Dorothy is a 13-year-old tortie who spent over a month sitting silently in a metal cage at a county shelter. Cats her age—with health problems and no one coming to claim them—rarely make it out. But somehow, Dorothy held on. Maybe it was the way she pressed her tiny face against the cage bars whenever someone walked by, or the faint rumble of a purr she still offered despite everything she’d been through. Whatever it was, something about her made the staff keep hoping for a miracle.
When the Montgomery County SPCA heard her story, they couldn’t turn away. This old girl, who had already survived so much, deserved more than to spend her final days alone behind metal bars. So they pulled her from the shelter and gave her a chance at the life she should have always had—warmth, safety, and love.
And then we learned the truth of what she’d been enduring.
Her ear burned with infection. She was missing teeth. Her frail body wobbled when she walked—sometimes she simply fell over. Her heart beat with a gallop rhythm, struggling to keep up. X-rays revealed arthritis threading through her spine, the kind of pain that makes every step feel like walking through fire. She bore it all quietly, without protest, like she had long ago accepted that life was something to endure, not enjoy.
But we treated what we could. We gave her medication, warmth, soft blankets, and gentle hands. And slowly, Dorothy began to thrive. After starting monthly injections for arthritis, she began climbing her little ramp, testing her legs, rediscovering tiny sparks of joy. Seeing her take those first pain-free steps—after so much suffering—is enough to break your heart wide open.
And yet… Dorothy is still waiting.
She spends every day in a small room in her foster home, alone except for brief visits. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t demand. She just waits—patiently, quietly—for someone. Someone who will hold her. Someone who will let her curl up beside them. Someone who will show her, before her story ends, what it feels like to truly be loved.
Dorothy should be an only cat, though she can accept calm companions who leave her be. But more than anything, she needs a heart willing to love a cat who has fought so hard just to still be here.
This is Dorothy’s last chapter.
Someone out there can make it a beautiful one.
Will you be the person who finally tells her she’s home?
To adopt you must first complete an adoption application and meet the cat in its foster home. We do not do same day adoptions so, generally, we can only adopt within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Dorothy is a 13-year-old tortie who spent over a month sitting silently in a metal cage at a county shelter. Cats her age—with health problems and no one coming to claim them—rarely make it out. But somehow, Dorothy held on. Maybe it was the way she pressed her tiny face against the cage bars whenever someone walked by, or the faint rumble of a purr she still offered despite everything she’d been through. Whatever it was, something about her made the staff keep hoping for a miracle.
When the Montgomery County SPCA heard her story, they couldn’t turn away. This old girl, who had already survived so much, deserved more than to spend her final days alone behind metal bars. So they pulled her from the shelter and gave her a chance at the life she should have always had—warmth, safety, and love.
And then we learned the truth of what she’d been enduring.
Her ear burned with infection. She was missing teeth. Her frail body wobbled when she walked—sometimes she simply fell over. Her heart beat with a gallop rhythm, struggling to keep up. X-rays revealed arthritis threading through her spine, the kind of pain that makes every step feel like walking through fire. She bore it all quietly, without protest, like she had long ago accepted that life was something to endure, not enjoy.
But we treated what we could. We gave her medication, warmth, soft blankets, and gentle hands. And slowly, Dorothy began to thrive. After starting monthly injections for arthritis, she began climbing her little ramp, testing her legs, rediscovering tiny sparks of joy. Seeing her take those first pain-free steps—after so much suffering—is enough to break your heart wide open.
And yet… Dorothy is still waiting.
She spends every day in a small room in her foster home, alone except for brief visits. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t demand. She just waits—patiently, quietly—for someone. Someone who will hold her. Someone who will let her curl up beside them. Someone who will show her, before her story ends, what it feels like to truly be loved.
Dorothy should be an only cat, though she can accept calm companions who leave her be. But more than anything, she needs a heart willing to love a cat who has fought so hard just to still be here.
This is Dorothy’s last chapter.
Someone out there can make it a beautiful one.
Will you be the person who finally tells her she’s home?
