Marty and Gizmo

During Covid, when we were stuck at home, my therapy dog, Jax, and I volunteered to foster kittens for BARC, Houston’s city animal shelter…ten different litters of them over two years. It was a ton of work, but it was so inspiring watching Jax be the gentlest big brother to all those little bundles of kitty energy.

We did, however, foster fail with one precious, long-haired tabby kitten. He’d been found all alone in a ditch when he was only several weeks old. His name was Gizmo and from the beginning, he was special.

When he was nine months old, Gizmo took a temperament test to become a certified therapy pet. The evaluator pulled his tail and ears and petted him all over. He was passed between six people who were training with their dogs. We participated in an exercise with him in his stroller, weaving closely in and out of the group who were standing in a circle with their dogs beside them. He was separated from me for the required three minutes. Throughout the testing, Gizmo just chilled. It was like he was saying “give me something HARD, will ya?”

Today, Gizmo travels in a stroller alongside Jax on selected visits where cats are allowed. People get a huge kick out of seeing a dog and a cat visiting together. He has special girlfriends in the Methodist Hospital volunteer office who squeal with delight when he appears.

Often when we are in a conference room visiting hospital staff, I will take Gizmo out of his stroller and walk him on his leash. He first likes to map out the periphery of the room, and then he investigates and charms all the people. He likes to be petted and held. He purrs if you stroke his cheeks. Recently, the physician head of a department who claimed to hate cats insisted on taking a picture holding Gizmo. He was only semi-joking when he instructed his staff gathered round not to tell a soul!

Me? I am the fortunate woman who has the privilege of being loved by both an extraordinary therapy dog and an equally amazing therapy cat. And best of all, I know my beloved husband, Gene, is watching all three of us from heaven and cheering us on!