Most of us have been touched by the unconditional acceptance, compassion, love, and companionship a pet offers. While every pet is special, there are also animals who will discover a higher purpose to impact a life and give in ways we don’t expect.
Barney was that sort of cat. But you wouldn’t have guessed that. As a sickly stray with a matted auburn coat and skinny frame, he waited patiently at the Seattle Animal Shelter for another chance. Another chance to be with a family, share a home and perhaps make a difference during the time he had left. Struggling with hyperthyroidism (thyroid, kidney & heart issues), his own prognosis wasn’t good, which made adoption a challenge.
Fortunately, a program at SAS called Fospice got a kick-start in 2016 with a grant from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. Fospice–foster hospice–offers ill and elderly animals an opportunity to live in a home with a caring SAS foster family that is ready to support such animals.
On a fateful day in May of 2016, Barney’s fospice mom Gwen would arrive. Gwen wasn’t necessarily a cat person, but her husband Alec was. And Gwen knew the joy cats could bring him with their quiet nature. Years prior a stray cat showed up at their home in Ballard and adopted them. Jade became a gateway cat of sorts who made it possible for Barney, years later, to be welcomed into Gwen’s heart and their home. Through Alec’s bond with Jade, Gwen started to understand why people loved cats so much as quiet, gentle companions. She was inspired to foster and help be a bridge to a cat’s forever home. She fostered two cats before Barney would enter their hearts and it was hard for Alec to let them go, while Gwen was content to serve as an interim home.
When Barney came home with Gwen, Alec opened the cat carrier and Barney head butted him for what seemed like hundreds of times. It was instant love and Alec said to Gwen “you are not going let this one go.” This bond would become extraordinary as Barney the fospice cat would take on the role of daily companion which included being an emotional support animal, grief counselor, receiver of countless kisses, and more. Alec had been diagnosed with ALS in 2012 and the disease was progressing, turning his arms into noodle-like limbs. ALS confiscates the body in different ways for everyone and affects each person in its own way . Alec retained the ability to walk and speak, but since his diagnosis, cats had become more than a valued companion; they were a lifeline and comfort.
As Gwen needed to go to work during the day, Barney stepped up to keep an eye on Alec throughout the day, putting aside his own struggles to contribute to Alec’s wellbeing. Alec, the once strong, 30-year veteran of the California Life Guard community, was challenged as ALS continued to steal his strength and mobility. He cried a lot. Barney was the only one who could console him, stop the tears and bring a smile to his face. Alec would kiss Barney’s head repeatedly and give Barney the best pats he could with arms and hands that had been robbed of dexterity and replaced with wet noodle-like gestures.
Unfortunately, Barney had his bad days and nights, too, where he cried out and could not be comforted. Gwen knew she needed some extra help and through the fospice parent network at SAS, foster team lead Lisa helped Barney get a little respite at a vacation home helmed by an experienced fospice volunteer, Sarah, who was also a human hospice doctor. After a few weeks, Barney returned to Gwen and Alec.
It was a welcomed return as Barney’s presence had been greatly missed, but there wouldn’t be much time left together. Alec died on September 10, 2017 at home. On that day, Gwen brought Barney into Alec’s room and he immediately nuzzled into the crook of Alec’s arm and stayed there for hours and didn’t want to leave. With Alec’s passing, Sarah stepped in to care for Barney. He hung on for a few more weeks before heading across the rainbow bridge in October, no doubt to be with his friend Alec. While Gwen wasn’t with Barney at the end, his spirit was and always will be close. Gwen was grateful she had the caring and committed SAS fospice community’s support for Barney’s care during this crucial time of need.
After a little time and with Lisa’s support, Gwen brought her next foster cat home. Gobi was quickly adopted and Hunter would be next. Following her experience with Barney, who proved to be a magic little companion as life threw out many challenges, Gwen will continue to provide cats with hope, love and a bridge to their future family.
SASF thanks Gwen for sharing her and Alec’s experience with Barney and for being a part of SAS’ fospice and foster programs. SASF is honored to help fund these heroic efforts, made possible thanks to generous and committed donors.
To learn more about the fospice program and foster volunteer opportunities, please visit
http://www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/volunteer/foster-care/foster-cat-program.