Simon

? - May 2, 2003

Simon's story:

I adopted Simon from Peace Plantation, a wonderful shelter in Walton, NY. At the time I chose Simon, I was not looking to adopt another pet, but something about this frightened, feral animal grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go.

Our first "meeting" lasted only a fraction of a second. After spending the day lavishing attention on the hundreds of cats at the shelter, my Mom and I were ready to head home. We had befriended the shelter manager, a very kindly gentleman named Earl, during our lengthy visit. Earl had taken it upon himself to give us a grand tour of the facility. As we were preparing to leave, he wanted to show us one more group of cats...very special cats that were off limits to the general public. Curiously, we followed him to a secluded area at the upper level of the building. As Earl and my mother stood back, he told me to continue ahead and enter the room very quietly and without any sudden movements. Entering the first room, I was astounded by the cats inside; some froze and stared at me with frightened eyes; others panicked and scurried off to hide. As I stood there in awe, Earl softly called to me to slowly turn around and take a look at the cat standing behind me.  As I did, our eyes locked for a moment before the most striking cat I'd ever seen darted off to an adjoining room. That fleeting glimpse was all I saw of Simon on my first visit, but I was hooked.

I later learned Simon's story: He was one of 54 cats living in an abandoned Amtrak tunnel in New York City. The tunnel was scheduled for work, which would displace the homeless humans and feral animals seeking shelter in the structure. Peace Plantation answered their need by trapping as many of the frightened and wild animals as possible and bringing them to their no-kill shelter. Simon was one of the lucky ones saved. He was brought to the shelter where he was anesthetized and cleaned, vaccinated, neutered, and tattooed. He was dubbed "Tinker" for his stay at the shelter. (I was never fond of the name and changed it to Simon after bringing him home.)

I visited the shelter weekly whenever possible. Gradually, over the course of several months, I was able to sit in the same room as Simon without him vanishing. But progress was slow. We soon decided that in order to give our relationship a chance, Simon would have to come home. It was not a decision we made lightly, since Simon had been adopted out twice by other people and returned both times. But he deserved another chance and I was determined that he had found his "forever" home. On the day of his homecoming, the shelter staff had to catch him in a long-handled fishing net; they somehow maneuvered the net to the opening of a carrier and he bolted in, scraping his nose in the process. He cried all the way home, as only a Siamese can wail.

Once home, we gave him some time to adjust on his own before initiating any interaction. Progress was slow. It literally took years before he trusted me enough to be picked up. But ultimately, he became the most devoted and most special cat I've ever known...though he was always a one-person cat.

I was amazed that Simon would literally come running at the call of his name (as well as the best trained dog). And he didn't fool around with any of that "kitty, kitty" stuff. His name was Simon and he knew it.

While I love all animals, including cats, I had always considered myself more of a dog person. But Simon exhibited the most endearing qualities of both species. He'd greet me at the door and come to his name like a dog...he'd even fetch a ball. But he had the grace and agility of the most elegant of cats.

Thankfully, Simon enjoyed a healthy life, since he and vets didn't think much of one another. I once took him to the vet for a tooth problem and the vet refused to examine him; he actually yelled at me, "Put it back! Put it back! That thing's crazy!" when I removed the frightened (and vocal) Simon from his carrier. Fortunately, the problem tooth happened to fall out in the commotion and the relieved vet merely gave me antibiotics for Simon...who turned out to fine.

Perhaps Simon's most endearing trait was his devotion to my dear dog Bess. He and Bess were the best of friends and would lick one another's faces and ears and would sweetly cuddle together for  naps. He was always there to comfort Bess following her surgeries, spending countless hours by her side. I think losing Bess was a blow to Simon and he seemed to lose his health after her passing. He passed less than a year after Bess.

Unfortunately, since Simon was an adult when I adopted him, I never knew his actual age. He was estimated at 5 years by the vets at Peace Plantation. I took him to our own vet shortly after bringing him home and he felt he was likely older than this (based primarily on his poor teeth), but we never knew. I was incredibly blessed to have him in my life for 11 years before he passed peacefully in my arms...knowing how dearly he was loved.

My sweet Simon...meet me at the Gate dear boy.

Simon's amazing agility: He would enter this small barn filled with model horses, turn around, and lay down...without disturbing a single model. It was one of his favorite places to lay and he never damaged a horse!