Henrietta and Charlie: Saying Goodbye

I was very saddened to learn about the loss of a very good friend. Her name was Henrietta, and she was a long-time resident of the C.A.T.S. resale shop in Westwood, NJ. Here she is, as she often was, with her face held to the sunlight.


Despite our obvious differences, Henrietta and I had many things in common. We both enjoy a good nap; like to look out the window and observe life; and enjoy the company of others, but relish some downtime to ourselves.

Henrietta, like all companion animals, just ask for life's basic necessities: food, water, shelter, medical care, and love. She never passed judgement on me if I gained a few extra pounds, changed my hair color or my wallet was a little emptier than I'd prefer. She was a true friend, and I will miss her greatly. I feel glad to have known her, and the few moments I spent in her presence was the highlight of my week.

She was rescued in Union City, NJ, by a kind soul, on the brink of a snowstorm. Since she was FIV-positive, she was not easily adoptable. I have been cursed with cat allergies, so I could not provide a home. This year we also lost Charlie, a true gentlemen. He had many years of life behind him, and he had a lot of love to give to the very end.

"Home, home where I wanted to go," Chris Martin sings in Coldplay's Clocks. In the end, Henrietta and Charlie really did find their forever home, even it was an unconventional one, filled with love, happiness and warmth, with the guardian angels who run the C.A.T.S. store, including Lynn, the founder and president.

Goodbye, friends. I'll never forget you. Your paw prints are on my heart always.

Please support local animal organizations during these hard economic times. No amount of money is too little. If you can't give much, give a bag of pet food, or your time. Here are some great local groups in New Jersey: C.A.T.S., Companion Animal Trust, Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society, and S.T.A.R.T. II.

The C.A.T.S. Resale Shop, Westwood, NJ...Shopping for a Good Cause

When it comes to my charitable dollars, my wallet is open both to the national organizations like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States, and local animal rescue groups. One of my favorites is C.A.T.S. (Caring About the Strays). Located in Westwood, NJ, C.A.T.S. are the guardian angels to homeless animals in the Pascack Valley area. The group runs a resale shop also called C.A.T.S., where I've found everything from $3 GAP jeans and $4 Free People tops, to artwork, books, candles and more. I donate items frequently as well, including my now unwanted leather boots and wool sweaters. While I cannot turn back the clock and un-do my purchases of these products, I feel glad knowing they will be reused and are raising money for a cause I strongly support.

I love thrift store shopping. It's frugal, an adventure (since you'll never know what you'll stumble upon), and supports my ideals as an environmentalist (I'm reusing, and everything doesn't need to be brand new, does it?) And the best yet, it helps pay for food, veterinary care, and more. Cats roam freely in the store, where you can socialize with beauties like Charlie (pictured above), one of the store's gentlemanly senior citizen residents.

Visit them at: 80 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ 07675