Adopted Cat Reignites Adopter’s Passion for Running

Since 2013, Petco Love has celebrated the love that we share with our pets through our annual Love Stories campaign. In partnership with BOBS® from Skechers®, we’re excited to celebrate the special connection between Tony and Mr. Bobbles, an adopted cat from Meow Parlour.

Tony + Mr. Bobbles' Winning Love Story

The first time that I slept over at my girlfriend’s apartment, I could not breathe...I realized that I am allergic to cats! Allergy meds alone were not enough. I decided to get allergy shots to control my cat allergies, make my girlfriend my wife, and her cat my family.

A few days after our cat Baby passed in December 2020, she came to me in a dream that felt like an omen. When I woke up, I decided to browse the adoptable cats at our favorite cat cafe, Meow Parlour. Within a few minutes, I found him! Mister Bobbles looked like a baby seal and we knew that Baby was telling us that our love must keep going.

We submitted our application for Mister Bobbles that Christmas Eve. He joined the online meeting wearing a festive bow and we were in love, virtually. We decided to keep his name - Mister Bobbles seemed like such a perfect name for such a ridiculous cat.

We spent the next few months cooped up in our tiny NYC apartment with Mr. Bobbles. It was hard to stay physically active and healthy at that time, so I decided to spend more time running outside. I used to run races in Central Park, but those races stopped during the pandemic and I had stopped running, too.

When they resumed in 2021, while I wasn’t ready to participate myself, I would go out to cheer the runners with my megaphone and my Mister Bobbles cutout. Runners’ faces would light up whenever they saw Mister Bobbles’ fuzzy head, big blue eyes and teal bowtie! Mister Bobbles may actually be a minor celebrity in the NYC running circuit!

Mister Bobbles didn’t just inspire the runners, he has inspired me to get back to running races as well. Today, he is an integral part of my daily pre-run routine. I usually wake up around 5am so that I can get my runs in before the family wakes up. Mister Bobbles is always there with me while I’m getting ready. Before I put on my running shoes, I’ll sit on our bench and give Mister Bobbles a lot of belly rubs. Once I hear him purr like an engine for a minute – I am ready to head out to begin my run.

Nearly three years after taking Mister Bobbles home, I am finally ready to race again and I won’t be doing it alone. My wife got me a custom singlet with Mister Bobbles’ face on the front! We even got a new personal record (PR) together and I expect to set a new PR in the 2023 New York City Marathon!

My heart has grown exponentially with Mister Bobbles in my life and I know that he brightens the days of so many people. He keeps me motivated and his sweet face reminds me daily - our love must keep on going and in my case, keep running.

Each year, Petco Love Stories invites adopters to share how their pets have changed their lives to give the organizations that they’ve adopted from the chance to receive grant awards. This story by Tony won Meow Parlour a 2024 Love Stories award.

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