San Francisco Chronicle: Homeless man offers reward for missing cat

[marmar]

Homeless man offers reward for missing cat
Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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Daniel Harlan, a slight man with a wispy beard going gray, is just another face in the crowd in San Francisco. He is homeless, a street panhandler. Most people wouldn't give him a second glance except for his constant companion, a pug-nosed Himalayan cat named Samantha.

The cat made him stand out among panhandlers. Now the cat is gone. Stolen, Harlan thinks.

Harlan is 58. He has had a tough life: You can see it on his face, and the cat is probably his only friend in the world.

"It's the only thing he really cares about," said Harlan's brother, Stephen Kent, a rancher who lives in Oklahoma.

Somebody took Harlan's cat Friday from a homeless encampment under a freeway off-ramp near Eighth and Harrison streets. Harlan had gone off to buy some food for himself and Samantha at a nearby store with money he'd gotten panhandling. He left the cat on a leash tied to his tent. "Somebody just untied the leash and took her," he said Monday. "I was only gone for a few minutes, and when I got back she was gone." .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/09/BA0L1BUHFB.DTL

[KittyWampus]

1. Aw. His one comfort. Edit to include photo of him and his buddy.

[Dappleganger]

3. Beautiful! nt

[freeplessinseattle]

5. you can tell he really loves her

I know a group of homeless guys that love their kitties, and were helpful and kind in helping me trap kittens and spay and neuter the adults. Gentle soft creatures that give love without judgment mean so much to some unfortunate souls.

[Dappleganger]

2. That's his family.

Unconditional love.

[AndyA]

4. That just breaks my heart.

Poor guy, I hope he finds Samantha. I can imagine how he must feel, and it's just awful. Hopefully someone will come forward, realize what they've done and return her, or she'll get away and find her friend on her own.

Sending good thoughts that Samantha and Daniel are reunited soon.

[Blue Owl]

6. Sure hope he finds his kitty

I'd be pretty distraught if someone took mine...

:cry:

[Kadie]

7. .

:cry:

K&R