Last week, Officer Dontavis Jones of South Carolina’s North Charleston Police Department, while volunteering off duty at a local church, encountered an unexpected situation. A parishioner asked him for a simple favor: to walk her to her car. This seemingly ordinary request would soon unfold into a remarkable journey.
As they approached the parking area, the woman paused, alerting Officer Jones to a faint sound. “Do you hear that?” she asked. Directing his flashlight towards a nearby dumpster, Jones was greeted by the sight of a small kitten, crying out desperately. Without hesitation, he picked up the kitten, who appeared to have been left there alone. “I’ll take him home for the night,” Jones assured the woman.
Following this unexpected rescue, Jones took the kitten to the Charleston Animal Society. He thought this would mark the end of their brief encounter, but fate had other plans.
At the shelter, after the kitten received necessary care and vaccinations, a staff member made a suggestion to Jones. “You should keep him,” they said. Jones, having never owned a pet, initially laughed off the idea. However, the thought of abandoning his newfound friend weighed on him.
In an act of compassion, Jones decided to adopt the kitten, naming him Tabby Rashard Jones. This decision marked the beginning of a new chapter for both of them.
Officer Jones, who’s been a cat dad for just a week, already finds it impossible to envision his life without Tabby. “He’s a busybody, always on the move. He even climbs my Christmas tree. He’s exactly what I needed,” Jones shared, expressing the unexpected joy Tabby brought into his life.
The change in Jones didn’t go unnoticed by his colleagues at the police department, who met Tabby during a visit to the headquarters. “Damn, Jones, we’ve never seen you like this. So wholesome,” his colleagues remarked, acknowledging the positive impact Tabby had on him.
Looking forward, Jones is certain about one thing: “Tabby Rashard Jones isn’t going anywhere. I’ve never had a cat before, but this feels just right.”