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I volunteered at an animal shelter, and one of our adopted dogs had run away during fireworks season. Since I tend to be nocturnal, I responded to a sighting alert at 2 a.m. and pulled onto a quiet side road. There, beneath a streetlight, sat a sad-looking orange cat with what appeared to be a single mat. That mat covered nearly her entire body.

Sue Cooper

Her ears were curled downward and terribly infected. Both eyes were infected as well, and one was completely clouded over. When I tried to catch her, she ran into the bushes. I returned home for a crate and some food, but when I came back, she was sitting in exactly the same spot.

It seemed obvious that someone had abandoned her there. She appeared to be patiently waiting for them to return.

She showed no interest in the food I offered. Although I was afraid of being bitten or scratched, I managed to capture her by throwing a blanket over her and carefully scooping her into the crate. I took her to a 24-hour emergency animal clinic, expecting them to recommend euthanasia.

Sue Cooper

Instead, the veterinary team examined her and explained that, aside from the obvious neglect, infections, and a small-to-moderately sized abdominal mass, she did not require immediate euthanasia.

I love cats, but I had been told that I was allergic to them. I took her to the shelter where I volunteered, and the staff shaved away her mats and treated her eyes and ears. However, because she was old and sick, the shelter could not accept her unless I was willing to foster her.

That was how my journey of denying my cat allergies began.

Sue Cooper

I brought her home with eye and ear medications and began hand-feeding her. Because we frequently had to wrap her in a towel to administer her medicine, we named her Burrito.

Her damaged eye was permanently blind, but the other eventually cleared. She was smart as a whip, and we became the very best of friends. That Christmas, my husband presented me with Burrito’s adoption papers.

No matter what we tried, however, her ears would not heal. I eventually took her to a university veterinary hospital. The doctors made one final attempt to treat the infections with medication before considering surgery, and it finally worked. Afterward, we jokingly referred to her as our little “Scottish Fold.”

Sue Cooper

Burrito and I shared two wonderful years of companionship. Then the abdominal mass began causing problems. Desperate to help her, I took her to several different veterinarians. They all gave me the same devastating answer. The mass was inoperable.

My heart was broken.

We treasured the limited time we had left until Burrito reached the point when she was no longer having fun. Then I had to let her go.

Sue Cooper

Nine years have passed, and I am crying as I write this.

During those nine years, I have adopted four senior, disabled, or otherwise unwanted cats. In honor of my little girl, those animals will always be the ones I choose.

They gave someone the best years of their lives. They deserve to receive that same devotion in return.

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Story submitted by Sue Cooper.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!