06/11/2026
I am going to follow up on my previous post because a lot of people have reached out asking about Ethel.
First and most importantly, Ethel is back safely in the care of her wonderful foster. She is safe, loved, and being given exactly what she needs.
I do want to clarify one detail.
The donation mentioned in my previous post was made prior to Ethel's adoption. It was independent of the adoption, and I was unaware this adopter was the same person as this particular donor. Ethel's adoption fee was waived through our Loyal Friend Program. The donation was not an adoption fee, nor did it entitle anyone to special treatment, ownership over our decisions, or the ability to disregard the guidance provided throughout the adoption process.
When we place a cat with special needs, we don't simply hand them over and send them on their way.
We spend a great deal of time talking with adopters about the cat's history, personality, needs, challenges, and the acclimation process. In Ethel's case, there were several conversations between the volunteer that works with our Loyal Friend applications and placement. She's a very dedicated volunteer available to answer questions, offer guidance, and provide support throughout the transition.
Unfortunately, that guidance was not followed.
The volunteer assigned to help was ignored and then subjected to anger and criticism when Ethel did not immediately behave the way the adopter expected. The situation escalated to comments from the adopter about having donated $1,000 to the rescue and questions about what we were going to do about having provided an "unfriendly" cat.
The answer was simple.
We returned the donation.
Every penny.
And we brought our cat home.
For a small rescue, losing a $1,000 donation is not insignificant.
But our cats are worth more than that.
Our volunteers are worth more than that.
No donation is worth compromising the wellbeing of an animal or allowing volunteers to be treated disrespectfully. Maybe these comments were made out of frustration, the adopter has been apologetic since, however the fact remains that she did not follow our instructions, put our cat at risk, and then took that frustration out on a volunteer who was heartbroken about the entire situation.
Ethel is an incredibly resilient cat, and I truly believe this outcome will ultimately be the right one for her.
What makes this particularly difficult is that Ethel came from a situation that was deeply impactful for both our rescue and for me personally. The rescue effort that brought her and nine other cats to safety was one of the more emotionally difficult experiences I have faced in rescue work. I have not shared the full story yet, I've tried but it's difficult to convey it all the way it needs to be, I likely will at some point.
Because of what Ethel has already endured, and because I know what it took to get her here, this situation was not something I could simply ignore and move past without addressing.
Like every cat who comes through our rescue, I promised Ethel that we would do everything in our power to find her the home she deserves and give her the life she always should have had.
That promise has not changed.
For those who have asked, yes, Ethel will be looking for a home once she has had some time to decompress and settle back into her foster home.
If you are interested in adopting Ethel, please submit an application.
Ethel will be looking for a quiet home without children or other pets. She needs someone who understands that trust takes time, that senior cats deserve patience, and that a visually impaired cat may need a little extra understanding while she learns her surroundings and feels secure.
Thank you to everyone who checked on Ethel, supported our volunteers, and understood why this decision was made.
For now, we're going to let Ethel rest, settle back in, and move forward.
