His Last Moments
I burst in the door "Oh Pheonix, I'm sorry I failed you!' I remove the towel and he starts to purr. I take him out of the tiny metal cage and he buries his head in my shoulder. I place him in my carrier as he continues to purr. I bring him to his FOREVER HOME. Today, I was called by the shelter and told about a potential adopter for Pheonix, one of my foster cats. I was thrilled as he had been in the shelter system for some time. His owner abandoned him and his brother when they moved out of their apartment. They both were near starvation but nursed back to health by a foster mom and returned to the shelter in hopes of more potential adopters viewing them. Both pined at the shelter and without notifying the foster mom...one of them was put down. She was devastated and refused to ever foster again. The shelter has a policy that if any previous foster cat is in danger of euthanization, they must inform the foster mom in case she wants to adopt. I understood how she felt as I keep saying you can't save them all, but you do develop a relationship/love by caring for them for weeks. Those are the ones I've adopted myself after they've been in my home. I offered to foster the remaining one and have had him in my home for a few weeks. A woman and her family came to view the cat today after being pre-screened by the SPCA, her and her daughters were very nice but not cat savy at all. She asked if the cat liked water and I said no and she thought that was a shame as she wanted a clean cat. I said cats are very clean and I've advantaged them and wormed them on behalf of the shelter. My gut feeling told me this wasn't the right cat for them and I tried to tell them that. They insisted they wanted a beautiful white Persian with blue eyes. Pheonix is a beautiful silver Persian and his eyes are amber. I didn't listen to my gut that told me NO. I then drove to the shelter with them and they went through the adoption. I knew this was his last chance as the shelter is too full for him to be returned. Worse his eye was a bit wheepy this morning and I said he may be coming down with conjuctivitis and will need antibiotics. The shelter let the adoption go through for 1/2 price to offset the cost of the eye drops and paid for his vet visit. She takes him to the vet and I get a phone call. She returned him immediately, (Only 1 hour after leaving the shelter) wanted her money back, and now he was slated to be put down as they couldn't place him with the shelter cats and iso is full. I'm so angry at myself and at her. I gave her my cat carrier, a bag of litter and litter box so they wouldn't have to stop on the way home, cat food for several days....worse she placed his life on the line. I had told her whatever happens please call me and I'll take him back. Luckily a great shelter person - (same one who called me about Gilligan ) told me where he was and what happened as there was no room or place at the shelter for him. I almost screamed into the phone...NOOOO , I'm coming to adopt him. And so I did. I just wish that I had been more hard nosed, listened to my gut and waited for the perfect home for him. Adopting one more, means less room for another ailing cat that needs space to recover from shelter environment as that is so stressful for any animal. Still, considering what was going to happen a few mins after I arrived I have no regrets. PS: Kaj, did I mention how lucky I am to have such an incredible partner who although we agreed no more cats...didn't hesitate when I told him what happened - other than go get him!  Same guy that also said no more dogs and agonized about it after meeting Gilligan and said , Go get him. Marianne |
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| I have learned (the hard way) to always listen to my gut and it sounds like yours was right! Also, your story made me think of all of the unsung heroes in the form of husbands/wives/kids/other pets etc. who support people like you in the wonderful work you do! |
the blonde angel strikes again!!!!  and her partner is great backup, as it should be.  |
| Marianne - I'm almost in the same boat tonight with my 12 yr old foster basset Harley. I got an email this evening from Anne, our "matchmaker"; letting me know there is an approved adopter interested in Harley. Harley has been in our home 2 weeks short of a year. The good news is, she has adopted 3 bassets from our rescue, and prefers seniors and just had her last one PTS at age 17! That is ancient for a basset. She also is just 1.5 hours from me, in Minneapolis. She has 2 other dogs - one age 6, the other age 10. She works, but has a dog walker every week day come in at noon to let the dogs out and play w/ them. Todd and I talked it over - we will agree to meet, and do a trial placement if we all agree he would be a good match for her home. If it doesn't work out for any reason, he comes back here. He had a really tough transistion from his lifelong home when he came here, and he's doing really well now. If it's not going to work, we want him back. He deserves not to be stressed out at his age.  |
