Photos courtesy of the Roberts family.
Just when we thought Lakewood was home to the Advocate’s ultimate fluff piece, we received photos of Lake Highlands neighbor Sawyer Roberts and his cat, Doug.
There’s no denying ducks dawdling into a swimming pool has the “aww” factor. But Doug the cat-dog, if you will, has potential to become a local legend.
Darren Roberts, Doug’s owner and Sawyer’s father, is a veterinary technician at an animal hospital. The hospital asked him to foster the friendly feline for a few days, and Darren agreed on a whim.
Doug instantly forged a bond with the then-1-year-old and, in turn, found a permanent address.
The cat behaves more like a canine — he comes when he’s called, constantly cuddles with Sawyer and lets out a loud meow when he’s hungry or tired. “He’s the most vocal cat I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Darren says.
Doug does not flinch when Sawyer lays on top of him or squeezes him like a teddy bear. But what the Roberts family appreciates most is Doug’s innate ability to comfort Sawyer during a seizure. He did not leave his side for two weeks during a particularly bad spell. If that’s not canine-level loyalty, we don’t know what is.
“When Sawyer is upset, he yells, ‘Mommy, daddy, Doug’ across the house, and Doug comes running,” Hannah Hargrove-Roberts, Sawyer’s mom, told us.
In his spare time, Doug enjoys roaming the L Streets, where he’s become a local celebrity. He also has an affinity for bossing around the family’s husky.
If this somehow didn’t make you feel warm and fuzzy, check out this month’s pet issue here.
