The Purring and Barking Hearts of our Homes

photos: Natalie Gee with Momo and hubby Ryan; Kelly Groth holding Princess Leia; Jackie Thornhill’s Misty; Nymeria and Tyrion at their residence with Melissa Hernandez; Kyle Smeallie and Stuart

He came into my life when I least expected it, even though I had been searching for a while.  I wasn’t sure of myself, but I jumped in anyway.  The first evening he came home with me, he walked out of his crate, ignored me completely, and hid in a corner for the rest of the night.  The next morning, he walked out of his corner and into my heart.

My foster cat and I spent only one summer together.  But in those months, we shared unconditional love and compassion.  I met him a week before I injured my tailbone.  It was a painful recovery.  He didn’t run away and hide when I was struggling and feeling down.  He would lie next to me, put his paw on my arm, and look gently into my eyes.  He kept me company while I was mostly bedridden.  And he gave me a reason to get out of bed each day, to tend to his daily needs.  When we were saying goodbye, I held him, we nuzzled, and he gazed into my eyes one more time.  I imagined he was pleading with me to stay.  But now I think he was saying thank you. 

With the official day of love and affection approaching, I reached out to our city leadership to ask about individuals’ relationships with the animals in their lives. As a commissioner, I’ve learned our supervisors and their aides are hard-working and busy. Very busy.  So when many of them responded quickly and enthusiastically, it seemed to already answer what I set out to find: what place do our companion animals have in our hearts?  

Natalie Gee, Chief of Staff to Board President Walton, met Momo unexpectedly. Gee and her husband intended to adopt a different cat, but at the shelter, they “felt the vibe” with Momo, a friendly, older tuxedo with an affinity for rubber bands. “We both fell in love with him,” Gee said.  After learning that Momo and Gee shared the same birthday, it seemed meant to be.

Kelly Groth, Legislative Aide to Supervisor Chan, also instantly connected with Princess Leia, a sassy black cat with big green eyes that wooed Groth when they first met.  “The minute I opened Leia’s cage door to say hello, she immediately greeted me with purring.  I knew then she had adopted me.”

But even love-at-first sight requires commitment. When Jackie Thornhill, Legislative Aide to Supervisor Mandelman, met Misty at a Los Angeles shelter, the long-haired cat “had clearly been through a lot prior to being adopted and struggled to trust people for a while, often lashing out,” Thornhill said.  Thornhill invested in the relationship, adamant that Misty was family. “After giving her a lot of time, space, and love, she started to warm up and now she is the most talkative, affectionate cat I’ve ever known.”

Melissa Hernandez, Legislative Aide to Supervisor Preston, shows a similar devotion to “spoiled but loving” Nymeria and Tyrion, who came into her life as kittens when her grandmother took in a pregnant cat.  “Their love language is clearly receiving gifts.  But that’s okay, because mine is providing acts of service,” explains Hernandez.  She ensures that “no lap is off limits,” and her love means regularly taking allergy medicine “for the sake of keeping them in my life.”

The love returned is immeasurable. “Princess Leia and I are emotional support beings for one another,” explains Groth.  “She would snuggle with me when I was feeling sad and make me feel loved when I returned from a long day of work.”  Thornhill also counts on Misty, who “occupies a very special place” in her heart.  “Misty has always been there to help comfort me. She follows me around, says goodbye every morning, and greets me with a chorus of meows every evening.”  Momo shows his love for Gee, too.  He lowers her stress with a special check-in during extra-long board meetings: licking her feet from under the table.

Kyle Smeallie, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Preston, tells a similar story of mutual unconditional love.  After searching “far and wide to find the right little guy,” Smeallie matched with Stuart, a Chihuahua terrier mix with socialist leanings who is the heart of Smeallie’s home. “Stuart is perfectly imperfect. His nose is crooked, his underbite is pronounced, and his left ear sticks out.  We affectionately refer to him as ‘spare parts.’” Stuart has enriched Smeallie’s life, helping him and his partner grow as they care for him together. “We love him wholeheartedly, even when he chews our socks or needs to go potty in the middle of the night.”

Our city leaders answered unequivocally.  Their animals are family, companions, and the purring and barking hearts of their homes.  San Francisco once again proves to be the true city of love.

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The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare (Animal Commission) meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm. As of January 2022, the meetings are still being held virtually over WebEx. Details at https://sfgov.org/animals