There are countless reasons why a pet may need to be rehomed, so it's essential not to rush to judgment when it happens. A heartwarming story from The Pongo Fund, an animal hunger relief charity in Oregon, illustrates how rehoming a beloved pet can sometimes be the best choice for everyone involved.
The Pongo Fund shared the touching story of two cats, Penny and Lucy, and the two women who cared for them. It’s a story filled with love, loss, and unexpected connections, showing how life can bring people together in unexpected ways.
Be prepared—this story might bring you to tears.
According to The Pongo Fund:
“She asked us to find a new home for her cats immediately. Both were 12 years old, and she had cared for them for 10 years. She explained that she needed to travel and do things she hadn't been able to do for the past decade. As difficult as it was, she felt it was time to let them go.
Her plans didn’t include extravagant vacations. She wasn’t heading to France, Kathmandu, or Cancun. She simply wanted to spend time with her mother, reconnect with old friends, and return to where she grew up. That was her calling. But her decision to part with the cats wasn’t initially in the plan—neither was her cancer diagnosis. Her oncologist told her she had one or two years left, and if there were things she wanted to do, now was the time.
Penny and Lucy originally came from The Pongo Fund a decade ago when another woman’s life was turned upside down. She lost her home and her marriage, and she loved her cats so much that she asked us to help find them a new home. We did, and now, the woman who had taken them in needed us to do the same for her.”
The woman didn’t want to give up Penny and Lucy, but she knew it was in their best interest, not hers. Her only request was that the two cats stay together. She also wanted to meet their new family and make sure they understood that Lucy sometimes had an upset stomach, and how she would gently rub Lucy’s belly while singing to her to calm her down.
Though she feared people might judge her decision, she explained that it was a necessity. The reality was that sooner or later, Penny and Lucy would need a new home, and she wanted to be part of that transition.
Finding a new home for two senior cats can be challenging, but The Pongo Fund had an idea. They contacted a woman who had followed the charity for years, cheering them on from afar. This woman had also once owned two cats but had to give them up when her life fell apart. She had moved away, built a new life, and always stayed in touch with The Pongo Fund.
Little did she know, the two cats now in need of a home were the same ones she had once loved so dearly but had to let go for their own good.
Over the years, she had asked for occasional updates, wanting to know that Penny and Lucy were safe and happy. When The Pongo Fund reached out to her, she listened as they explained the situation, and then she fell silent. In that moment, she realized who the cats were and began to sob.
A few days later, she returned to Portland to meet the woman who had cared for Penny and Lucy for the past ten years. The two women embraced, bound by their shared love for the same cats. One woman, nearing the end of her life, was ready to say goodbye, while the other welcomed the cats back home, never imagining she would see them again.
Sometimes life works in strange, full-circle ways.
As The Pongo Fund put it, “This is why we Pongo.”
Many people who read the story were deeply moved, expressing their emotions in the comments. One person wrote, “I’ve barely been awake for an hour, and I’m already sobbing.” Another said, “I'm not usually very emotional, but this made me cry. I'm so happy for everyone involved.”
One commenter summed up the lesson perfectly: “This is why everyone who has to give up a pet should be treated with dignity and compassion.”