A couple of months ago, a veteran, whom we’ll call Sarge, came through our front door while one of our office managers, Jane, was working. Sarge was a man of few words, bordering on rude. Jane, who is one of the friendliest people, cheerfully asked how she could help. Sarge said he was there to pick up his cats, Bud and Isa. Jane realized he was a respite owner. She led him back to our cat room, assuming it would be a fast exchange. She was wrong. As soon as Sarge saw his cats all of his walls came tumbling down. Reunited with his feline family, he blossomed 🥹 He shared stories about their personalities, their quirks, their adventures, and (without needing to say it) how much they meant to him. When it came time to bring them home, Sarge shakily pulled out a battered wallet and fumbled for a $20 bill. “I know it’s not much,” he whispered. This quiet hero wanted to give back. That moment of joy was a beautiful new beginning… but life is rarely that simple. A few months later, we rec...