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I lost my third rescue cat, Riptide, in 2010 to cancer. He was a companion to my second rescue, Beckham. At the time, Beckham was about 7. 

Around three weeks later, Beckham was sitting on my lap one evening. I was playing around on my MacBook Pro and started to look at some pictures of Riptide. Beckham was looking as well, and, to my surprise, he reached his paw out to touch the screen. His head even turned sideways. That was so endearing, and, at that moment, I decided he knew it was Riptide. My immediate reaction was to console him. Then I decided it would be nice to save another life.

I had also decided to start volunteering for a rescue foundation in honor of Riptide. I found out about one through the vet office not too far away in West LA. It is closed now but was Friends of Animals FOA.

It took me a few months to really decide who would be a good match for Beckham. I wanted to make sure it was a cat who got along with the other cats, maybe middle aged like him, and took to me.

Stella was the lucky one, my fourth rescue. The foundation had named her Serene. She was brought there with a male, about 4 or 5, six months before that. The male cat was adopted out, but they left her behind. I volunteered Sunday mornings, except I helped out in the other cat room.

The first time I met her, she was in her own condo three levels up. I used a step ladder to see her face to face. She immediately came over and gave me a few head bumps. She won my heart over!

She was brought to my apartment December 3, 2010. Best day for Beckham and me. They were separated for about five days. By then, she was ready to venture out much sooner than I expected, possibly because Beckham liked to talk to her behind the door and would roll on the floor to stick his paw underneath.

He did nothing but follow her around talking the entire time. It was so cute! Four days later, she made the first move, and the snuggling began. They were together for eight years.

She means the world to me! I named her after my grandma who grew up in Poland. Every day with her is a gift. I cannot imagine life without her. I am forever grateful she choose me. Stella always displays such confidence and trust, from the first time we met.

Story submitted by Patricia Jordan.

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