10/17/2026
This is not a brag on me post. This is a brag on YOU our supporters post. Because without all of your support I couldn't have offered to do anything for this gentleman.
If you are in Osawatomie you probably saw my new friend Dusty and his cat he called Buddy around town this past week. I met him at the laundromat there on 6th when I stopped in for only the 2nd time to drop off some cat bedding to have washed (game changer for me!)
He was there washing his laundry and the gals inside told me just a quick "He's riding his bike from WI to CA".
I knew immediately God placed me there at that time for a reason.
So I approached him and talked to him about his kitty. I told him I heard he is just passing thru but is he going to be here a few days? If so I would love to pay to get Buddy checked out and shots. I have no interest in taking someone's animal from them. But understandably he was worried about that.
He wasn't sure, he said he needed to think about it. Said he was mentally and physically exhausted. I gave him my info and told him to call me.
He did the next day, he said if the offer was still open he would like to take me up on it. Unfortunately due to him leaving town the next day I couldn't get him in for a neuter but I made him promise when he gets settled somewhere to reach out and I would try and help facilitate that.
But I had already talked to my vet and told them that I might be showing up randomly with someone's cat to get vaccines. 🤣 They are amazing and said ok.
So I asked him if he would be ok with me just taking Buddy myself and bringing him back, but understandably he was worried I would never return with him. So I without thinking offered to let him ride along. 🤣
Let me say because it caused a lot of concern from my family that I was taking a random guy somewhere that I had a plan in place should something happen. First of all none of the kids were with me, my husband and mother in law and a couple other people knew where I was going, the routes I take and I checked in often.
But you see I could not get him out of my mind, the night before I couldn't sleep. I just kept praying he would call the next day. I kept thinking I should have just been late to my appointment and gone and at least gotten him and the cat some food. Etc, I believe 1000% I was supposed to be there and help and encourage him.
So, I went and picked him up at the library where he was taking shelter from the rain.
We got in the van and started a little chit chat as I drove. Finally I asked if I could hear his story but only if he felt comfortable telling it.
It's not all mine to share, but let me say he has lived thru some trauma. He started out driving his car across the country and it had some major issues. So he stopped in Chicago at a buddies shop to see if they could repair it. He said he used the last of his money and unfortunately he ended up without a car at all. That part of the story is kind of confusing to me. Not sure if the guy took off with the money or if the car couldn't be fixed.
He ended up resorting to his bike. He was somewhere mid MO when Buddy showed up one morning outside his tent. He said he has encountered several cats a long the way that usually once he fed them they took off. But not Buddy.... Buddy stayed all day. He left for the evening but was back the next day and then didn't leave. He said that might Buddy followed him into his tent and slept curled up with him.
The next day he was leaving, as he was breaking down his camp Buddy watched. Then when he started riding off Buddy followed.
Buddy chose him... So, he managed to get a carrier, harness and leash for him. He said a nice guy gave them a ride to Kansas City.
When he arrived in Osawatomie and set up camp a train spooked Buddy and he ran into the woods. He said he was panicked. He had only had Buddy for a week but he had bonded to him so much. He said he didn't think he could continue without him if he didn't come back. He said he was frantic calling for him, crying and having a meltdown to the point police were called. (This part of the story was verified by witnesses).
He said he realizes now he probably seemed crazy, 😅 the police came and talked to him. He said 1 was nice enough to drive him around looking for Buddy. But they didn't find him,
He said he finally went to bed and at some point in the night got up to use the restroom and low and behold Buddy came out of the bushes and ran to him. He said "I didn't know cats gave hugs but he did!"
The entire time he was with me he was kind, respectful and greateful for the help.
He was kissing Buddy and asking me things to keep Buddy healthy. He had never had a cat before and he was worried that giving him tuna was bad. The vet checked him out, got him his shots estimated his age and we gave him some dewormer. I gave him some flea prevention as well and thankfully Buddy was very healthy. We did scan for a chip and none was detected.
After the vet we went to dollar general to get some kitty food as well as some food for him. He asked what his limit was when I told him to get ANYTHING he wanted. He even asked if it was ok to get something with sugar in it because after a long day cycling he sometimes gets very shaky. Of course! I wanted him to have something he enjoyed too not just basic bland food. His eyes lit up. You could see him doing the math in his head. Also calculating how much he could carry because he was on a bike. 🤣
At the register he stepped outside while I paid, and I snuck a $25 visa card in there for him. Unfortunately Buddy's harness and leash had been lost when he ran off and we DG didn't have them. So I wanted him to be able to get one.
At the end of it all I dropped him back off at his tent. He collected his things and asked for 1 more favor with tears in his eyes. I said of course, he asked if he could give me a hug. I said of course.
BTW he was so worried I went over the $50 limit by that $25 and I was like it's ok!
Because of you and your support I was able to show kindness to not only the cat but the person with the cat. It was clear they were bonded already. Why would I want to force a surrender?
Now that Buddy has all his shots he doesn't have to worry about other townships having an issue and with that and trying to take his cat away either. He said when he gets to his new job he wants to send me "a couple hundred dollars" I said no. Our amazing community of supporters support this type of thing and they would want him to pass it on to someone else.
Which he agreed to do.
So thank you to those who have been so generous lately. Because I really feel like helping the animals also extends to helping the people they love too. I wish Dusty and Buddy a safe successful trip and a new life.
