When Violet arrived at the Effingham County Animal Shelter in Illinois, staff quickly noticed she was not like many of the other animals that come through their doors.
The Siamese cat was calm, friendly, and clearly comfortable around people.
She leaned into head scratches and seemed eager for attention, as if she had once known a loving home.
Her gentle nature immediately won over the shelter team, including animal control officer Vanessa Skavlem, who said it was obvious Violet had spent time with a family.
But there was something else about Violet that caught everyone’s attention.
Attached to her pink collar was a folded note.
At first glance, the paper looked like it had been covered in messy scribbles drawn with a purple marker.
When Vanessa unfolded it and began reading, the truth behind those scribbles became clear.
The note had been written by a child.
Once the spelling was corrected, the message revealed a goodbye that left the shelter staff deeply moved.
“Bye Violet. I think that name chose you. I wish I could keep you. Bye Violet, I hope you get a good owner. To owner: Please take good care of her. By the way, I named her. Thank you! Love, Lacey.”
The words painted a picture of a young girl who clearly loved her cat but could not keep her.
For Vanessa, reading the note brought an immediate emotional reaction.
She said it was impossible not to imagine the child who had written it and the difficult situation that must have led to Violet being brought to the shelter.
Determined to learn more about Violet’s past, Vanessa scanned her for a microchip.
Unfortunately, the scan showed she did not have one.
Without a chip to trace her history, the shelter focused on giving Violet the next best thing.
A chance at a new home.
Vanessa shared Violet’s photo online along with the note from Lacey.
It did not take long for the story to reach the local community.
Among those who saw the post was a woman named Cindy Murray.
When Cindy read the note, she said it brought tears to her eyes.
She felt the child’s love in every line and understood that the decision to let Violet go had likely been a painful one.
At first, Cindy hesitated.
Adopting a pet is a big decision, and she wanted to be sure she was ready.
Still, she could not shake the feeling that she should help fulfill Lacey’s wish for Violet to find a good home.
She sent her husband a screenshot of the post while he was at work and told him she wanted to go adopt the cat.
His response was simple and supportive.
If she wanted the cat, he told her, she should go get her.
Encouraged by his words, Cindy took the day off and headed to the shelter.
Not long after, Violet left the building with her new family.
Like many cats adjusting to a new environment, Violet was shy at first.
She moved cautiously through her new home, taking time to observe her surroundings.
But it did not take long for her to relax.
Once she realized she was safe, she began to settle in, purring contentedly for her new owners and accepting the affection she clearly loved.
For Cindy, the adoption felt especially meaningful.
She said she often thinks about Lacey and wishes she could let the girl know that Violet’s story has a happy ending.
Cindy even considered making a video message addressed to Lacey, explaining that Violet now lives in a home full of treats, cuddles, and love.
Whether that message ever reaches the young girl remains unknown.
But what is certain is that Violet’s journey from a goodbye note to a new beginning touched everyone involved.
For the shelter staff, it was a reminder that behind many surrendered pets is a story of love rather than neglect.
And for Cindy, it was a chance to give a cat a future while honoring the wish of a child who simply wanted her beloved pet to be safe.
Sometimes, the smallest notes carry the biggest stories.
And sometimes, those stories lead to second chances that no one expected.