SUSAN LOESCH

“C’mon, guys, let’s go,” I called out. “Barney, Shadow, Hexie, Tank, it’s time for a field trip!”

Silence. Guess they thought if I couldn’t find them they wouldn’t have to go. “OK, guys, the adventurer of the week will be … all four of you.”

Still no takers. Eventually, though, everyone but Shadow was wearing a bandana and waiting fairly patiently in a carrier.

I went from one end of the house to the other, looking in all the typical hide-from-mom spots. Then I saw it. There was a lump in the curtain, and as I lifted the edge to take a peek, there was Shadow.

He came with me willingly; I don’t think he was really hiding, just making me work for the honor of his presence.

Off we went to the July Feline Rescue and Rehome spay-neuter clinic, a low-cost clinic FuRR holds every month. We did have a serious purpose: For all the library cats to get their rabies vaccinations updated.

I had been a bit sad this week; it was the first anniversary of Big Footsie’s death.

I remember the July clinic last year, filled with hugs and tears. Footsie was a big part of the FuRR family and his loss hit everyone. Today when I walked into the clinic, I was met with a picture of Footsie on a sign that said “Big Footsie Celebration Ribbons,” purple ribbons decorated with a paw print sticker, for everyone to wear, as well as many people sporting their Big Footsie t-shirts.

Celebration. What a wonderful word to use on this day!

First out of the carrier was Tank, who had a reunion with one of his rescuers. She hadn’t seen him since last winter when he was pulled from a feral colony where he was eating, with eyes infected and closing.

This time, he was fat and handsome, a whole new cat.

In addition to his vaccination, he received, as did all the cats, an exam by our technicians. “Tank, your ears look just great,” one told him.

Next came little Hexie. Into the arms of her former foster mom she went; they were happy to see each other again. “Are you enjoying your job at the library, Hexie,” her foster mom asked? “Oh, you aren’t sure yet?”

I think she enjoys her job, but she wasn’t at all sure about enjoying the clinic. And sure enough, she soon had reason to be unsure. Going by “ladies first,” Hexie was the first to be vaccinated by our FuRR vet, Dr. Cole Bierbaum.

“Hexie, is that SKULLS on your bandana?” someone commented.

I explained that I couldn’t find her girly pink one, so we went with Alex’s bad to the bone bandana. You couldn’t get much further from Hexie’s personality, nor Alex’s.

Barney came out a little hesitantly. After being held and admired by several people, he came back to my arms where he relaxed and posed like the proud handsome fella he is.

After a look-see by Dr. Cole, Barney was given a shot for skin allergies in addition to rabies. TWO shots? Poor Barney. He looked at me like he thought both shots were all my fault. I am definitely going to have to come up with extra treats for the Barn when we get home.

“Barney, I read all about you on the blog,” someone told him.

“Hey, Barn, you are famous,” I whispered to him.

And then out came Shadow. All decked out in Footsie’s Harley-Davidson bandana, Mr. Shadow made himself perfectly at home, wandering around the intake room, checking out the Footsie ribbons and peeking with interest at the hustle and bustle in the clinic area.

“Ohhhh,” said one of Footsie’s biggest fans, upon seeing Shadow for the first time. Other than missing Footsie’s extra toes, Shadow could be a young Big Footsie. He even has quite a bit of the same endearing badness.

Before getting his vaccination and exam, Shadow and I made a trip outside the new Little Rock Animal Village building, which is where we hold our clinics.

At the entrance to the building is a walkway made of bricks that people have purchased in honor or in memory of cherished pets or friends. There, right in front, is a brick with Big Footsie’s name on it, a salute to Footsie and to the shelter from which he was rescued so many years ago.

Shadow looked at the brick and finally stretched out on it.

“Shadow, you never knew Big Footsie,” I told him, “but you are carrying on what he started!”

Was Shadow impressed?

Ummm. He is a cat, so there is your answer!

“We have another field trip next weekend,” I told the library cat staff as I let them out of their carriers at home.

Before I could get the whole sentence out, I realized that there was not a library cat in sight.

Somehow they knew exactly what I was saying!