Moose was originally adopted from PAWS when he was just a kitten. 7 years later, he returned to us when his owner unexpectedly fell ill. Of course, we welcomed Moose back with open arms—unfortunately, he didn't feel well either.

At PAWS, Moose was diagnosed with FeLV (feline leukemia) and osteoarthritis, both of which require continued supportive care. But with a careful balance of medications and lots of love, Moose got better and better. Finally, he was ready for a new home. 

Because FeLV can be transmitted to other cats and because of some behavior and boundary issues, Moose spent most of his time at PAWS in foster homes. This meant he had fewer opportunities to meet potential adopters. But that didn’t stop Wayne Stratbucker from taking a chance and setting up a meeting via Zoom.

Zoom meetings allow potential adopters to learn about foster pets from the people who know them best—foster parents. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and find out what these pets are really like after they relax and adjust to a new environment.

Once Wayne heard about Moose’s confident, playful personality and his love of being around dogs, he had a feeling this was going to work.

“My dog Finn, who’s also from PAWS, loves cats, too. So, the match was a no-brainer,” says Wayne. 

To make sure they meshed, Wayne fostered Moose for a couple of weeks, but it was quickly clear that Moose was meant to be part of their family, and they soon made the adoption official.

 He enjoys Finn as a cuddle buddy, and he’s a big fan of doing tricks for treats. The moment I walk over to the treats, he goes crazy for them. He knows ‘sit,’ ‘paw,’ and ‘up’ at this point! He also loves to photo bomb when I am on video calls for work,” says Wayne.

But Wayne’s favorite thing about Moose is how affectionate he is: “He always wants to be on my lap when I am working or lying literally on top of me to sleep.” 

Because Wayne gave Moose a chance, he changed both of their lives for the better, and he encourages others to do the same.

“Moose is great. I don't want other adopters to miss out on something good. Animals from a shelter always need time to adjust, but if you give them some time, and foster them if they are apprehensive, then a lot of times, the pet will settle in and be fine. Just let them set the pace and go from there,” says Wayne.