Sometimes there is an animal that is just so good you cannot begin to fathom why its owners dumped it.

At Rikki's Refuge, we do not believe any animal should ever be dumped, or separated from its family, for any reason whatsoever. But sometimes you can understand how someone reached that frustration level and made that decision, as wrong as it may be. I have no doubt, if our pounds took human children, very few beyond the age of two would continue to reside in their homes.

But sometimes that rare animal comes to Rikki's Refuge, who has no bad habits, has never done anything wrong, is nothing but kind and loving and sweet and wonderful. And you can't help but wonder why, how could anyone get rid of something so fabulous.

Scruffy was one of those animals. He came to us on September 3, 2004. A big fat orange tabby, Morris type cat, 18 pounds and 16 years old and not a bad habit in the world. Though he was one of the most playful cats, we had ever seen at the age of 16, his owners had thought he was too old and not playful enough, and they wanted a kitten. So Scruffy was dumped at the pound, and a kitten was taken home to replace him.

Thankfully, Scruffy was somewhere where they cared. Very few people will adopt a 16 year old, no matter how wonderful they are. They tried and they tried, but no one would give Scruffy a home. In our unfortunate society, animals who do not get a home, are murdered, just killed and disposed of. But thankfully for Scruffy, and for all of us who came to know him and to love him, he was sent all the way from Shenandoah to Rikki's Refuge.

Scruffy had cataracts, a few tumors in his ears, and the biggest purr you have ever met. All it took to start that they rumble, was for someone to walk into the room and look in his direction. He loved to be held, he'd love to be petted, he'd love to be fed. He was always happy. He was always there to greet the newcomers, welcome them to Rikki's Refuge, and show them the food bowl. No matter how much he ate, he was always willing to share. Never once did he smack anybody else. Even little orphan kittens, who would run across him while he was sleeping.

Scruffy was just the best natured guy you could possibly imagine. Everybody fell in love with Scruffy. And he continued to be healthy, as he got close to 18 years old. About a month ago he had some gastric disturbances, the first health problems he'd ever had. Soon they seem to be clear to. Though he continued to act just like himself, he began to lose some weight. A suspicious lump was felt in his abdomen. I was sure I knew the answer, but I just had to check it out, just in case there was anything in the world we could do for our Scruffy.

Without exploratory surgery, which would be strictly diagnostic, and not for the purpose of curing anything, we would not know for absolute certain. But the blood work, the x-rays, and palpating the abdomen all pointed toward the same dire conclusion. Almost certainly, liver cancer. Comfort care was all we had left offer. The best most exotic food money could buy, and more love and pets and kisses than anybody could ask for.

When Scruffy finally began to show symptoms, his health went downhill very quickly, and he was gone within two days. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at about one o'clock today, August 11, 2006.

Scruffy is survived by Jason, who was one of his biggest fans (Jason would look forward to his weekends at Rikki's Refuge, so Scruffy, who he called Meat, could sit on his lap and purr and spend the nights out in his RV with him.) By Easter, his shy little wife, who would cuddle up in his arms for protection every night, and run, lickity split at the first sign of human life. By Lena, Mary, Amanda, Kevin, Basil, and me, whose days were brightened every day, by Scruffy in the office. By Joe, who’d come into the office every morning, and say, “hey, where's fat ass?”, and Scruffy would come running for a morning pet or treat. By Wayne and Jonathan, volunteers who visit almost every day, and always stopped to pat Scruffy. And by every other cat in the 9th Life Retirement, Assisted Living and Psychiatric Center, who will miss sharing their dinner with. Except Timothy, who is hoping to get Scruffie’s share.