Woman That Spots A Cat On The Beach Quickly Uncovers The Crushing Reality

Anyone who has cared for an animal will tell you it’s one of the most rewarding experiences ever, although challenging at times. The luckiest pet parents get the chance to adopt their animal when they’re young, which makes room for as many years of fun as possible.

But the bravest animal lovers adopt senior pets. They might come with health complications, or other issues, but they have an unbelievable capacity to love. The sad truth is that elderly pets are too often looked over in the crowded shelters across the United States. Adriene Buisch is not one to look the other way when she sees an animal in need, no matter their age.

Adriene Buisch has loved animals her entire life. As a former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader, she works as a marketing coordinator at Charm City Veterinary Hospital. She has met many animals through her work, and has also witnessed sad stories unfold.

It happens all the time. People find out they’re moving and they leave their cat or dog behind, abandoning them without a contingency plan. Hopefully, these poor animals find their way to a kind stranger, or an animal shelter for help.

Some find homes and some do not. Over a million cats and dogs never make it out of the shelter every year. The vast majority of them are not kittens or puppies, but elderly animals who no one wants to adopt.

Adriene was on the lookout for a second cat. Both her and her boyfriend knew they didn’t want a kitten. Their six-year-old tabby at home was so wonderful, they knew how rewarding an adult cat could be.

Plus, Adriene knew how hard it was for older pets to get adopted. So, she was hoping the right cat in need of a home would come her way. One day while she was on Facebook, she read a post that brought tears to her eyes.

An older, somewhat gruff orange kitty caught her eye as she read his story. His name was Tigger and he had been abandoned by his previous owner at a local veterinary hospital. When she read on, she couldn’t believe what she saw.

This cat was 20-years-old. That was the bit of information that caused Buisch and her boyfriend to look at each other an immediately decide, “We’re taking that cat.” That night they made their way to the vet hospital to meet Tigger.

It was love at first sight for Adriene and Tigger. As he lay in her backseat on the way home, she saw how thin he was and couldn’t help but notice his matted fur. It broke her heart that this cat has suffered so much.

When they got home, it was obvious Tigger was pleased with his new family. Adriene remembers he cuddled right up with pillows and blankets like he never forgot what it was like to have them. He began getting healthier, but he had one odd behavior.

Tigger wouldn’t stop drinking water. Past normal hydration, he would drink about a gallon a day. This worried Adriene, so she took him in for blood work to make sure everything was okay. Luckily she went in when she did.

Results showed that Tigger’s kidneys were failing. Adding to his health concerns, Adriene found a tumor the size of a golf ball on him. His age and health issues made her think he might not be around too much longer. It gave Adriene an idea.

She planned to help Tigger cross a few items off his bucket list. He may not have a ton of life left, but she wanted to make sure he got to experience the best the world had to offer before he left it.

Of course, some of his favorite cat activities were easy to do. Like spending time with his cat brother and lounging as much as possible. But, there were a few more adventurous items on the list.

Adriene brought Tigger to the beach for the first time. For an animal known for its distaste for water, he was right at home by the seaside. Resting in the sand and sunning his fur made him content and relaxed.

Tigger celebrated a birthday with his new family complete with a “cake” made of his favorite food—chicken. Instead of turning 21 in a lonely shelter he got to do so in a warm and loving home surrounded by his family.

The adventures were great, but certainly Tigger found himself most fulfilled when he was in the arms of his mom, Adriene. They were inseparable. Adriene even took Tigger from their home in Maryland to visit her family in Florida.

She knew her beloved kitty was on borrowed time. That was clear when she adopted him. She was giving everything she had to the ailing cat in order to improve his life. Somewhere in the interim, he had stolen her heart.