For pets in crisis, every day matters. And now, a long-awaited change in Connecticut law is making those days a little brighter.

Until recently, any pet who entered a shelter with an unknown vaccination history and a wound of unknown origin (meaning it wasn’t clear how the wound happened or what caused it) had to be quarantined for six months in case there had been any exposure to rabies. That meant six months of waiting, even for pets who showed no signs of illness, just to be safe under the law.

But thanks to the passing of Senate Bill 1282, that mandatory quarantine has officially been reduced to four months, which is a major improvement that shortens the path to adoption for affected pets across the state. The Connecticut Humane Society has long advocated for this change, making it a key legislative priority these past few legislative sessions. And now, with the bill’s passage, pets can move on from crisis to a fresh start sooner.

One of those pets is Bubba.

Two-year-old Bubba arrived at CHS after his owner became homeless and could no longer care for him. Because Bubba had spent time outdoors and hadn’t been vaccinated against rabies, and because CHS’ medical team found a healing scab during his intake exam, he was placed in mandatory quarantine under the previous six-month requirement.

Bubba made the most of it. Staff quickly discovered his love of stuffed animals, his quirky curiosity, and his adoration of snack time. He kept CHS staff laughing and kept his toys close. And just a few months into his hold, everything changed.

The new law passed! Bubba became the first pet at CHS to be made available for adoption at the four-month mark from a WUO quarantine–a whole two months sooner than he would have been without this new legislation!

An affectionate, playful, and energetic guy with the cutest bat ears, Bubba was made available for adoption earlier this week. And he got right to work—capturing the hearts of a local couple who saw his profile online, came down to the shelter to meet him, and made it official and brought him home. There he’ll be the only pet in the home, after all, he’s waited long enough to have someone’s full attention!

Thanks to those who advocated for this change, and to every person who raised their voice in support, pets like Bubba won’t have to wait quite so long for their next chapter to begin.

Bubba’s story is proof: good laws save lives. And sometimes, they bring a really great cat home just a little sooner.