There were two sweethearts in Eugene’s life: first, the love of his life and his wife of 29 years, Barb; and second, a cat, Sweetheart, to fill his lonely heart.

At Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), we believe everyone deserves the love of a pet, regardless of income or other challenges. Through door-to-door outreach, word-of-mouth, and other methods, our Pets for Life team connects with people to provide support and create long-lasting relationships. Pets for Life staff meet community members where they are, rather than waiting for them to find us.

Eugene first spotted Barb across a dance hall, and just six months later, they married. Eugene was a woodworker by trade, and Barb built a career in insurance. Like puzzle pieces, the two fit into each other’s lives seamlessly.

After almost 30 years together, Barb passed away, leaving Eugene on his own. Their home, adorned with countless pictures of Barb and the life they lived, stands testament to the enduring love they shared during their remarkable time together. Her passing left Eugene grappling with profound loneliness.

Then, along came Sweetheart.

The cat showed up on Eugene’s porch one day and refused to leave. Eugene diligently searched the neighborhood to see if he could find the cat’s guardian, but with no luck. After a trip to the vet to check for a microchip and finding none, Sweetheart became Eugene’s kitty.

The first time he brought her into the house, Sweetheart ran straight to the bed where Barb had slept. When Sweetheart wasn’t sleeping on Barb’s bed, she would only scratch at one specific place: Barb’s chair. Every night, Eugene and Sweetheart share a ritual: Eugene walks to every picture he has of his beloved wife and speaks to her as if she is still there, while down at his feet, faithfully walking along the entire time, is Sweetheart.

The touching bond between Eugene and Sweetheart exemplifies the deep connection animals can develop with humans. They can provide us with the love and affection we need, and we can return that favor.

When Eugene began to fear he couldn’t provide Sweetheart with the care she needed, he thought he would have to give up this precious companion who had brought so much warmth and joy to his life. Thankfully, he had heard about DCHS’s Pets for Life program and reached out for help.

Our Pets for Life team has provided Eugene and Sweetheart with some much-needed supplies, and one of DCHS’s on-staff veterinarians performed an annual wellness exam for Sweetheart (she’s a healthy kitty!) and administered standard vaccines. All of this was done at no cost to Eugene, so he never had to make the impossible decision between foregoing essential care or giving up his Sweetheart.

These are just a few of the services Pets for Life can offer. Our team can provide clients’ pets with supplies (like food, litter, and more), pet medications, flea and tick treatment, spay and neuter surgeries, and information. Our focus area is the 53713 zip code and Allied Drive neighborhood. With 27 percent of residents living below the poverty line and a lack of pet stores and veterinary clinics, these areas are considered “resource deserts,” which makes it all the more difficult for pet parents to find the care their animals need.

DCHS’s Pets for Life team knows that each of our clients is a unique person with unique needs, and because of Pets for Life and the support that we provide, Eugene can speak to his sweetheart through her pictures every night and know that Sweetheart will be faithfully by his side.