I know this is supposed to be a cat story. But we need to tell you how everything started at the sanctuary and rescue. It all started with a wonderful, cat-crazy, Giant Boston Terrier.
Well, let me start by telling you Bogey’s Tale, also known as ‘How a Cat Sanctuary Comes to Life.’ Cats and dogs are often like oil and water. In most cases, they never get along. They form a bond as if they’re raised together. When they meet on the street, the larger one usually chases the smaller one off. But then Bogey, a Giant Boston Terrier, comes along. Not a Boston Bulldog, because those do not exist. He was adopted from Austin Boston Rescue in Texas. This guy was quite a character from the very start. When his new humans met him for the first time, he was about eighteen months old and full of energy. It was love at first pounce for Mark, Jo Ann, Dorothy, and this Boston Terrier, later to be called Bogey. Yes, after Humphrey Bogart. After he joined the family, he spent a little over a year traveling the country. He traveled in the cab of a tractor-trailer with Mom and Dad. They covered over 40 states, Quebec, and Ontario, Canada. Wherever he went, he brought a smile along with comedy and cheer. For instance, there was a time when Mark and Jo Ann stayed in a hotel. Their truck was in the shop in Joplin, Missouri. When they walked down the hall, Bogey led the way and snorted. As he went, one of the guest room doors opened. A woman poked her head out. She was looking for the source of the noise in the hall. When Bogey was introduced, she commented that she thought she had heard a potbelly pig in the hall. They all shared a laugh over that one, and a new friendship was born. That’s only one example of the type of fun and cheer he would bring wherever he went.
Now to the cats and dogs. This dog started what is now known as Crazy Cat Sanctuary & Black Cat Rescue. At that time, he and the family lived in San Antonio, TX. When he went out for a walk, he often found kittens and young cats under bushes. These discoveries happened up and down the street as he walked the block. He would refuse to move on until one of his humans picked up the kitten. They would reassure him that they would take care of it. Then they would find a new home. His third rescue was a seven-week-old kitten that someone dumped over his back fence, figuring he would tear it up. One fence on either side of him that would have happened, but not in his yard. When Bogey saw this little squirming bundle, he decided it was time to go into action mode. He dashed into the house to find his two humans, Sister (Dorothy) and Mom (Jo Ann). He dashed around going from room to room searching, then went dashing outside and back in until they followed him. When they finally did, he showed them his newest discovery, later to be known as Madeline. When he heard the front door, he dashed back into the house. Then he went to Dad (Mark) just like he had done with Mom and Sister. Dad followed him out back. He wanted to check out what had gotten him so excited. He was handed this new little bundle of fur. As I said, Bogey’s third rescue. The interesting thing about these two is that they became best friends. It was not uncommon to see them napping together or playing together. They even stood watch together when they knew Daddy was coming home from time on the road. Unfortunately, Madeline passed over the Rainbow Bridge in 2017 at age 13. But she had a good, long life and brought much joy to the family and the Sanctuary.
The interesting thing about Bogey and cats is that he would chase off a cat over six months old. He did so with no intention of hurting it. If it were younger than six months, he expected the humans to intervene. They would find the help it needed. They would find a new furever home, directly or through a no-kill shelter they worked with.
A few months later, one of Mark’s buddies had a cat. The cat was living with his buddy and a woman. The woman didn’t like cats. One day, the woman put the cat in a room in their house. She closed the windows. There were some open bottles of toxic cleaning solutions in the room. If Dad’s buddy had not gotten home when he did, the cat would have died. Instead, Dad’s buddy called. He asked if they were interested in taking in another cat. Of course, Dad said yes. In about an hour, this new cat arrived, and Bogey was there to meet it. The new cat was a beautiful black Bombay. Her former daddy was Mark’s buddy. He called her Tituba. That is the name she still had until the day she passed on at age fourteen. When she came in, and after a few hisses were exchanged, they became fast friends. Tituba became known as Bogey’s third rescue. He oversaw the continued raising of these two kittens daily.
