JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

Here’s the first winner in our Pets Make Us Human contest: Comrade Kitanya, sent in by her human, Kit Kwe.

“Two years ago a very young, mackerel pusakal, impregnated by a lion it seemed, started keeping vigil by our front gate, fazed by neither cars nor people. Impressed by her pluck, we started feeding her. After a week, she moved into our plantbox, and spent her days sitting before the wire fence, meowing tirelessly at the snarling dogs that bounced inches from her face. The dialogue was apparently successful because one day, she just hopped into the yard, walked coolly amidst the dogs (who licked her like a pastry) and staked her claim in their sleeping area.

“Comrade Kitanya Irenya Tantanya Karenska Alisoff, or “Kitty” has a passion for hour-long “conversations,” herding runaway dogs back home, joining them for daily walks around the village, and giving them a taste of her claws when they break my orders to “stay” and “sit.” Everyday, she assiduously notes the exact time of my arrival, expressing her displeasure when I come in later than 1 am. She thinks human feet are the perfect pillows, and surgical attachment to my heels is not a bad idea. She cannot give birth until she is snuggled up next to me in bed, and one of us–guess which–is being drawn into the sweet, slow waters of sleep.

“Here is a picture of her thoughtfully gazing at a litter of puppies.”

Comrade Kitty gets a gift pack from Purina. I’ll email you confirmation you can use to claim your prize. Email your stray dog and cat adoption stories with pictures to saffron.safin@gmail.com to get gift packs for your pets. (Humans and pets should have been together for at least 6 months.) If you haven’t adopted or can’t adopt stray cats or dogs—I know, the effort and expense—you can still participate in the Homeless, Not Worthless campaign.