To adopt you must first complete an adoption application and meet the cat in its foster home. We do not do same day adoptions so, generally, we can only adopt within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
Interested? Please see our cats and dogs who need homes and our upcoming adoption events on our website www.mcspca.org
If you have any questions, please email us mcspcacats@hotmail.com and we'll answer you as soon as possible! You can call the MCSPCA at 301-948-4266, but for the fastest response, please use our email address.
Adoption Fees:
* A $100 adoption fee is required for cats.
* A $150 adoption fee is required for kittens under 1yr. of age.
* A $150 adoption fee is required for dogs under 50lbs
* A $175 adoption fee is required for dogs over 50lbs
* A $225 adoption fee is required for puppies or dogs with special medical needs (including sighthounds because of the anesthesia requirements)
We accept cash and checks only, no credit cards. The fee includes the cost of spay/neuter, initial vaccinations, heartworm testing (for dogs), FeLV/FIV testing (for cats), deworming, and general care of the animals during their stay at the MCSPCA (food, litter, medication, vet care, etc.).
An adoption application, vet check, and interview with a counselor are required to ensure that appropriate placements are made. A home visit may also be required.
* ALL members of a household must be present for the adoption process.
* If you rent your home, you must provide your landlord’s name and phone number. Landlord consent is required prior to adoption. To expedite this process, you can provide a copy of your lease or a signed statement from your landlord specifying the pet policy.
* The MCSPCA seeks the best possible homes for the animals in our care, and we reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone.
*Upon approval, an adoption contract must be completed and signed.
*An adoption counselor will follow up each adoption with telephone calls and/or home visits.
Interested? Please see our cats and dogs who need homes and our upcoming adoption events on our website www.mcspca.org
If you have any questions, please email us mcspcacats@hotmail.com and we'll answer you as soon as possible! You can call the MCSPCA at 301-948-4266, but for the fastest response, please use our email address.
Adoption Fees:
* A $100 adoption fee is required for cats.
* A $150 adoption fee is required for kittens under 1yr. of age.
* A $150 adoption fee is required for dogs under 50lbs
* A $175 adoption fee is required for dogs over 50lbs
* A $225 adoption fee is required for puppies or dogs with special medical needs (including sighthounds because of the anesthesia requirements)
We accept cash and checks only, no credit cards. The fee includes the cost of spay/neuter, initial vaccinations, heartworm testing (for dogs), FeLV/FIV testing (for cats), deworming, and general care of the animals during their stay at the MCSPCA (food, litter, medication, vet care, etc.).
An adoption application, vet check, and interview with a counselor are required to ensure that appropriate placements are made. A home visit may also be required.
* ALL members of a household must be present for the adoption process.
* If you rent your home, you must provide your landlord’s name and phone number. Landlord consent is required prior to adoption. To expedite this process, you can provide a copy of your lease or a signed statement from your landlord specifying the pet policy.
* The MCSPCA seeks the best possible homes for the animals in our care, and we reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone.
*Upon approval, an adoption contract must be completed and signed.
*An adoption counselor will follow up each adoption with telephone calls and/or home visits.
We generally hold cat adoption open houses every week at local Petco or PetsMart locations. See our website www.mcspca.org for details on upcoming events. Appointments can also be arranged to visit our adoptable cats at other times.
The MCSPCA facilitates dog adoptions through referrals. We also maintain a list of dog breed rescue organizations for people who are looking for a particular breed of dog.
We generally hold cat adoption open houses every week at local Petco or PetsMart locations. See our website www.mcspca.org for details on upcoming events. Appointments can also be arranged to visit our adoptable cats at other times.
The MCSPCA facilitates dog adoptions through referrals. We also maintain a list of dog breed rescue organizations for people who are looking for a particular breed of dog.
More about this rescue
The MCSPCA, founded in 1973, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. We are independent, locally based, and funded completely by donations. We receive no financial support from the ASPCA or from any federal, state, or county government agencies.
The MCSPCA, founded in 1973, is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. We are independent, locally based, and funded completely by donations. We receive no financial support from the ASPCA or from any federal, state, or county government agencies.
Other pets at this
rescue
We'll also keep you updated on Patches's adoption status with email updates.
