I was sitting in my car in the Collier Domestic Animal Services parking lot, finishing up a phone call, when I noticed an older gentleman sitting on the chair part of his walker, struggling to hold a large fluffy cat over his shoulder. He was waiting outside the intake door but no one was answering, it’s Wednesday and services at DAS are limited on this day. I had an empty carrier with me, I was there to pick up a TNR cat, so I got out to approach him to see if he needed help and confine the kitty so she didn’t run off. By the time I got out of my car, he had entered into the main building. I went inside and saw the staff assisting him and placing the kitty into a cat den. I was going about my business but was also eavesdropping, lol, and heard him tell the employee that he was surrendering the cat. She was his mother’s cat and she had been taken into the nursing home earlier that day. They asked if he had an appointment, he said no. They explained that he needed an appointment and they couldn’t take the cat because they were full. Every day I tell myself no more cats, we can’t, we are full too, we don’t have the money, we are losing our snowbird volunteers, our lease is almost up and a million other reasons why, but as soon as I saw his face drop with a look of what am I supposed to do now, I blurted out, I’ll take the cat! So now I have a ten year old Persian named Ivy, still hiding in the cat den, in my bedroom. Her coat is one huge matt. I’ve been cutting some of the smaller furballs off of her but she needs a professional. Friday she is going to Harborside for vaccines, snap test, microchip and a much needed grooming. NCA @ Purradise Gardens 921 No Name Lane Naples, Fl 34120