Napoleon
Dear Sponsor Pet Parent,
Life is such a precious gift. Days go by so quickly and we are blessed with countless wonderful memories. Today we are celebrating the memory of a lovely little feline who was only with us for a short time, but who still made a tremendous impact in our lives and in our hearts.
On the evening of July 7, 2009, a few months after being diagnosed with a malignant cancer on his tongue, our sweet, charcoal cat, Napoleon, passed away. When Napoleon first came to the Animal League, it was apparent that he was once somebody’s pet. However, he had been living as a stray cat for more than a year. Napoleon had several conditions which included a heart murmur, chronic uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) and tumors in both ears due to neglected ear infections. Luckily, Napoleon made his way to North Shore Animal League America where he was cared for and loved. Shortly thereafter, he was placed in a loving foster care home, where he lived out the rest of his very happy life.
Napoleon was a wonderful cat – loving and affectionate, personable and sweet. We feel grateful to be able to have given him the care he needed and the love he deserved.
The Animal League would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his foster family, his Sponsors and to all who were lucky enough to know him. Napoleon will be greatly missed but remembered forever.
The Sponsor Team
August 11th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I am so sorry to hear of Napolean’s passing. He looked like a lovely cat. I thank all who made his last days comfortable and with dignity. What special people you all are!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Tears came to my eyes as I read this story. He lived as a stray for so long! What an awful event to go through—but he got through. He did it.
Thankfully, it’s the ultimate happy ending/beginning to land at NSAL. Napoleon got a chance at life again. The time during his neglect took a heartbreaking toll, but he looks so beautiful and vibrant in the picture; I can just see how friendly and loving he was. A sweet, peaceful face.
When cats like Napoleon get a chance (through North Shore, Sponsors, and Foster Families), they get a chance to feel better, to feel loved, and to feel safe in a home of their own. When this happens, the gifts of who they are just keep coming. It sounds like he TRULY got the chance to shine…and to just radiate that beautiful light that had been inside him the whole time. It sounds like he was a gift to everyone who knew him. As you were gifts to him too. And wow, he was beautiful.
Because of reasons beyond anyone’s control, his dear life was cut short. But it is because of you that he got to so-happily live his 9th life and then when the time came, sadly leave—but from a place of being dearly loved, and still being that sweet, loving soul that he is.
My thoughts are with you.