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An Illinois pet rescue center has left the internet heartbroken after sharing the story of Samantha, a house cat who was recently returned after six years of adoption.
In a post shared on Facebook in November, under the username Safe House Animal Rescue League, the volunteers explain that Samantha came back to them "ill and confused over the abrupt loss of her six-year home."
A caption alongside the post read: "She was re-examined at Ancare [vet hospital] yesterday and the mouth ulcers have healed and her inflamed skin a soft pink! Samantha has had a rough few weeks and is trying so hard to be brave and trusting.
"We have been trying to help her adjust to all the changes we can't explain to her including living with numerous other felines. Just a few more pieces to pick up and soon she will be ready for her new home where FOREVER means just that!"
Of the 3.2 million cats that are surrendered to shelters every year, about 66 percent get adopted, but sometimes these cats get returned. Returning to shelter can be very stressful for cats. According to a January 2023 study published in the journal Animals, about 82 percent of shelter cats lost weight in their first week in a shelter.
The Safe House Animal rescue team told Newsweek that she presented the team with aggressive behavior for the first 48 hours—which is typical for a frightened, confused animal that has lost the only contacts and home they know,
"We were devastated when we were safely able to have her exit the carrier that they had brought her in to discover that we had not been told she was ill and in need of medical treatment. We are working through the behaviors that surround a return and her illness.
"Samantha's videos properly communicate what she and we are experiencing. She is making great progress with our care. She was recently opened up for adoption and will find herself the perfect home."
The rescue team explained that it posted Samantha's story for the purposes of awareness and education.
"Rehoming of any pet is significant and should only be done as a last resort. Too often, families may feel that their pet would be better in a rescue where 'they will get more attention,' 'they will be away from the new puppy brought home causing stress,' 'away from the baby expected to enter the home,' 'be off of the counter and out of our daughter's room,' and the many 'excuses' that are given and not accurate. Our return rate is low, yet each one [is] a heartbreak.
"At the end of the day, when a pet is brought into a home, they are a family member and should be treated as such with solutions created when problems arise. We are grateful that Samantha was returned to our shelter as is required by our adoption agreement. On the other hand, we believe that there were alternative options for her family to exercise to best protect their baby and honor their commitment.
"Safe House Animal Rescue League is a small, not-for-profit, no-kill rescue formed in 2010. We are foster-based with no paid employees, no buildings, and operate strictly on donations and the kindness of our 10 volunteer team members."
The volunteers added: "We don't know much about Samantha's life as a young kitten. She came into our shelter initially when she was around one year old.
"We had her vetted (spayed, vaccinated, chipped, combo tested, etc.) and she was adopted by a young man through our application process. He committed to providing her the love and care she needed for the rest of her life."
Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Samantha has been back in rescue a little over two weeks now. She came back to us ill and confused over the abrupt loss of her 6 year home. She was...
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across Facebook. It has been viewed 16,000 times and has received over 1,800 likes.
One user, Grace Ruzzo-Barile, commented: "Hope you find a furever home Samantha. I have a Samantha also."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
About the writer
Maria Azzurra Volpe is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is reporting on everyday ... Read more