Tasha II

GOODBYES ARE ALWAYS HEARTBREAKING

We had to let go of our bright, shining star Tasha II.

Her health had begun to decline over the past year. Her vision and mobility were affected by a degenerative nerve condition. But she was still Tasha, shining bright and making everyone smile.

Within just a few short days last week, that slow decline sped up. And her bright personality began to dim. Her organs were slowly declining.

It was when Tasha’s mental state dramatically declined, and she stopped engaging in the daily activities that made her so happy, that she clearly told us it was her time.

Tasha’s shining spirit brought so many people together. After escaping the garage of her first home, where she’d lived for 9 years, she was rescued by a wonderful couple.

But when laws became stricter in Ohio where they were, they contacted us to help Tasha and other cats. They knew we’d provide them a safe and wonderful life.

The First Time I Met Tasha

I remember seeing Tasha for the first time. If her crossed-eyes and head tilt didn’t make her endearing enough, her pure bliss for life did.

She was in a 10 x 20 area filled with more toys than you could count. And she played and showed off with every one of them before hopping on a platform, tilting her head and inviting you to play through the fence.

Tasha brought so many special people together. Three wonderful sanctuaries came together to help Tasha and all the animals.

It also brought the support of IFAW, Tim Harrison of Outreach for Animals and all of you together! And her former rescuers remained involved in all their lives.

She was so lucky to be loved by so many. And we were so lucky to have known her.

Tasha treated everything as a new playground. When she first arrived, her toys never stopped moving. She was dribbling them and in motion all the time.

As she aged, she loved her fire hose hammock and loved to greet everyone with her signature Tasha chirp.

But that wasn’t enough. She always had to come up in person to say “Hi!” and to share her joy.

Now, instead of walking past Tasha, our bright shining star each day, we just look up to the sky and see her shining down on us.

We feel blessed to have had you in our lives Tasha and thankful for all the new friends you introduced us to.

May you continue to shine bright with the pride on the other side.

Though Tasha’s Memorial Plaque has been purchased, her rock art piece has not.

If you’d like to help remember this wonderful girl in a special way by sponsoring this for the Memorial Garden, it would be a $100 donation.

With over 110 wild cats now calling The Wildcat Sanctuary home, something we have to think about every single day is raising money to be able to rescue and care for them. When it can cost as much as $10,000 each year just to care for one big cat, you can see why fundraising is a vital part of the work we do. Your contribution to The Wildcat Sanctuary goes straight to work helping save lives of wild cats in need — both at the Sanctuary and through outreach and rescue programs all across the country. Please consider donating at http://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/