Dex

Dex is now my girl.

She had been up for adoption, but due to her complicated past and many homes, I feel it best now that she remain with me for the rest of her life.

A local Corvallis woman rescued Dex years ago from an unknown situation in Dallas, Oregon. She added Dex to her collection of over 100 cats. When this woman was told by animal control that she would either have to get rid of her cats or leave town, she left town, taking her vast numbers of cats with her to Fall City.

The owner of that house subsequently served her eviction notice about a year after she moved there, maybe two years. A rescue was mounted by a young couple who removed sixty or so cats, most immediately going to other people. Twenty or more stayed with that young couple who had no experience in rescue, no resources, no income outside of welfare and one of the pair, the husband, was extremely lazy. I ended up getting involved then, trying to place them from that couple, who faced eviction also for failure to pay rent.

I found them a place to live in Eugene, but without communication from them, I feared they would leave animals behind. I finally went up to their old place just in time to find they had returned for things they had left behind, with some Eugene friend. They had indeed left poor Dex behind and she'd not had food for several days. They found her under the water heater and she would not come out for them. So they tied a rope around her throat in a slip knot and pulled her out. Somehow they still could not get her in a carrier or do whatever they intended to do with her.

The woman of the pair saw me drive up and raced out "Oh, just who we need. Do you have a carrier? We're having a problem with Dex." I ran inside to find them now up in the loft. Dex was choking at the end of that rope with it tight around her neck and they were treating her like some wild animal. I quietly took the rope from them and put Dex into a carrier and said "She's coming with me." And I left.

Her vet care cost me plenty. I was mad at that couple for a long time over that and other things. Finally, a year and a half later, I came home late one night to find a pallet of broken bag cat food, litter, and even a cat tree, covered by a tarp, in my driveway. They'd paid me back.

I let it all go, then, forgave them, and hope the best for them, as they struggle to survive also somewhere. I don't know where. They left the Eugene house, bought someplace too far out and were having to leave it, too, last I heard.

Dex is still here. She is afraid of being closed in anywhere but loves me and loves most of the other cats here. They all pal around shoulder to shoulder. Why should I traumatize Dex ever again? She knows she is safe here and loved.