Perry Ann Porter, “Here and Meow”

Perry Ann Porter and Spunky

Spunky the cat is pretty much up for anything. She is unfazed by dogs, vacuum cleaners and veterinary visits and recently rode through her first carwash, which she took in serenely from the front seat.

Perry Ann Porter-Brown met Spunky five years ago. She and her husband Ed had been talking about getting a cat ever since the death of Master Hewey, their beloved dog of 15 years. “I kept thinking about it and thinking about it,” Perry Ann said, “and I just had an intuition to go up to Petco and there she was.”

It turned out that Spunky had been waiting too. The 9-year-old tabby had been found in Bremerton and taken in by PAWS of Bainbridge Island and Northern Kitsap (PAWSBINK), but after more than six months had had no luck getting adopted. For Perry Ann, a retired schoolteacher who recently turned 80, there was no doubt.  When it turned out that Spunky was part of a program called PALS, which would help take care of her expenses, the deal was sealed. “We all connected beautifully and we adopted her.” 

The three became a family, and after Ed passed away, Perry and Spunky grew closer than ever.  Spunky rides along on Perry Ann’s scooter to get the mail, sunbathes by her side while she gardens and crawls under the covers on cold nights. “she’s the most fantastic pet I’ve ever met.”

PAWSBINK is well known for its storefronts on Pleasant Beach and in Kingston, where hopeful felines await a new home, but these centers represent only a small portion of what the nonprofit does.

PALS (short for Pets and Loving Seniors) matches hard-to-place animals with people over 65 whose finances make it difficult to own a pet. The animals are most often older cats but are sometimes cats or dogs with special medical needs.  The PALS program is a permanent foster, meaning that  PAWSBINK retains ownership of the pet and takes responsibility for food, grooming, veterinary visits and supplies. An animal Uber service is even offered.   PAWS also checks on the people and their pets monthly to make sure everything’s going OK.

The ongoing commitment from PAWSBINK has been crucial for Perry Ann. “The program is very beneficial for someone like me on a fixed budget who can take care of a pet but not really adopt it,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to afford the vet service and shots.”

Research has shown that pet ownership may protect older adults from cognitive decline and can improve blood pressure and decrease stress. A recent national poll revealed that seniors with pets enjoy life more and feel more loved. With an aging population – more than 18% of Kitsap County’s population is seniors – these issues assume more significance

The PALS program helps improve the odds for older animals whose chances of adoption dwindle with each passing year. Every year of a cat’s life adds a month to the time it can be expected to stay in a shelter and the sooner they are able to get out, the better.

“Animals do suffer depression and they get tired of being closed in a condo,” she said. “Being in somebody’s home and being loved by somebody is the best place for an animal.”

Perry Ann and Spunky can attest to that.

Editor’s Note:  This article has been adapted from an original article “Here and Meow” by George Soltes, which appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of PNW Bainbridge magazine.  Keith Brofsky is the photographer for these two great pictures of Perry Ann.

Postscript:  Perry Ann has reported with sadness that Spunky, at the age of 15, succumbed to thyroid complications and passed away shortly after this story published.  Surviving sudden thyroid issues is almost always terminal for cats.