One Stranger’s Kindness Inspired a New Way to Help Others Cope with Pet Loss
After the successful release of my debut poetry collection, Nine Lives, one follower took her support a step beyond buying a book for herself.
“I can’t use the book because I don’t need another thing, but is there a way I can maybe donate or buy one for someone who needs it but can’t afford it?”
Angela asked if she could donate a copy of Nine Lives to someone who may need it but not have the means to purchase one.
It wasn’t long before an order arrived with, “Please donate this one!” written in the address line.
I put the donated copy aside to make sure I had one ready when I found the right person. I didn’t send it out right away. I wasn’t even sure who I wanted it to go to. I quietly kept the book in the back of my mind. Then, I found Rebecca Bolton.
“Right now,” Rebecca commented on one of my posts, “I’m snuggling my 14-year-old dog Ulysses. We’re saying goodbye on Tuesday, and I’m just spending as much time as possible with him. He’s had Cushing’s for 6 years, and in June his kidneys started declining. It’s time. I’m not ready, but it’s time.”
She even included a picture of the sweet, silver-muzzled pup.
Rebecca’s dog, Ulysses, staying comfortable with lots of snuggles with his mom.
My heart ached for Rebecca and her soul dog. The memories of anticipatory grief from Gizmo’s last days came flooding back. I knew this book was for her. I wasn’t sure how to start the conversation at first, but eventually I let my heart take over the typing.
I reached out via private message to offer her the donated book.
I signed the book, dedicating it to her sweet pup, and mailed it out a few days later.
Ulysses crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the arms of the person who loved him most.
Rebecca messaged me shortly after receiving her book to say “thank you” to Angela— who was anonymous at the time— and me for bringing her comfort and kindness as she mourned her canine companion.
As I took a moment to reflect on the act of kindness I’d witnessed, I decided to make a purchase option on my website for people to donate a copies of Nine Lives to people in need of encouragement and validation during their dark times.
I wrote to Angela a few days later thanking her once more for her random act of kindness, except I misspelled “act” and put “cat” (thank you, autocorrect). I changed it before sending, but I knew then that “Random Cats of Kindness” is about to be so much more than a typo.
If you would like to donate a copy of Nine Lives, you can do so here.
The price for donating a book is reduced to the point where it covers the production and processing costs.
About Nine Lives
Nine Lives explores the raw, tender experience of grief through the eyes of a neurodivergent writer. Nine Lives invites readers into the world of The Pawtistics—a household full of quirky cats and AuDHD humans—where humor, chaos, and heartbreak coexist.
What begins with playful, familiar glimpses into daily life with feline companions slowly unfolds into a poignant tribute to love and loss. At the heart of the collection is the story of Gizmo, a charismatic orange cat whose sudden passing left an indelible mark on millions—and an even deeper one on the author. Through these poems, Kayla offers an intimate portrait of mourning, memory, and the enduring bonds that outlive goodbye.
