This is from Patsy, one of Rhondas friends from the shelter. This - TopicsExpress

This is from Patsy, one of Rhondas friends from the shelter. This is about her life, before we found each other. Rhonda was found fending for herself behind a prison in 2002. She was about two years old at the time. The shelter was her home for the next ten years. She spent most of her time hiding in a cubby, scurrying away if approached. During the summer of 2010, Rhonda became a student in our socialization program. It didn’t take long to realize that Rhonda was ready and willing to be socialized! Looking back at the socialization notes written that summer, I found this entry: RHONDA: After a shaky inaugural session with Patsy (these never go smoothly), she let each of the subsequent four people (including Patsy) pet her! She was nervous, but accepted pats from Ann. She awoke with a start when Patsy pet her, and flinched with each stroke. When Patsy switched to just chatting, Rhonda looked up at her, then resumed her nap. She backed farther into her cubby when Simone approached, but accepted pats. On Simones third visit that same night, Rhonda PURRED UP A STORM while Simone pet her. Rhonda?! I followed Rhonda around all over the place, glad to see her getting some exercise, and determined not to be the only one who couldnt pet her. She let me pet the top of her head, then flinched with each back pat like with Patsy, but then stopped flinching after a few strokes and settled into a more comfy position. Rhonda thrilled us with one breakthrough after another during the fall of 2010. Diane described her as a “purring ball of marshmallow fluff”. We started to lovingly refer to her as “the marshmallow”. She was showing so much promise, that Diane wrote the following to the adoption counselors: “Hello, Adoption Counselors! Patsy and I thought it might be helpful to you (and to the 3rd floor cats) if once in a while we sent you information and video about a forget-me-not who seems especially primed for domestic bliss. There are several who we feel would settle in just as easily and happily as homebody Abby has, but theres currently a particularly strong consensus surrounding Rhonda. Anyone who knows her believes that if Rhonda had a home of her own, shed never stop purring. For those of you who havent had the pleasure, shes the mostly white, with some grey, big-boned gal whos usually in a cubby on the south-facing wall of room 4. Of all the 20 or so cats whove ever been in the socialization program, she was probably our biggest surprise. We didnt think she was touchable, since whenever we had tried, shed run (waddle) away. But we found buried treasure. She sometimes starts purring before we even touch her, and revels in nose to tail petting, leans into ear rubs, juts her chin out, and rolls on her back. She even guided my hand to her ear with her paw recently because she wanted it rubbed. She doesnt bite, swat, or even hiss. Shes shy in the truest sense, in that she wont approach you, and might flinch once or twice at the touch of someone brand new to her, but will quickly melt in your hands. We havent been able to work much on picking her up due to the logistics of a big cat in a small cubby, but she doesnt mind having her front paws lifted up by scruffing, so that bodes well. When I was there during adoption hours this week, I sent five new people her way, and she purred for all of them as they petted her. As with all the FMNs, approaching her slowly, with a soft voice, will yield the best response. Rhondas 11, and doesnt have cat buddies but gets along fine with her roommates, so could be an only cat or not. Now that weve given her a hint of the joys of human affection, her longing for it is insatiable, and thats why we long for her to find a home where she can have serious snuggle time with someone special. It would be sad for such a love bug to never experience that. So whenever a potentially suitable adopter comes in, please remember the sweet marshmallow waiting on the 3rd floor! At the very least, Rhonda will love the attention. In August of 2011, Rhonda and Banjo were the first sunshine room cats to graduate to the second floor. As many of you know, Rick and I adopted Banjo in September. The HUG volunteers added Rhonda to their program, in an effort to continue her socialization. All of the HUG volunteers fell in love with the marshmallow, and Evan in particular fell head over heels in love with beautiful Rhonda! The efforts to find her a forever home continued, as Cheryl T. posted her story on the MWHS Facebook page and she was featured in the newsletter. Rhonda’s ship came in when Karen became her mom in March of 2012. Friends encouraged Karen to start a Facebook page for Rhonda, so all of Rhonda’s fans could watch her settle into her new life. On the night Rhonda was adopted, Diane wrote, “Patty and I spent 2 hours with Karen. Shes truly wonderful. When Rhonda was in the carrier, she kept looking up at Karen excitedly as if to say, When are you going to finally get me out of here, Mom? . Karen truly is wonderful. She gave Rhonda the most beautiful 2 ½ years of her life. Rhonda’s fans eagerly watched her Facebook page, and delighted in the stream of posts and pictures of this beautiful cat learning to play, to snuggle and to love her mom so deeply. I’m sorry that Rhonda’s time with Karen was not longer. But I feel a sense of peace knowing that the quality of the time was so rich, deep and meaningful. Rhonda was home with Karen, as it was always meant to be. My heart breaks for your loss Karen. You are truly an amazing person. Rhonda touched so many hearts and was deeply loved by her shelter friends. We will never forget this beautiful soul, and will always be grateful to you for sharing your life with her these past few years. Rest in peace sweet marshmallow. Patsy If anyone would like to watch, heres the link to Rhondas video that was posted on the website after she graduated from the socialization program. Im still amazed at the treasure that was unearthed when we started working with her: https://youtube/watch?v=cMskq-tD8sA&list=UUH8-72TP0TfZL6BCrflPy7A&index=93