Bridget was born on a farm and adopted by my family when she was kitten. I held her on the way home, and we were close ever since. When I was young, she provided inspiration--starring in drawings, stories, paintings, and poetry throughout my school years.
Her voice was scratchy and usually grumpy, and she seemed to enjoy cussing. But her loud, beautiful purr is what I remember most about her. She was as fierce as she was sweet, and wouldn't back down from a fight--even when attacked by a young, powerful dog at age 17. When we broke up the fight, Bridget was uninjured and had the dog by the throat! She fought a scorpion for me once, too, again later in life. It had squeezed through a crack in the front door and was crawling across the floor toward me. I had no idea, until I heard her growling and hissing and saw her face off against that terrible stinger.*
She was diagnosed with advanced bone cancer on December 4, 2009 at age 18, and died peacefully the next day surrounded by her favorite things and best friend.
This project began a year later to the day as a way to honor her memory and the incredible impact she had on my life. I hope that through this project, shelters will be better equipped to find homes for other beautiful animals in Texas and eventually across the country.
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