In 2018, Chuck Hawley was filming a video when he stumbled upon a tiny kitten stuck to the ground near Salem, Oregon. Without a trace of his family, Hawley freed the kitten from the concrete and brought him home. The kitten, named Sticky, quickly became more than just a pet — he became Hawley’s best friend.
Though Sticky was far from Hawley’s first pet, the bond they shared was extraordinary. One of their favorite routines was visiting their local coffee shop, Dutch Bros, where they’d spend time together, and Sticky would seem to offer answers to life’s big questions, even without words. “Sticky was no normal cat. He was pure magic,” Hawley shared. Their six years together inspired Hawley to write a children’s book, A Sticky Situation, which touched hearts around the world. The series grew to include a book on grief, We Don’t Say Goodbye.
Sadly, at the end of 2024, Sticky’s health declined, and Hawley was faced with the heart-wrenching decision to say goodbye. On the day of the appointment, Hawley received a poignant sign from Sticky. As they entered the room, his wife pointed to a book on the shelf — We Don’t Say Goodbye, the very book Hawley had written about their bond. It felt like a message from Sticky to keep going and remember their journey together.
With Sticky’s paw in one hand and the book in the other, Hawley tearfully said farewell. But soon after, another sign arrived. A few days later, while still grieving, Hawley drove past the Oregon Humane Society and decided to check out the kittens. Though he wasn’t planning on adopting, the staff told him all the kittens had been adopted, but he could check out the remaining cats.
Just as he was about to leave, Hawley felt something on his shoulder. A kitten’s paw had reached out and tapped his arm. When Hawley turned to snap a photo of the paw, the kitten left it dangling there, as though he knew exactly what Hawley needed. Behind the blue tarps, Hawley found a cat that resembled Sticky — a kitten named Allen. In that moment, Hawley knew Allen had to come home with him.
“Allen has been the absolute best medicine I could have ever asked for,” Hawley said. “He has been the distraction I needed to heal.” Allen quickly adjusted to Hawley’s home, even finding Sticky’s favorite spots, as if he’d been guided by his predecessor.
Hawley believes that Sticky is still sending him messages, and though the grief of losing him hasn’t been easy, Allen’s presence has given him new hope.
“I can’t imagine where I’d be at this point if Sticky hadn’t sent Allen to find me,” Hawley reflected.