Meikah started her first 2 and 1/2 years of her life in an abusive home that clearly didn’t want her or appreciate how special she truly is – until that one day changed everything. Meikah went from being locked up in a dark basement being abused with no food, no water, no litter, no bed, and no love to being queen of the household, loving her outdoor adventures, and playing with bouncy sheets or my hair buckles when she’s not sleeping. This is my story of my happy animal.
Meikah’s situation came to my attention soon after a dog I was fostering – a beautiful English Sheep Dog named Lady -found a happy forever home. I had Lady for a quite some time before finding her the best home possible so it was very heartbreaking having to say good-bye. Soon after the universe sent me the most wonderful, beautiful, meaningful gift I ever had or could ever ask for – Meikah. I remember searching on our local Kijiji and noticed that someone had an anonymous post on there about this beautiful, Siamese cat that needing rescuing from an abusive, neighboring house. They also mentioned the SPCA wasn’t allowed to step in without the authorities involvement so her situation was at a stalemate. Immediately, I contacted a friend and told him I needed his help and intimidating appearance to get that cat out of that house and if he didn’t help I was going in it alone. As you all probably know how that turned out – or if you’re still on the edge of your sit for the ending – he came with me, I made it clear we weren’t leaving without her, and we won!
It took Meikah close to 2 weeks before coming out from under my bed so that’s where I kept everything she needed. When I noticed her exploring my apartment more and more, I brought her things further from my bedroom and eventually out into the main living area. Her trust in humanity, other animals and all things good were so broken at this point that I knew it would take years to gain it back. Almost 2 years of love, kindness and patience finally paid off and my reward was the greatest connection to any living thing I ever felt in my entire life – for the first time in my existence I felt like I actually had a purpose.
Since then Meikah has moved across the country with me, traveled to camps in Northern Canada with me, and seen me through every bad day. For the last 14 years she greets me at the door every time I come home, sleeps next to me every night, cuddles me when I’m sad or sick, and gives me kitty kisses to tell me she loves me. No matter how many times in life I felt down and out, she gives my reason to pick myself up again because I know I have to for her. Meikah saved my life that same I saved hers!
Very recently Meikah was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and I was told it’s not reversable so I need to start preparing for her passing. This was, by far, the worst day of my life and my heart felt like it was ripped out of my chest then shredded into a million pieces. Although it is stable for now, I know this will progressively get worse over the next several months. My mom and I decided it was best to keep her home here in Newfoundland while I’m away at camp for the next 3 months so this will be the longest I’ve ever been away from her, however, here she will have close access to a veterinary clinic which I will not have on the remote camp. As hard as it is being away from her, it’s also reassuring she will be so loved and taken care of with her human nanny and I will be able to provide for her high veterinary bills. Knowing she lived her best, most happy life possible is really all I can hope for because I know she made that a reality for me and I will be forever grateful to my best friend!
I would love to hear your happy animals stories of connecting with an animal that changed your life liked it changed mine. These stories don’t have to be just about your pets – it could also be about an animal you rescued or just had a special connection with. Feel free to add photos of the special animals in your life – I love to see loved, happy animals!
