One day, back in 2012, Kristina Rucker’s life changed forever. It all began when she decided to adopt Patches — a 7-year-old shelter dog who needed a second chance.

“She came to me in a sad state,” Rucker told The Dodo. “I had to put in the work to train and teach and love her back to being a regular, lovable dog. It took years, but she became my best friend.”

Patches had grown to be a true member of Rucker’s family, enjoying life as their beloved pet. So, when at age 13, she developed arthritis, they spared no expense to ensure she was as comfortable as could be.

Along with physical therapy sessions and medication, Rucker bought her the biggest, fluffiest dog bed she could find.

The bed quickly became Patches’ favorite place — her own cozy haven at home to relax in.

For the next five years, Patches found comfort and relief in that relaxing spot.

Sadly, like all good things, Patches’ time on earth couldn’t go on forever. In 2022, at the age of 17, she passed away. Rucker and her family were devastated.

The bed Patches had occupied was now empty. And Rucker didn’t have the heart to part with it.

“So there it sat, in the same corner it was in, for years even after she passed,” Rucker said.

But recently Rucker had another idea — one to honor Patches’ sweet memory.

Rather than throw the bed away or have it continue to go unused, Rucker placed it outside her bedroom window to offer its comfort to someone else who might need it.

Not long after, she peeked out and saw this:

A pair of feral cats who live in Rucker’s neighborhood had found Patches’ bed and were using it to rest in, just as the dear old dog had done.

“When I first saw them, I called over my husband and daughter, and we all kind of squealed because it was so cute,” Rucker said.

Together, the two cats bore nearly the same colors that had made up Patches’ patches.

“That made it a bit more special,” Rucker said.

Since then, those cats and others in the neighborhood have begun to frequent the long-unused bed. Rucker has even started leaving out food to keep their bellies full as well.

“It’s turned into an everyday thing,” she said.

Nothing could ever replace Patches in Rucker’s heart, of course — but the pup’s old bed has become the gateway to a new kind of caring.

Rucker plans to build an enclosed shelter for the visiting cats, and to get them to a vet when she can earn their trust.

In a way, it’s like Patches lives on, all thanks to her bed.

“She was my best friend, and losing her was the hardest thing I have ever had to do,” Rucker said. “I love that her things can be reused instead of discarded, especially to help give the local kitties a place to sleep.”

Touching Memorial To Dog Spreads Joy Of What He Loved The Most

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)