Dinaco Lily Schomer

Dinaco Lily (2008 – 2024) It was Christmas Eve 2008 when we went to the animal shelter. “No one should be alone on Christmas eve” I expressed to my 4-year-old son who had no idea we were there to find a new family member. Jacob had his heart set on a red tabby to name Lilly as he already owned 2 stuffed animal kitties, both named Lilly. We learned that day that most red tabbies are male, but this did not deter Jacob. The very first kitty we visited a was a cute little grey tabby who seemed to want to keep Jacob’s attention, but Jacob was not interested. We then found a cute little red tabby – male - but this kitten wanted nothing to do with Jacob, as much as Jacob persisted. After a couple hours, we had visited all the kittens at the shelter that day. Jacob was disappointed he did not find his red tabby and was ready to go home. Before we left, I suggested that we go back to that grey kitten who was smitten with Jacob, but when we returned, the kitten was sleeping peacefully. Jacob insisted that he did not want to bother the kitten, but I saw the connection and I was not going to leave without confirming. We woke the little kitten up and found a chair in the back of the shelter which Jacob sat down on, and the kitten was placed in his arms. Once Jacob took the time to sit with the kitty, it was love! I feel the kitty loved Jacob the moment she saw him. Jacob finally recognized his love disguised as a gray tabby! He looked up at me with love in his eyes and he said, “Can we take her home?” We completed the adoption process and Jacob insisted that he sign the ownership document along with my signature! She was his cat! Her rescue name was Eggnog, but we knew that wasn’t going to stick. It took a few days to find her name; on 12/26/2008, Jacob was finally set on her name - Dinaco Lily! Jacob loved the movie Cars – you know, Lightning McQueen, Towmater and hint: sponsor of Richard Petty’s/The King’s car. He got the name Lily incorporated to boot! Jacob and Dinaco Lily were best buddies until the very end. “Where’s the cat?” was always Jacob’s first question when he would come home from school - kindergarten through high school. Even when visiting home during his first year in college and every day this summer, my now-19-year-old would come home and ask, “Where’s the cat?”. He would find her and scoop her up in his arms and she would hang out with him for hours. They had something special, and it broke my heart to tell him that she passed as he had already left for his 2nd year in college. We are both heartbroken at the loss of our Dinaco, but we are also grateful that she lived 16 years as a special part of our family. Dinaco Lily, we love you and will miss you.

Dinaco Lily Schomer

August 21, 2008 - August 19, 2024