“All Shelly wants to do is disappear [and] to go back to her previous life.”
Back in 2020, a 2-year-old cat named Shelly was adopted from NAWS Humane Society. The shelter’s staff and volunteers were overjoyed that the sweet kitty had found a loving forever home.
After Shelly was adopted, the NAWS Humane Society team expected to never see her again. But five years later, Shelly’s family came back to the shelter — to surrender Shelly.
“Unfortunately, due to reasons outside of Shelly’s control, she wound up back at the shelter here with us,” Fran Grzesik, one of NAWS Humane Society’s directors, told The Dodo.
Seeing Shelly again gave everyone at NAWS Humane Society a major case of déjà vu.
“She was returned in the same adoption box she was adopted out in,” Grzesik said.
The first few days Shelly was back at the humane society, she was terrified. Going from her calm home environment into the chaotic shelter completely overwhelmed her.
“She hid behind her litter box and would barely let us touch her,” Grzesik said.
@frangrzesikShelly truly is such a sweet little girl who is so beyond deserving of love. Shelly is around 7 years old and so gentle and kind. These videos were taken the second day she arrived with us. Shelly truly doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. If you are interested in adopting Shelly please submit an adoption application atnawsus.org. If you have any questions about her please feel free to message me. I’m sending you all so much love, let’s get Shelly back into a loving home. 🥹🤍🫂#adopt#cat#catsoftiktok#kitten#catlover♬ come into my arms cover – kaylagc._
Each time Grzesik tried to pick her up, she would bury her head down into Grzesik’s arms.
“All Shelly wants to do is disappear [and] to go back to her previous life,” Grzesik wrote on TikTok. “A life that was full of love.”
Gradually, though, Shelly began to realize she was safe with Grzesik. She began allowing Grzesik to pet her and even started nuzzling against her hand.
“She is extremely sweet and so loving,” Grzesik said. “Once she trusts you, she truly becomes so attached to you.”
@frangrzesikIf you have submitted an adoption application for Shelly or inquired about her by messaging me… Thank you SO much. The outpouring of love Shelly received has been so wonderful. Please be patient with a response time as I’m trying to respond to everyone 🥹🫂🤍 I work full time at the animal rescue but respond to inquiries from this account on my off time so I truly appreciate all of your patience. 😭 Shelly will be on her way to her forever home once she is cleared by the doctors. I’m sending you guys all of my love, thank you for sharing Shelly’s story. Once she is adopted I will post another update. 🥹🫂🤍#adopt#catsoftiktok#adoptdontshop#kitten#cat♬ light blue linen – Them & I
Grzesik worried that the now 7-year-old cat would have trouble getting adopted. But as Shelly started coming out of her shell, people started falling in love with her personality. Soon, she had a long list of people who’d applied to adopt her, which the NAWS Humane Society staff reviewed carefully to find the perfect fit.
Finally, just weeks after arriving at the shelter, Shelly was adopted by a woman named Natalie. Since settling in with Natalie, Shelly has been enjoying getting in lots of cuddles while she goes through treatment for her weepy eye.
Grzesik feels grateful that she was able to help comfort Shelly after her return to the shelter. Thanks to NAWS Humane Society, she’s enjoying decompressing in her forever home.