Nice story in local press

See

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Conte...me=03+Mar+2004
+15%3A24&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=N ews&brand=ENOnline&itemi
d=NOED03+Mar+2004+15%3A25%3A08%3A670

or

http://tinyurl.com/2qp3a

"Cat aids girl's recovery from illness

OLIVIA RICHWALD

March 3, 2004 15:24

FORGET diamonds, moggy Dixie has proved she's a girl's best friend.

The nine-month-old rescue cat has been a huge boost to Caroline Berry's health
after she became so ill with the chronic fatigue syndrome ME.

The 17-year-old had to be hospitalised due to the condition and missed months
of school and college.

But since Dixie joined Caroline's family in Brundall eight months ago, she has
been kept busy teaching her kitten tricks, and now the feline has been
nominated for a special award.

She is down to the last six in the Best Friend category of the Cat's Protection
Rescue Cat of the Year Awards, beating off competition from dozens of furry
rivals.

Caroline and her family are due to travel down to a lavish awards ceremony at
the Savoy Hotel in London on March 31 to see if Dixie has emerged as top cat.

Caroline, who became ill over two years ago, said: "Dixie is what gets me up in
the morning when I am low. She is such a pretty and lovely cat and I love her
to bits.

"Before I got her in July I would just stay in bed all the time, and now when I
go downstairs I get mobbed by her."

Caroline's mum Gail, 52, believes it was the death of Caroline's last cat
Tilly, who was hit by a car, which caused her daughter to develop the illness.

She said: "When Tilly was run over Caroline took it really hard, and I know
bereavement is one of the triggers of ME.

"When she got over the death she really wanted another tortoiseshell. We went
to see some rescue cats and Dixie was there. She was so pretty and had been
there a few weeks, we couldn't believe no-one had wanted her.

"She was there waiting for us and we took her home the same day.

"Dixie and Caroline are inseparable and Caroline has taught her lots of tricks,
she can beg and she chases straws and can fetch them, we think she must have
been a dog in a previous life."

Since Dixie joined the family Caroline's ME attacks have been less severe and
she hopes to continue with her BTEC course in Childcare and Early Years
Development at Norwich City College next year.

Jen Snape, awards organiser at Cats Protection, said: "Dixie's story was an
inspiring one � here's a cat that's made an amazing difference to her young
owner's life."

Dixie's name was chosen because she is Gail and her husband David's tenth cat
and the word for ten in French is "dix".

The family, which includes Richard, 24, Robert, 21, have another three cats,
but Dixie is Caroline's special cat.

Mrs Berry said: "Some people are cat people, some people are dog people; we are
definitely cat people. Caroline and I reckon we want to come back as cats, the
life they lead."

ends"

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o* *l.c**$*$om$$

Aww That's nice.

Karen

"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" wrote in
message ...
See

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Conte...me=03+Mar+2004
+15%3A24&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=N ews&brand=ENOnline&itemi
d=NOED03+Mar+2004+15%3A25%3A08%3A670

or

http://tinyurl.com/2qp3a

"Cat aids girl's recovery from illness

OLIVIA RICHWALD

March 3, 2004 15:24

FORGET diamonds, moggy Dixie has proved she's a girl's best friend.

The nine-month-old rescue cat has been a huge boost to Caroline Berry's
health
after she became so ill with the chronic fatigue syndrome ME.

The 17-year-old had to be hospitalised due to the condition and missed
months
of school and college.

But since Dixie joined Caroline's family in Brundall eight months ago, she
has
been kept busy teaching her kitten tricks, and now the feline has been
nominated for a special award.

She is down to the last six in the Best Friend category of the Cat's
Protection
Rescue Cat of the Year Awards, beating off competition from dozens of
furry
rivals.

Caroline and her family are due to travel down to a lavish awards ceremony
at
the Savoy Hotel in London on March 31 to see if Dixie has emerged as top
cat.

Caroline, who became ill over two years ago, said: "Dixie is what gets me
up in
the morning when I am low. She is such a pretty and lovely cat and I love
her
to bits.

"Before I got her in July I would just stay in bed all the time, and now
when I
go downstairs I get mobbed by her."

Caroline's mum Gail, 52, believes it was the death of Caroline's last cat
Tilly, who was hit by a car, which caused her daughter to develop the
illness.

She said: "When Tilly was run over Caroline took it really hard, and I
know
bereavement is one of the triggers of ME.

"When she got over the death she really wanted another tortoiseshell. We
went
to see some rescue cats and Dixie was there. She was so pretty and had
been
there a few weeks, we couldn't believe no-one had wanted her.

"She was there waiting for us and we took her home the same day.

"Dixie and Caroline are inseparable and Caroline has taught her lots of
tricks,
she can beg and she chases straws and can fetch them, we think she must
have
been a dog in a previous life."

Since Dixie joined the family Caroline's ME attacks have been less severe
and
she hopes to continue with her BTEC course in Childcare and Early Years
Development at Norwich City College next year.

Jen Snape, awards organiser at Cats Protection, said: "Dixie's story was
an
inspiring one - here's a cat that's made an amazing difference to her
young
owner's life."

Dixie's name was chosen because she is Gail and her husband David's tenth
cat
and the word for ten in French is "dix".

The family, which includes Richard, 24, Robert, 21, have another three
cats,
but Dixie is Caroline's special cat.

Mrs Berry said: "Some people are cat people, some people are dog people;
we are
definitely cat people. Caroline and I reckon we want to come back as cats,
the
life they lead."

ends"

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o* *l.c**$*$om$$

What a lovely story! Thanks, Helen.
Best wishes,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" wrote in
message ...
See

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Conte...me=03+Mar+2004
+15%3A24&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=N ews&brand=ENOnline&itemi
d=NOED03+Mar+2004+15%3A25%3A08%3A670

or

http://tinyurl.com/2qp3a

"Cat aids girl's recovery from illness
snip