Tomorrow I Must Wear An Armour
The kitten viewing was pretty successful at the shelter this weekend. All the foster parents brought in the kittens and many were adopted. The ones I had were 5 months old and had to compete against the cute 8 wk old ones that are in high demand. One was adopted. I also know that for every kitten adopted one adult cat is usually put down. Not enough homes for them all. Today it was a bit slower so I walked over to the regular shelter and because I was wearing my tags I was allowed to go to the back which is out of bounds to the public. Many cats were sneezing in the regular shelter - this is critical in this type of environment as URI (Upper respitory Infection) spreads like wildfire. I peek in ISO (Isolation room) and am dismayed to see not only are all the cages full but three cats are in crates on the floor as there are no cages left. At 4:20 I recieve a call from the co-ordinator who is ill and asked that I make a call on her behalf to contact the shelter to tell them we have foster parents for the younger cats. The staff person is upset and tells me the inspector is coming tomorrow and as the shelter is overflowing many cats will be euthenized - she thinks all those in ISO will be targetted - the first to go will be the three cats in the crates. The shelter closes at 4:30 - too late to do anything but I get on the phone. Volunteers are rounded up to foster and tomorrow I'll be there at opening time BEFORE the inspector. I pray the manager will allow me to take as many cats as my van will carry as we do have fosters for them but they can't get there until later in the day. Sometimes they make the hard decision and only allow the cats that are considered adoptable to be fostered. I know what Ginny said about burnout in rescue but I can't stop. I SAW their faces and I feel sick about what's to happen tomorrow. I'll do whatever it takes to take as many as I can. I hope they let me. I wish people would spay and neuter their pets. Sadly this happens all over North America in shelters every day. Thanks for letting me vent. Marianne |
|
|
| I got five!!!
M |
| You are just amazing, Marianne! |
Incredible!!!  |
Thank you for doing this. I want to foster, but the mister says no. His fear is that I won't be able to give them up. I'm starting to think I should give him up.  |
| I got 2 more in the afternoon. I'm fostering 2 adults and a tiny 8 wk old kitten, the rest went to other foster homes.
I went back to the shelter in the afternoon to get the meds. Everyone from volunteers, foster parents and staff members took a few of the sick ones home to give them time to recover. URI is very curable just takes antibiotics and some TLC but they need time to recover and the best is a stress free environment. I also don't want to give the impression that the shelter is full of heartless people..far from it , they all care but have their hands tied with not enough people adopting, and more animals arrive daily. To those that work there daily I admire their dedication. They see it daily and still they stay because it's for the animals. Thanks everyone for your kind words but I can't take credit for doing what I love to do and it was heartwarming to see so many stepping up to the plate. Ah heck give up the hubby I say!! cough cough . OOps did I just say that outloud? Marianne |
| Wow, Marianne, what a sad situation. Kudos to you for giving all you have to give you are certainly making a difference. |
| I have 2 cats that I rescued from the pound. One had been in there for 3 weeks. I always go for an older cat because I know the kittens usually go first. They are the best cats I have ever had!!!
Go Marianne!! |
| I love to hear stories like yours Wendy! Good for you!
I hope no one got the impression I was bragging about the kitties I helped, as actually I was venting the previous night, felt helpless and crappy about the whole thing. I'm happy for the ones we did get, the number actually totalled 8 as one foster mom ended up adopting one. Not sure how many the volunteers and staff took home but it was several. Just makes me sad we had to leave some behind. Keep reminding self can't save them all. Marianne |
| Had to go to the shelter yet again today to have vet tech check out one of the kitties and ended up taking 3 more home.
My sister is coming tomorrow to pick up one of them to foster. The others are being housed together as all suffer from URI. The foster cat room with futon, comfy perches, litter boxes, toys, a air purifier/vaporizer is a much better place for them to recoup than the ISO room at the shelter. The tiniest kitten is only 8 wks and was struggling to breathe yesterday but the meds seemed to have kicked in as well as having a vaporizer and is doing much better today. It was heartwarming to see the huge Marmalade male cat allowed the little one to snuggle up to him and both went to sleep. Two others that I was asked to pick up today are also kittens who are the most vulnerable were from ISO. The adult male in the room also took these little ones under his "paws". When they all recover it will be easy to get the little ones placed into forever homes, think this adult male however is a keeper. Lets cross our fingers all of them get better soon. Marianne |
Paws and fingers all crossed for a full and rapid recovery for all these sweet babies! 
Wow, that adult boy sure does sound like a special guy! It sounds like maybe he's headed for a lifelong career as kitten mentor and rehabilitater!  |
| Marianne,
You never cease to amaze me. I am so proud of you and the work that you do fostering. You are my hero! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|