The Saddest Day
All the foster kittens that were not adopted through the foster program were brought to the shelter. One by one, the kittens I fostered had been adopted by families whom came to my home to view them. Those lucky kittens never had to step into a shelter and the adoptive families had been pre-screened beforehand. One by one they all passed the little black kitten. He wasn't as lucky as his brothers and sister. Their Tortie mom had an orange kitten, a calico, a tabby and the little black one. Black kittens and pups are the last to go at shelters...harder still for the older ones - their chances are slimer. Even though they had called me previously to set up an appt time to view the kittens each time I also had the little black one in the room in case they changed their mind. I knew his chances would be tougher so it was him I picked up the most frequently. He would get chosen on his personality!!! What a sweetheart he was too...never feared racing out of the room and confronting 3 big dogs in the way. Nope little guy was brave...didn't hiss or spat but merely walked by them as if he owned the place. He purred loudly too and had the endearing habit of licking my hands like a puppy would. Still everyone wanted a beautiful kitten and not a plain black one. Thus, myself and all the foster moms whose kittens didn't get adopted found ourselves at the much pubilicized kitten viewing at the shelter. We set up the large cages outdoors in the shade and each one of us set ourselves around the cages. We were not obligated to stay...but each one of us did hoping our baby would get adopted by a nice family. We stayed to meet the people and answer any questions. Every single kitten was black...all 11 of them left over from 60 the shelter had fostered out. I had placed a bright green color with rhinestones on my kitten as I had known about all the black kittens a few days before. I thought if he was placed in a cage with several he could easily be identified. Turned out that the siblings were in cages together...mine was alone. As the day wore on and the sun became very hot....one by one all the kittens were adopted ...except for mine..he was bigger than the others and already 11wks old. 2pm the showing was supposed to be over....then at 2:01 a couple came through the door...she at first seemed dissapointed there was only one black kitten left and it was a boy. She went over to the cage...he put on his best please take me face...climbed up the cage and meowed pitifully while pawing at her. She took him out of the cage...good little guy...purred and licked her hands. She fell in love and adopted him. Just seconds before I thought I was going to die ...my heart was breaking for the little guy and I wanted to say...forget it I'm going to keep him!!! Knowing I already have 4 and his mom still at home whom now needs to let her milk dry up and get spayed before she's ready for adoption. As I'm leaving I say to the co-ordinator...umm...got any more you desperately need fostered? So I arrived home with another mom cat whose kittens were adopted ..so she can keep the other one I have at home company. They can recoup together and I can take them in at the same time for spaying. Fostering is so hard...dunno how Kaye and others have done it for years. Marianne and the boys |
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| Awwww.... it's ok Marianne... you did good *hugs* |
Marianne wrote: .....Fostering is so hard...dunno how Kaye and others have done it for years.....Marianne and the boys
Love. I'm glad you're little guy found a new home. "I" believe that sometimes we're pushed to the limit to test our faith, to see if we're going to give up hope. But, to those that have patience, and wait on the Lord for His will to be done, there are great rewards, as in his rescue. I think those of you that are able to withstand the ups and downs of rescue are fantastic! God's not only given you a big enough heart to take in these critters, He's also given you the inner strength to quickly pull yourself together after a loss, and take in another with renewed faith and hope. |
I am so happy the kitten got adopted.  |
| I feel all teary reading your post, Hugs Marianne, you did such a wonderful thing for these babies. Hard to say goodbye, but you have passed on a lot of yourself into these kittys to take them into a wonderful future.
Hard yes, but rewarding too  |
You brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosbumps!!! I'm so glad for the little kitten. I was ready to say SEND HIM HERE!!!!!!! (and I am not paticularly fond of cats) 
WHY OH WHY can't people do the responsible thing and NEUTER their animals so such terrible things don't happen????????? |
You truly are a rescue and foster angel, Marianne. Thank you so much for all you do on behalf of these animals.  |
| It's not the saddest day, it's the happiest day!! The baby got a new home and another mom cat will get to hang out at your house and get pampered while she waits for her new home.
Yeah Marianne!!!!! |
| Bravo, Marianne!
Another litter saved & adopted to good homes. How much better could it be?? |
| Marianne - I was at work last night when I read your post. I was crying - and had to go get a kleenex and hoping no one was watching me!! Before I got involved with rescue, I never knew that black animals are the last to get adopted. It just amazed me.
My friend Mary's foster kittens are 3 weeks old now. They are all tiger striped tabbys like the mom. A couple have white toes. Mary's eye and legs are all healed up from her attacks from mama cat. (previous post). She ended up putting up baby gates in the hall to keep the dogs away, but mama could still hear them on the wood floors. She now plays public radio in the kitty room 24/7, and no more problems! |
| Thanks for the comments everyone and yes I was happy my little guy was adopted and really liked the couple, I still worry. The couple were wonderful but didn't live together. She still lived at home with her parents and the co-ordinator asked that she double check with them. She called on her cell but I was out of earshot of the conversation so hope she was truthful. I think the co-ordinator wanted so badly for the little guy to get a home she wasn't as fastideous (sp?) about checking rental agreement (as they Humane Society usually insist on. I'm praying my judgement and the co-ordinators was good. The cages were put away and I held my kitten while the paper work was being done..happy he got adopted but also worried that she wouldn't give him up if she ever moved out into an apartment. I made her promise to never hesitate to call me or email me even years from now should she ever be tempted to give him up.
The other foster I brought home to keep the Mom cat company is missing her babies..her meows are mornful and she is not the buddy for the other cat at all...hissing and spatting at her. Oh sheesh! I thought the two of them would be good company for each other since they are still lactating , both skinny after nursing their babies and could recoup together. Hopefully they'll get along better in the next couple days. Dawn - glad to hear that Mary's situation is much improved! Marianne and the furballs...(11 of them) PS read this boys story and it will break your heart...ohhh I'm so tempted! http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/dis ... id=6914906 |
Well I hope the kitten is well taken care of. The story made me cry as well 
You did a wonderful thing. |
| Hi Marianne,
I read your post and was heartbroken, even though it had a happy ending. Also, I knew better to even look at the link to another sad story. Thanks for doing what you are doing. Yes, I don't know how they do it long term, I guess because it needs to be done, so heartbreaking. WHY CAN'T ALL OF THE ANIMALS BE LOVED AS MUCH AS OURS ARE???? |
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