This attitude continued even as the family was preparing to move to Kentucky. One day, about two weeks before they were to leave, a big cat appeared at the front of the house. The difference was that Bogey didn’t chase him off, even though he was over six months old. He was a very big boy. He was a young, thirteen-pound Main Coon and had a very long soft coat. The humans believe Tituba had something to do with Bogey not chasing him off. Mom told Dad about him on the phone. Dad was preparing to come home. He had been gone for three weeks, driving his tractor-trailer truck all over the country. When Dad pulled up in front of the house in his truck, he first saw this big cat. Then he saw his boy, Bogey. The humans figured Bogey wanted to introduce this cat to Dad. Dad looked at Bogey. Bogey’s tail nub was wagging to beat the band. Dad then looked back at the cat and pronounced, “I guess you have a new home.” He picked up the cat while loving on Bogey. Now it’s three cats and one Boston Terrier. This cat became known as Boots, Bogey’s fourth sanctuary rescue.
It’s time to hit the road with three cats and one Boston. They’re in kennel crates. Two humans and a Ford Aerostar are packed to the roof. The supplies are for humans and animals. They are heading from Texas to Kentucky. While on the road, they would run into Dad several times in his truck. Bogey and the cats got excited each time. They loved the attention Dad gave to “His Kids”. First, south of Dallas, it seemed almost like he was trailing the same route as them. Then, they had their last meet-up with Dad as they crossed into Kentucky. It was the first time as a whole family in their new home state. Mom and Sister knew Dad was about fifteen minutes behind them. They realized this as they pulled into the rest area car parking area. Shortly after that, Dad rolled into the Big Truck parking area and came across a whistling. Bogey thought he heard something familiar and wanted out of his crate. After a few more minutes, Sister opened his door and he saw Dad. Out of the crate and across the parking area, this twenty-nine-pound Boston shot, right into Dad. When do terriers finally settle down, you wonder? Maybe around seven years old, and Bogey was a long way away from that. And he never really settled down until he was around eleven. Then he just slowed down.
Move-in day: September 1, 2009. When Mom, Sister, the Cats, and Bogey got to their new house in the country, the cats were unsure. They were unsure because there were several other cats left behind by the former tenants. The scent was strange to them. Bogey, nonetheless, had to instantly check out the new place, including the other cats. These cats passed his inspection. He helped Mom and Sister round them up into the kennel crates they had traveled across the country in. Then, he helped take them to a no-kill shelter they had found. Unfortunately, there isn’t a no-kill shelter close by anymore. That’s when Crazy Cat Sanctuary began. Black Cat Rescue officially came into existence as well.
After everyone got settled in, life routines started working on the new property. Then, several new kitties were dumped on the property. Bogey was the first to check each one out. Then he would do his “Bogey Dash”, as it became known. He did this to attract human attention. Even Maddy and Tituba got involved. Boots would just sit up on the top level of his cat tree to watch the action outside his window. It was as if he was saying, “Too much excitement, leave me out of it. I’m comfortable.” The no-kill shelter was changed to a kill shelter transfer point. Because of this change, the only choice was to take in new kitties. We cared for them on the property. This meant more food, litter, treats, and kitty boxes. It also meant more veterinary visits and money needed for that. Even with this going on, Bogey wanted to oversee everything and had Maddy and Tituba helping him.
One of the first customers for the new sanctuary was a dark calico female. She came to the sanctuary as a dumped kitty. But not just as a dump, but as a pregnant dump. Bogey found her hiding under the van one day. He took the time to assure her that he was not going to chase her or bite her. After the calico finally realized she was safe, Bogey dashed off. He got human attention to help with the situation. Another interesting thing about Bogey was that he only dashed off for one reason. It was when a new rescue needed human attention. This new Calico tiger became a permanent rescue. Sister, who is a cat whisperer, helped name her Ms. Callie. Ms. Callie has since gone over the Rainbow Bridge. She is still a special part of Crazy Cat Sanctuary and Black Cat Rescue, like Bogey. The sanctuary is still one of her babies as a permanent resident…but that is another story.
Unfortunately, Bogey had to be put down due to a stroke. He suffered several seizures after it, and his quality of life just got too poor. He lived thirteen beautiful and eventful years. He helped many cats and kittens get a second chance and fur-ever homes. Mr. Bogey was a special Giant Boston Terrier. He had a heart for his feline friends. He will live on as a special part of the Sanctuary. He will always have a special spot in the hearts of his humans.
Crazy Cat Sanctuary and Black Cat Rescue began operations thanks to a Giant Boston Terrier. The Terrier was joined in this effort by his two feline companions.
Rest in Peace, Bogey, Maddy, and Tituba.
