Dreaming of a Christmas home

Jennifer Vanderau
Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter

(12/2019) The humans are putting stuff on the walls around here. Lights and greenery and I don’t really know what it’s about.

They keep talking about something called Christmas. No idea what that means.

There are stockings on our cages and they’re super fun to play with. The group of kittens across the aisle from me have already destroyed three of them. The people at the shelter just laugh and hang another one up. I think they kind of expect the little ones to take them as play toys.

It’s pretty nice here. When I was out on the streets I never knew what was going to happen. Never knew when I’d get food, never knew when another animal might want to fight.

At the shelter, I have my own place with my own blanket and toys and water and food and litter box.

And the staff is really sweet. They talk to me and pet me and all things considered, I really like it here.

But I’ve heard about and seen cats in homes. They sleep on the backs of couches and look really content.

I wonder what that would be like? I wonder what having a whole house and my own human to love would be like?

For as great as the people at the shelter are, a home is my real dream.

If I’m honest, I’ve kind of always wanted one, even when I lived on the streets. I bet it would be fun. And warm. And loving.

That’s what they do at the shelter. Try to find us homes. I’m lucky I was taken here. It’s hard to say what could have happened to me if that nice human wouldn’t have picked me up and brought me to the shelter.

They’re planning something called a Christmas Open House at the shelter. It’s on December 7 and 8 and it’s going to help us have a happy holiday. Or so the humans say.

The best present I could get would be a home. I know there are people out there who would like to help me, but can’t adopt me. Those are the folks who give to the open house. Even if they can’t take us home, they make sure the shelter can still provide for us, like warm rooms and food and medicine.

The humans say a lot of people keep the shelter going and they’re really generous around the holidays.

I think they’re getting ready to say goodnight to us. Only one of the kittens is batting at the stocking across from me. The others are already sleeping.

I think it’s time for me to curl up, too. Tomorrow’s another day. Maybe my new mom and dad will be here when we open. Or maybe it’ll be someone who donates to help us.

Either way, I think I’ll have a pretty good Christmas at CVAS.

Jennifer Vanderau is the Director of Communications for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter in Chambersburg, Pa., and can be reached at cvasoc@innernet.net. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at (717) 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org.