A small calico cat lived at their vet's in a carrier, her front legs just nubbins. She didn't fare well among rowdier residents. My friends Jen and Gene were at the office bidding farewell to one of their own multi-cat crew. Despite the fresh hole in their home, the label "special needs" seemed a warning, a flag that they weren't the right family for her. When they returned almost a year later and saw this cat still in the crate, however, they met each others' eyes in silent agreement. They would certainly try.

Three other cats, and a dog, live in their new retirement house on a ponderosa-shaded hill, where i was privileged to stay after a book-signing event at The Montana Book Company in Helena's old town. Jen had to call me in to their bedroom to meet Roo, because the little cat leaves the rest of the house to those with more traditional ability to get around. What i hear is that Roo is the easiest to care for. The strong hind legs that provided her the obvious name allow her to get on and off the bed just fine. She loves to watch birds from her large throne, and when her people step out on the patio for some sun, she often tags alone. The joy she shares with their lives is clearly incalculable.

People sometimes hear arguments within rescue and sheltering against the amount of money spent to, say, fit an otherwise healthy dog with a set of wheels for non-functioning hind legs. Could those [limited] dollars be spent to keep several other "normal" animals alive--of course. But who among us is so all-knowing that we can tally up the amount of goodness each being brings, or for how long? The better question seems to be how to create more ways to keep more animals in our communities safe and in caring spaces? If you aren't in a position to bring a(nother) special friend into your family, how can you contribute to this aspiration? Jen volunteers regularly at her Helena animal shelter, especially at their spay-neuter clinics. My friend Darcy in Maine just contributed a collection of her paintings to a holiday fundraiser for her local Humane Society. First quarter royalties for The Scent of Distant Family will arrive soon, and i'm excited to send those contributions forward to an organization that does not turn away from expensive health or behavioral needs, but works ever harder to assist communities nationwide to reach out for our animal kin.