Who is Furry Pal’s Essentials?

When I was about four years old, my father brought home a kitten.  I don’t know who named him Cassidy.  My sister Joanie was thrilled at Cassidy’s arrival.  She was seven.

I don’t remember how long we had Cassidy.  One day, while I was sitting in a chair, Cassidy was trying to climb up to where I was seated.  He accidentally scratched my knee in the process.  The scratch, and the skin around it, became red and swollen.  I didn’t say anything to my mother because I didn’t want to get Cassidy in trouble.  But my mother noticed the scratch and how irritated it looked.  The next day I was taken to the doctor.  My parents found out that I was allergic to Cassidy and probably allergic to other animals and allergens as well that would irritate my asthmatic condition.

Cassidy was given away. We were crestfallen, especially Joanie.  She had formed a bond with Cassidy and now had to live with the idea of not having any pets at all.  At least, not any pets with fur.  Amphibians were okay.  I spent five years being tested for all those substances that I could be allergic too.  At the end of all the tests, the list of allergens was long and varied.

Later I did have a turtle as a pet.  I named him Timmy.  He was with us quite a while until he passed away.  My parents decided that pets weren’t really a part of our family.  My sister wanted one she could relate to, bond with, pet and play with.  Turtles did quite fill that bill.

Joanie went on to own a number of animals – cats, dogs, an ocelot, even a spider.  She was happiest with her pets.  She trained at the ASPCA to learn how to socialize with the cats and dogs at the shelter to cuddle them and take the dogs for walks.  She even invited me to the ASPCA’s Halloween Costume Parade when I came home to visit.  The dogs and cats were dressed in costume and there was voting for the best one.  I took photos.  Glad I did.

Later in life, I rescued a cat and named her Monday.  She was found on a Monday after being abandoned in the rain and cold. She was deaf. A co-worker found her but couldn’t keep her because her cat and Monday didn’t get along.  Another co-worker volunteered to take her, but I said to him that if he didn’t want her, bring her back to the office and I would take her. I had a feeling that he wouldn’t want to take care of her.  Sure enough, he brought her back the next day.  So, home she came with me.  I took a lot of allergy medications, cared for her for five years and then had to give her to Joanie to be adopted.  I was moving to another state and could not take her with me.  Thankfully she was adopted.

The reason I decided to create Furry Pal’s Essentials is for two reasons.  The first is to be able to donate a portion of sales to rescue animals as well as the rescuers. The people and organizations who are pressed for funds to keep animals who are abused, abandoned and in need of veterinarian care.  I don’t have the ability to adopt or foster because of my ailments, but I am able to donate money, or products to those places in need.

The second reason is to remember Joanie.  She unfortunately became ill and passed away.  She is probably surrounded by all her pets who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  She would have loved this venture and would have been a huge advocate.  I’m happy she shared her love of animals with me, even if I wasn’t able to have a furry pet.

We love animals and are planning to have Furry Pal’s Essentials become a huge success.  We hope you’ll visit, shop, and help us help our furry pals.