It is the time of year again when we recognize the miracles in our lives, even though they happen throughout the year.&bsp; And this whole year has been full of miracles for the animals at Foothills! &bsp;

Have I mentioned lately that the live release rate for the animals is higher than most shelters in the entire country?

I am so proud of our shelter! It is truly one of the best!

I usually blather on about Santa, and about whether my naughty deeds will come back to haunt me in the form of coal and switches, but this year will be a little different. &bsp;

This year, I want to share something with you that happened just last week.&bsp; It’s about a mistake that became a miracle.

Earlier this year, a beautiful cat was brought in to the shelter with her three little kittens who looked exactly alike — real triplets! &bsp;

Often kittens will look similar to their littermates, but in this case they were identical.&bsp; This posed problems when the staff at the shelter was trying to microchip them, and although no one knew it at the time, the microchips got mixed up. Two of these kittens were adopted into one family, with the third kitten going to a different family.

Fast forward to last week when the lady who had adopted the two kittens into her family received a phone call from the animal shelter in Spartanburg. &bsp;

They told her they had scanned a stray cat and saw from the microchip that it was one of hers!&bsp; She was horrified and raced home to see what had happened. &bsp;

She was greatly relieved to find both of her cats at home, safe and sound.

Her next step was to call Foothills Shelter to let them know, and the mix-up was discovered. &bsp;

The staff at Foothills immediately traced the microchip and called the real owner,&bsp; but the phone had been disconnected, and when they investigated further, they found that the people had just moved, leaving their cat and dog outside in the yard, in the cold, to fend for themselves.&bsp; &bsp;

Once this kind lady heard that, she went straight to the Spartanburg shelter and got the cat and is fostering her until an adoptive home can be found.

Unfortunately, I can imagine being left to fend for myself, because as you know it happened to me.&bsp; I was one of the lucky ones, and had good people who took care of me until I could find a home. &bsp;

This cat too is very lucky, because if the microchips had NOT been switched, the shelter in Spartanburg would have called a phone number that had been disconnected.

And sadly, that shelter only holds most animals for three days before they euthanize them.&bsp; So this beautiful cat was saved by a mistake, a shelter staff who cared enough to investigate, and a gracious lady with a big heart who made sure the cat had a safe, warm place to stay for the holidays.&bsp; If that isn’t a miracle, I don’t know what is.

Miracles abound in this amazing community.&bsp; I have heard of so many this year it just fills my heart. &bsp;

Each time an animal finds a loving home, it is a miracle of love.

And isn’t that what this season is all about anyway?

I wish each of you love, peace, and miracles.

Woof!

Champ