The statue of the stoic lion seemed to be keeping watch over the gold colored urn that held Cover Girl’s ashes.

Someone had brought the statue to the site of the Great Kitty Rescue last summer in Pahrump, Nevada. It now makes its home at Angels Rest at the Best Friends sanctuary, where volunteers, members and staff gathered Sept. 13 to say goodbye to the cat who’d captured the hearts of so many.

People traveled from as far away as New Hampshire to this special place in Southern Utah’s red rock country to pay tribute to the cat who taught everyone so much about the strength of the spirit, about survival despite the odds.

People who visited Best Friends’ Web site were drawn to Cover Girl the first time they saw the little white and black cat crawling away from the lens of Best Friends photographer Troy Snow. It was as if she didn’t have one more ounce of strength left in her starving, weather-beaten little body. Indeed, most who saw her that day thought she wouldn’t survive.

Loved and cared for

When Sheila Smith, founder of Shadow Cats, a beautiful cat sanctuary in Round Rock, Texas, came into her life, Cover Girl went from a cat who survived to a cat who thrived. Cover Girl bloomed in the last year of her life in the home of Sheila and her veterinarian husband, Roy. And when Cover Girl peacefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in Sheila’s arms Aug. 18, she died knowing what it was like to be loved, to be cared for.

It was the first time Sheila had been to Best Friends. She was visibly moved as she walked through Angels Rest, making her way through the trees with the wind chimes and past the markers with the touching tributes from people to their pets.

Sheila believed Cover Girl should be “tucked in” alongside the other Pahrump cats who crossed before her. And she wants the tribute that’s etched on the plaque that marks Cover Girl’s final resting place to inspire everyone who reads it to find out more about Cover Girl and some 800 other cats Best Friends rescued from the Nevada desert.

“Where apathy exists, tell her story,” Sheila read from her tribute to Cover Girl. “Where abuse and hoarding occur, or where ignorance abounds, tell her story…. Each of us, as we return to our daily lives, has the power to carry on Cover Girl’s legacy in all we say and do. If one animal is saved, if one person’s voice joins our own, then truly their lives weren’t in vain.”

‘She was everyone’s cat’

The memorial service reunited many of those who had given so much of their time, and their hearts, to this rescue – Best Friends volunteers like Mary Layton of New Hampshire, Beth Kohler and Cathy Ramsey of California, and Jerry and Linda Bell of Pahrump.

“She was my cat, but she was everyone’s cat,” Sheila said following the ceremony. “I thought it was absolutely so incredible that this one little fluff of fur could elicit this kind of response. I could just feel their energy, their passion and their love.”

Mike Bzdewka, a caregiver at Best Friends’ CatWorld, was a member of the Best Friends rescue team and one of the first people on the ground in Pahrump. He was the one who got Cover Girl and took her to the makeshift hospital for treatment. When he and Sheila met for the first time Saturday, it was like a reunion between two longtime friends.

“You brought a light into my life,” Sheila said as she greeted Mike with a hug. Cover Girl might be gone from this earth, but her legacy lives on.

“The most important thing in the whole world is to never forget Cover Girl and all these cats from the Great Kitty Rescue,” Sheila said. “People must understand that apathy is no longer okay. We have to be willing to stand up and get involved.”

Written by Sandy Miller
Photos by Molly Wald

There are other cats from the Great Kitty Rescue who are still looking for loving, forever homes. Go to the Best Friends Adorable Adoptables page to start your search for the perfect feline. Those interested can also contact Katie Dennison at katied@bestfriends.org or 435-644-2001, ext. 4413.

Read more about Cover Girl’s legacy in her blog.

For more about the Great Kitty Rescue, visit the Nye County Cat Rescue campaign page on the Best Friends Network.

---

The work of Best Friends is possible only because of your generous support. Please help us reach our goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Check out more Best Friends news.

September 29, 2008 : 12:30 PM ET
posted by: Mom of Niki

Hillybilly girl ~

OMG, you sound just like me! I live outside of Detroit {in Milford}, am your age and have been dreaming of helping the animals. I, too, feel that is, and has been, my calling for quite some time now. I, too, have seriously been considering giving up my life in Michigan {most of my family lives here, it's the only state I've ever lived in, etc.} to relocate to Kanab so I can work for Best Friends.

The older I get the less I care for most of the human race and the more I love animals, want to be around animals, want to help animals in any way I can. The exception to the human rule is to be surrounded by the angels who "work" at Best Friends. I truly need to be around people who share the passion and the understanding and "get" the human~animal bond.

To Cover Girl ~ you will never, ever be forgotten my sweet baby girl. And I promise that your life, and those of all those cats and kittens from The Great Kitty Rescue what you experienced there will not have been in vain. I promise we will not allow anything like that to ever happen again. And to all those who have gone before you Cover Girl, to any animal who has been neglected, abused, tortured and killed by a human, we vow your lives and your pain and suffering will not be forgotten as you will never be.

We love you Cover Girl xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

September 25, 2008 : 11:45 AM ET
posted by: skya

Quick howdy to hillbilly girl:

First - you're from Flint and you call yourself a hillbilly? That's what you flatlanders call us folks from northern Michigan!!! LOL!!!!

