Carol, in Israel, is a Pet Tips and Tales reader and we have cat chatted via Skype for 25 years. She rescues and rehabilitates animals, and we’ve published her stories. Her dog, Boodi, is terrified of fireworks and thunder. They live near the border where the war began. What she and her pets are experiencing will change them forever.
She has not responded to emails. Kindly hold her, her pets and her
children, and residents on both sides of the borders, and their pets, in your prayers.
The following is a look back at Carol’s love of animals and theirs for her.
“I adopted a cat! Hamoodi’s name means cute,” said Carol. “He actually adopted my dog, Boodi,” laughed Carol.
“Hamoodi showed up in our yard and fell in love with Boodi. You can’t blame him - a handsome and kind dog who treats cats like family. Seeing these two animals together
fills my heart with love,” said Carol. “Living in Israel makes me wonder why people can't get along. If this cat and dog can bridge their differences and love each other, why can't neighbors?”
Soon after, Carol left for a holiday and guess who was waiting for her on her return? A neighbor had fed her pets and as soon as Hamoodi saw her he ran over to greet her.
“Yesterday Hamoodi did the most surprising thing!”
exclaimed Carol. “He joined Boodi
and me on our evening walk to the dog park! It is a joy seeing the two of them walking side by side. Then, this morning he did it again! This cat warms my heart and puts me in a good mood for hours. He makes my day, and the best part is that he immediately felt like family.”
Going to the dog park is dangerous. The trio traverse down the main road through town, then cross the busy street. Hamoodi is a survivor and wisely afraid of vehicles, but this did not stop him
from following his chosen family.
“The first time the cat followed us, at the park he ran under a bush and hid,” said Carol. “I was so upset when he walked with us, but I could not prevent him from joining us. He was feral. I couldn't catch him or put him in the house. I was concerned about the cars and arriving dogs and the cat’s intelligence was evident. Ninety minutes later, when Boodi and I left the park, the cat was nowhere to be seen. Just as we crossed the busy road, he
was walking next to us.”
The cat may be good with traffic, but oddly he is not so clever with sprinklers! When Carol lets him inside the house, he comes in wet from the neighbors' sprinklers.
“We have Russian, Arabic, and Jewish neighbors,” said Carol. “At the dog park their dogs only speak the language of their family. So Boodi and I are teaching Hamoodi Hebrew as his second language, his first, of course, is
Meowish.
He must be a purr-fessor cat wanting to teach that everyone wants to be part of a family and have someone to love and be loved by them. Boodi and I agree.”
