A note taped to a cage. Five words in English: “Don’t take away Zoey’s Bear”. That was all Zoey’s owner left when he had to surrender him to the Carver Scott Humane Society shelter in Minnesota on February 22, 2026. The elderly man had been admitted to a nursing home and could no longer care for his 4-year-old orange cat. He didn’t ask that he be treated well, he didn’t write his story or his name. He only asked that they not take away the bear.
Zoey arrived at the shelter with his stuffed animal under his paw. When the staff briefly took it away to clean it, the cat showed visible and immediate stress. When they gave it back, he calmed down instantly. That small moment explained everything: that bear wasn’t a toy, it was the only thing he had left of his home.
The shelter’s executive director, Alyse Arras, shared the story on Facebook on February 26, and the response was immediate. Thousands of people were moved by the image of Zoey hugging his bear, a symbol of a love that had to be separated but did not want to forget. Zoey is still waiting for a family. And the bear, of course, goes with him. 🧸🐱