Seriously, best of luck with your plan. I know that Michigan is one very depressed state - I left three years ago and now call Maryland my home. I'm a 54 year old RN who was working for Johns Hopkins until I had some surgery on my neck and ended up with permanent nerve damage. Stuck at home on disability, I found a way to make something positive come out of it. I now foster orphaned kittens for the SPCA. Someone who works can't do the every 2-4 hour feedings on newborns, so in a way, my disability has been a blessing. I'd love to do puppies too, but my place is too small and I can't take a dog tugging on my arm until they learn to walk on a lead. Believe in your dreams and have the courage to follow them! Bless you and I hope everything turns out well for you! Follow your destiny!!!

Melanie, former Michigander >^..^<

September 22, 2008 : 2:59 PM ET
posted by: babs1171

We all cried such tears when we saw that first awful photo of our CoverGirl.....we learned that with proper care and love even a cat none of us thought could survive in such bad shape could blossom like CG did. I am so happy knowing that CG had a great place to live and was so loved after her rescue.....she'll be awaiting us all on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Until then, rest sweet CoverGirl, we will get to meet someday!

September 21, 2008 : 5:56 PM ET
posted by: hilbillygirl4u

I have been watching the show Dog Town since the show on the Michael Vick dogs and I am so touched and inspired to hear of an organization which believes in life for animals instead of death. I live in Flint Michigan and that is the only thing that keeps me from volunteering my time for homeless cats& dogs. I can not possibly get attached to an amimal who may be on death row if it isnt placed in a loving home or chosen by a great family. I have been inspired by watching the show about Best Friends to do a food drive for donation to the animal shelter. I have always believed my calling was to work with and speak for animals becuse they are not able to speak out for themselves. They find their way to my path the lost, lonely & broken. I know God has been speaking to my heart for many years and am seriously considering a major career move as well as a life changing move from Flint, Michigan to Utah to be near the sanctuary and begin doing what I know I am destined to do.The thing is I am 52 yr old and I have a blind 32 year old son living with me and counting on me too. He relocated from Provo Utah about 3 years ago where he lived alone and was without the support of his family. I have many decisions to make but I just wanted someone to know how inspiring it is to watch and learn about the good things the sanctuary does for our forgotten ones.

September 21, 2008 : 11:44 AM ET
posted by: mytwocats

R I P little angel,covergirl,you died knowing how much you were loved by everyone.mytwocats

September 19, 2008 : 4:50 PM ET
posted by: cambridgeratmom

CG, I kiss your sweet face. You were loved.

September 19, 2008 : 12:43 AM ET
posted by: saveallpitbulls

Covergirl! we will all miss you here, and i was so sad when i could not make it to your service. our power was out, because we were being hit by hurricane ike!! God Bless You, covergirl, and have fun playing on the rainbow bridge.

September 18, 2008 : 5:14 PM ET
posted by: kittychump

Bless you, you shining angel - Cover Girl - you are a beacon of Light for us all now, forever.

And Bless you Sheila - you are an angel right here amongst us, and you have my prayers, solidarity and love - you are a sister in the struggle against exploiter-hoarding - and you are a precious role model to all rescuers and animal-lovers everywhere. It is impossible to imagine all the little furry angels who are watching over you - so many who cherish all you have done, all you are doing, and all that you are teaching and helping others to do.

Blessings to all the BF staff, GAs, caregivers and volunteers. I'm so touched also that Cynthia, chula77, got to be there - "Cotton's Mom" - and the human mom of so many lucky critters.

Cover Girl brings the Circle of Love together, and keeps making that circle wider and stronger....

September 18, 2008 : 2:58 PM ET
posted by: skya

Cynthia (Chula77), I 'm so happy that you were able to be there to represent all Guardian Angels. :-)

You took a tiny piece of all our hearts, Cover Girl. Run or lounge happily at the Bridge, Little One, where there is no pain, no hunger, never being too hot or too cold. Thank you blessing us all with your essence, if only for a short time. >^..^<

September 18, 2008 : 12:30 PM ET
posted by: jdunn43894

I am sitting here crying over the story of Cover Girl. I visit Best Friends website daily and Shadow Cat's weekly. As caretaker of feral colonies, my money is often times limited, but when I can I give to them both. Thank you for all you do; thank you Shelia for giving Cover Girl the best and I know you heart must be torn in different ways. One with incredible sadness and one with joy of what she gave and you gave. My prayers are with you.

September 18, 2008 : 8:09 AM ET
posted by: alex

Thank you all so much for taking care of Cover Girl and giving her the life of dignity and love that she had always deserved - now she is free, in a healthy body and probably bossing all the kitties on the other side around! :-) Covergirl, you will never be forgotten.

September 17, 2008 : 9:43 PM ET
posted by: squeakie42

Good night, sweetheart. Sweetheart, goodnight. I so wish you'd been able to have more than a year of love and care, after all that you suffered. I can never forgive those who are responsible for your death, and the suffering of hundreds of others -- not even when I remember how the BF team brought you all into "the arms of the angels." Thank you to all who spent sweat, tears, and blood sometimes to bring you all home.