ゆりね（10歳・雑種・５kgの女の子）とは里親会のボランティアの時、初めて会いましたが、その時は『おとなしい犬だなぁ』という印象だったと思います。

後日、ARKから「フォスターさんの都合で２週間預かってほしい」とお話を頂き、我が家にやってきたのが始まりでした。ゆりねは最初遠慮がちでしたが、二週間後には少し懐くような仕草を見せてくれ、その様子があまりにも可愛らしく、里親になることを決心しました。

ゆりねとの生活では、散歩に苦戦しました。例えば100mを進むのに30分以上かかることもしばしばなのに、抱っこをすると猛烈に嫌がり、ゆりねと道で立ち尽くし頭を抱えることも何度もありました。気に入ったスポットをつなぎ合わせてお気に入りコースを考えてみたりと、模索が続きました。

それから数ヶ月、今では朝夕の散歩を心待ちにし、１〜2時間は楽しそうに歩き、匂いを熱心に確かめています。お散歩中にはよく「何犬ですか？」と聞かれます。なんだかやけに色々な人の気を引くようです（笑）。散歩後はドッグフードを完食し、目薬や歯磨きの日課を終えて

しばらく遊んだあとは、すっかり安心して横倒しになり無防備に寝息を立てています。

いろいろ豊かな感情や表情を見せてくれるゆりねと毎日過ごせることは、かけがいのない幸せです。この出会いを繋いでくださったARKに心から感謝しております。

When I first met Yurine, (ten years old, female, mixed breed, weighs about 5kg) at an adoption fair where I was working as a volunteer, I thought she seemed very docile. Some time later, staff asked me if I could sub-foster her for two weeks while her foster parents were away and she came to live with us. Yurine was quite reserved at first, but in a couple of weeks, she began to show signs of being friendly to us, which we found so adorable that we decided to adopt her.

Life with Yurine presented challenges, especially during walks. It often took over 30 minutes to cover just 100 metres. Yet, she fiercely resisted being picked up, leaving us stuck on the sidewalk, head in hands, countless times. I kept experimenting, piecing together favourite spots to create a route she might enjoy.

Several months later, she now eagerly anticipates morning and evening walks, happily strolling for 1-2 hours while intently sniffing everything. People often ask, “What kind of dog is she?” during walks. She seems to attract a lot of attention for some reason (LOL). After walks, she polishes off her food, completes her daily routine of eye drops and tooth brushing, plays for a while, then completely relaxes, flopping over and sleeping soundly, completely defenseless.

Spending every day with Yurine, with her rich emotions and expressions, is pure joy. I am deeply grateful to ARK for connecting us.

やっと、ほんの少し秋めいてきましたね。みそかとレインは、今ではお互いが居てあたりまえの存在になっているように見えます。朝六時半のご飯の時間は、みそかちゃん、前にも増して一生懸命に起こしてくれます。眠る私の横スレスレを鳴きながら往復したり、頭のてっぺんに頭突きしたり、私の手や耳、オデコをジョリジョリ舐めたり、毎日あらゆる方法で…結局私は嬉しいのですが（笑）でも普段はまだ普通に触らせてはくれません。ただ生活の中で、何気に私の足元にみそちゃんの尻尾がスーっと当たったり、寝転ぶ私の足を踏みつけていったりと、だいぶ触れても仕方のない場面で、遠巻きに避けることがほぼ無くなりました。ご飯を用意する主人の足元まで来て「まだ？早くちょーだい」とウロウロすることも。かわいいです。本当に。

At last, it’s starting to feel like autumn. It seems totally normal now to have Misoka and Rain with me. Misoka is better than ever at waking me at six thirty for breakfast. She meows softly as she walks back and forth really close beside me until I awaken, giving me head-bumps and licking my hands, ears and forehead – she’s very inventive! Of course I’m happy about that, but she still won’t let me stroke her. She’ll rub around my feet and swish her tail against me though. She’ll also walk on my legs when I’m lying down. I feel that she rarely tries to keep her distance these days. She often “speaks” to my husband when he’s getting her dinner. I’m sure she’s saying “isn’t it ready yet? Please hurry!” while she mills around him. She is so incredibly adorable. Really!

のりまき（ハチワレ）と暮らし始めて３年が経ちました。

犬との生活しか考えていなかった我が家に色々な偶然が重なり、ドキドキしながらトライアル開始したのを懐かしく思います。おっとりした性格で本当に猫？と思う事も多い彼のポテンシャルが発揮されたのがフォスター猫としての能力です。オス猫だというのに責任感を持って凛々しく子育てする姿に当初は大変驚き、そんな姿を見る度に自身はお母さんとはぐれポツンと佇んでいた。という背景を思い出し目頭が熱くなります。

とても愛情深いが故にフォスター期間が終わると「僕が大事にしていた子達は？」と数日探すようになり…

そんな彼に生涯離れる事のない相棒として今年からやって来たのが、ちょっぴりワガママで甘えん坊女子のアラレ（黒）です。のりまきの愛情をたっぷり受けて伸び伸びと過ごし、２匹はいつも一緒です。

我が家に来るまでにご縁を繋いでくれた皆様、親身に寄り添ってくれたアークスタッフ様、本当に有難うございました。

It’s been three years since we started living with Norimaki (tuxedo cat).

We had always thought of ourselves as dog people, but a series of coincidences led us to cautiously embark on a trial period with a cat! His gentle nature often makes me wonder, “Is he really a cat?” His true potential shone through as a foster cat. Despite being male, he took on parenting responsibilities with such dignity and pride that it astonished me at first. Every time I see him like that, I remember his background: he was separated from his mother and left alone, lost. It brings tears to my eyes.

Because he’s so deeply affectionate, when a foster period ends, he searches for days, as if asking, “Where are the kittens I cared for?” This year, he gained a lifelong companion who will never leave his side: Arare (black cat), a slightly spoiled, clingy girl.

She’s thriving by soaking up Norimaki’s affection: the two are never apart.

To everyone who helped connect us before they came to our home and to the Ark staff who supported us so sincerely, thank you so very much!

タティーが来て3週間になりました。超安定の性格は初日から変わらず、どこでも寝られるし、こんなに良い子がいるんだなあと感心しています。人だったら暑いとかしんどいとか、、うるさいところですが、毎日、淡々と過ごしています。今まで我慢する環境にいて辛抱強いのか、性格なのか、邪推でしかありませんが見習いたい位です。

1人暮らしの私の生活にスッと溶け込んでくれて話相手になってくれて助かっています。朝晩の散歩も立ち止まって周りを眺めたり念入りに匂いを嗅いだり、ご飯を用意している間はヨダレが滝のように、、。当然完食。兎に角、健全です。人や犬への対応も問題なく過ごせています。いろんな人がタティーに会いに来てくれて人気者です。

It’s been three weeks since Tattie came to my home. Her uber stable nature has not changed since day one: she will sleep anywhere. I’m astounded by what a good girl she is. If she were a person, she would have days when it was too hot or she couldn’t be bothered to do something, but not Tattie. She faces every day full on. I can only speculate as to whether she learned to be so patient because of her former environment or because it is her nature, but whichever it may be, I would like to learn from her!

Tattie has fitted into my solo lifestyle without a glitch. She is my friend and confidante. She seems to enjoy sniffing around on our morning and evening walks and salivates like a fountain when I prepare her food; of course she cleans her plate perfectly! She is accordingly in great health! Tattie also gets on with people and dogs with ease. She’s popular with everyone who visits.