I am a single mom with two daughters, one precious grandson and one on the way, varying numbers of cats and two dogs. I spent a week in Tylertown from 10-12 to 10-18-2005, and will always cherish the experience and the animals and humans I met there. What a unique and wonderful group!

I am an only child and have always had a special bond with animals. My first memory of falling in love with animals was when I was a very little girl I would lay in the dirt on my stomach and try to reach the feral kittens that were born underneath my grandfather's old shack out in his backyard in Texas. Finally reaching one and being able to hold it was Heaven on Earth for me. I can't remember a time when seeing an animal hurt or hearing a sad story didn't physically hurt my heart. I have never understood how anyone could hurt an animal. I have this amazing ability to spot a cat in need no matter how invisible it is attempting to be.

I have worked with humane societies in Texas and Utah and have always been very impressed with the things I have read about Best Friends in Kanab. I'm embarassed to say that even though I live in Utah I never volunteered for them until they set up in Tylertown after Katrina, and I had to go. I was worthless at work reading about all the horrible stories of abandoned animals, so one day I just quit reading about it and bought a plane ticket. It was the best thing I have ever done and if I could afford to spend every hour doing the same thing for the animals, I would gladly do it with no pay. I finally drove down to Kanab and volunteered over Thanksgiving a couple of years ago with my wonderful friend, Karen, from Kansas, and we had a ball. We went through a lot of Kleenex but had a wonderful time. It is an amazing place to be.

I have two beautiful daughters and a grandson, who along with my furbabies are the joy of my life. I can't wait to get home from work to have all my critters greet me at the door. Shortly after my return from Tylertown, my heart kitty, Bungee, was found to have a large inoperable tumor under his tongue. He never showed any outward signs of illness, and I know that he waited until I was home to let me know that our 14 year journey on this Earth was coming to an end. Bungee, the love of my life, now lies beneath a maple tree in my front yard and awaits our reunion at the Rainbow Bridge. I have words from an obituary of a local vet taped to my computer-It says, "Imagine Heaven as a place where all of the animals you have loved during your life rush to greet you with tails a wagging. Jim's welcome was joyous indeed." I know that one day when my time on Earth is done that I will join Bungee and my other babies at the