bunch, of course - but reportedly spends much of her awake time staring out the windows of Armstrong's home and keeping tabs on the neighborhood. Armstrong surmises that she didn't have the opportunity to observe the outdoors in her previous life and is making up for lost time. "She's a great girl - so sweet and loving - and I hope to give her a wonderful final stage of her life."
