By Genine Hopkins
Sometimes the world seems bleak and uncaring, but sometimes people can surprise you. That is the case for a feline named Sassy whose life was turned upside down this Spring and after several interesting twists, is now back on track. Harrison’s Budd Lake community swooped into action and has provided a happy ending for Sassy.
March 11th, the day that poor Sassy’s life shook. Her loving owner, Steve Marentette, sadly passed away shortly after his 51st birthday. Sassy was Marentette’s only furry companion and they were close as any human and any cat could be in life. The commotion as her human companion was cared for and taken away was enough to scare the poor cat who ended up outside, her life upended.
Neighbors in the Budd Lake Community where Sassy and Marentette lived stepped up to the plate. It is a tight-knit community of both full-time residents and weekenders and Marentette was well known in the area. He was always ready to help those in need, with rides or just a friendly wave and smile. But now they were concerned about Sassy and tried desperately to get help catching the traumatized feline before taking matters into their own hands and trying to gain her trust.
Enter neighbor Vikki Paulus and her friend Cid Jones. They both enjoyed Marentette’s easy-going personality and also enjoyed Sassy. They kept leaving cat food out by the entrance of Marentette’s former home, hoping to coax her out. But Sassy was confused and saddened by the loss of her human and she was very scared.
Paulus and Jones tried multiple methods of catching poor Sassy but the kitty was a bit too smart for traditional methods of live traps. Paulus was overjoyed when one day Sassy let her pick her up, only to find that Sassy’s claws were quite the weapon when she tried to put her in a cat carrier. After that experience, it took a bit longer to regain the trust but Sassy was having no part of being handled again!
Knowing Sassy understood what a cat carrier was, they tried to rig one up with a rope to close the door once Sassy marched in after the food. Eventually, either her hunger or perhaps a knowing that she would not survive long outside in the elements forced Sassy to enter the carrier and begin eating, with Paulus quick to latch the door and finally catch the cat.
Since it had been a bit since she was on her own outside, Paulus took her to the Clare County Animal Control, which luckily had room for the now skinny kitty. After a vet check, some TLC, and some good food, Sassy began to look more of her former self, her long blonde hair was rid of the mats and dirt, and she no longer looked feral.
Paulus and Jones, however, were still on a mission. Sure they had rescued Sassy and knew she was getting care at the Animal Control, but the kitty needed a forever home and the women were bound and determined to find her one. A call out on Facebook eventually was noticed by Sue Szott, a resident in the nearby Dodge City area. She read the heartwarming story of Sassy’s mishaps and her loss in Marentette, and on April 17th, she formally adopted Sassy! What an ending this would be and Paulus contacted the Clare County Review saying there was a wonderful story for reporting.
Unfortunately, Sassy’s life would take one more adventure. After the car ride from Clare County Animal Control to her new home in Dodge City, it happened. The wiley Himalayan had somehow slipped out of the crate used to transport her and as soon as the car door opened, she bolted. Szotte was heartbroken and anxious, unsure if Sassy would attempt to get home to the Budd Lake area, or if Sassy could ever be caught again.
For just over five weeks, Szotte and her neighbors kept vigil for the runaway kitty. Again, food was placed out for her daily, and as the wild began to show on Sassy again, Szott felt as though she had utterly failed Sassy.
But again, it was a community coming together that was able to trap Sassy to finally end her saga. Szott’s neighbor devised a live trap that appealed enough to the feline for her to walk into and trigger her capture, on June 2nd of this year. After being without a home since March 11th of this year, Sassy had finally entered into her new home forever, able to finally acclimate to life with a loving human.
Cid and Vikki both likened her tale to that of the 1993 movie Homeward Bound, the tale of two dogs and a cat that trekked hundreds of miles to reach their home. While Sassy’s journey was a bit less in the miles – and she was all on her own – it is a fitting analogy. Since June 2nd Sassy has settled into her new home with Sue Szott and is beloved by Szott and her granddaughter, Madeline, who comes often to visit. Steve Marentette’s brothers are extremely happy to know that their brother’s companion has a loving, forever home as well.
Sometimes things work out for the best even in this world that can be a dark place. Sometimes communities and the people that live in them surprise you, and as Sassy has learned, that compassion is real.
