‘It’ll be fine’ – Rosco, The NorthEscambia Rescue Kitty, dies: NorthEscambia.com


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We wanted to share some really sad news from our NorthEscambia.com family.

Our beloved cat Rosco passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday morning at the age of five. He received the best veterinary welfare care, and he had no known serious problems and was not ill.

We’ve decided to share our grief with you because thousands of our readers have come to know Rosco in the past 2.5 years since we first published his Adoption Story. He has been our photo model for several articles on NorthEscambia.com and has appeared countless times on our social networks. We get asked about him all the time.

Rosco was a sounding board for story ideas and by my side I waited for the bed while I wrote these last two short stories. He knew that certain tones on the fire scanner would mean Dad could leave, and he often waited for me to come back by the door. At night he would wait for me to finish writing or take a break. In our free time, he would snuggle up next to me on the couch, just wanting the reassuring touch of my hand on his back. He was really part of our NorthEscambia.com operation.

We adopted Rosco and another kitten named Oreo, now 7, from the Escambia County Animal Shelter in May 2019. At the time, Rosco had been at the shelter longer than any other cat because he had excessive aggression. When we first met, he bit me. I bled. I tried to stroke him again. He bit me again. I bled again. We fell in love. (You really should read this first adoption story.)

We do not know his story until he arrived at the shelter. But we decided to give it a “furever” home, not knowing that furever would only last 2.5 years.

He has become a great darling, often by my side. He loved those hugs on the couch and being held. He was a perfect friend.

Some days Rosco and Oreo had their little scuffles for the best sunny spot on the bed. For a couple of animal shelter cell mates who became brothers, they had an obvious love for each other. Oreo goes to bed around 10:00 a.m. each night. Later, as we finished our late night shift at NorthEscambia.com, Rosco walked me to the kitchen and asked for some treats. He wouldn’t eat them, opting for his favorite food instead. Rosco would go to the bedroom and “tell” Oreo. “Little brother, I brought you some treats. They’re in the kitchen.” Oreo would head to the kitchen for his late night snack. The best brothers watch over each other.

Little Oreo is lost now. He’s still looking for Rosco and spends more time wanting to be detained.

Rosco would like you to know he was a tough and brave little guy, but inside he had the biggest of hearts. If Dad offered a reassuring look and a “I’m fine,” he would resist loud noises from vacuums, power tools, whatever. If daddy said everything was fine, everything was fine.

I held him Tuesday morning and told him everything was fine. He made little cat cookies as he took his last breath.

Thank you for allowing us to share Rosco with you over the past 2.5 years. Please consider adopting a cat or dog from the Escambia County Animal Shelter if this fits your family situation. Or consider a donation to the Friends of Escambia County Animal Shelter (click to donate). Tell them Rosco sent you, and he wants all the animals in the shelter to know before Christmas that …

It’ll be OK.

Top pictured: Rosco by a NorthEscambia.com camera bag awaiting the next big story. In the first photo below: Part of Rosco’s Christmas 2021 photoshoot. Next two photos: Rosco and Oreo sharing a corner of the sun and looking out the window. And below: More from her Christmas photoshoot. He didn’t trust the gnome, but dad said it would be fine. Photos NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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