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| Oh Dawn, I understand your doubts as your boy sounds as if he's settled in so nicely with you. I've had some fosters for as long as 7 months ,but meeting such wonderful people who wanted to adopt many of the critters under my care has always made it easier. I've always been left with good feelings...yes, I miss them and but I've always felt better knowing I can help another and makes me feel good seeing them go to a home that wanted them. I know I can't adopt them all and that's always been okay with me as in the past 8 years I've been able to foster aprox 100 for various shelters. Some for just a few days, others longer to recover from various surgeries or ailments. If I adopted the first 10, I wouldn't have been able to help the other 90. Myself and another foster are the only ones that purposely choose to foster the sickly or seniors. Everyone wants to foster the kittens and they get adopted quickly.We have ours for a long time but it's such a great feeling to see them get better and find loving homes or those that don't mind adopting a senior pet. You've had your boy for a long time and I can see how difficult it will be for you and Todd to let him go. The woman sounds amazing from your description and knowing he's going to a good place makes it a tad easier. Sigh...still it's tough to let them go sometimes. It was a good lesson learned today and one that I will be very aware of not allowing to happen again. Poor Pheonix after all his humans have let him down he deserved to find a forever home. Being the grateful cat he was...after the purring at the shelter as soon as I returned him to my foster cat room...he looked up at me and hissed. Teaches me for messing up! Thanks for all the comments and allowing me to vent everyone. Marianne |
| I've said this before but I cannot get my head around people treating animals like they are disposable objects. "Oh I've changed my mind I dont like these shoes anymore." I know that the rescue people will think it is naive of me to think that people will have some consideration for living creatures but I am horrified every time I read your stories. Thank goodness that there are people out there like Marianne and Dawn, you are true heros, otherwise I would just about have lost all respect for humans by now. THANK YOU!!!! to all the rescue people. |
| ^^^^^ I second the thank you. Dawn, based on what you wrote about the basset, and the sweet pictures you posted, why not just keep him? Despite the qualities of the potential adopter. I know as Marianne said, this would potentially free up room for you to help another dog. But also, in this case, that potential adopter could find another senior basset who is not as happily settled as Harley is. I support your decision either way. Just based on the logic of this particular case as presented by you, I think I personally would keep Harley and help the potential adopter find another one (I think there's another thread where someone mentioned basset rescues being overloaded now). Whatever you decide, I hope it all works out for the best for everyone! |
Baba wrote: ^^^^^ I second the thank you. Dawn, based on what you wrote about the basset, and the sweet pictures you posted, why not just keep him? Despite the qualities of the potential adopter. I know as Marianne said, this would potentially free up room for you to help another dog. But also, in this case, that potential adopter could find another senior basset who is not as happily settled as Harley is. I support your decision either way. Just based on the logic of this particular case as presented by you, I think I personally would keep Harley and help the potential adopter find another one (I think there's another thread where someone mentioned basset rescues being overloaded now). Whatever you decide, I hope it all works out for the best for everyone! We may end up keeping Harley here - I just want to keep an open mind and at least talk to the potential adopter. An experienced senior home with just 2 other dogs as he gets older may be better - instead of him being the 7th dog here. If we have ANY doubt a new home isn't in his best interest, he'll not go anywhere.  And you are right - sadly we are maxed with dogs at 7. They all are good and make a stable pack - thank goodness. I like to give all of them personal time, training and do activities - and with working full time and teaching training classes 2 nights a week, plus the activities my dogs are all in, it gets pretty tight!  |
| I understand how torn a long term foster home can feel when placing an animal. I think that's why we elected to keep our foster sheltie ,Jamie. Even after 2 years he's probably not adoptable to anyone but us as his fear issues with strangers and especially children are still significant. And now he's bonded with our standard poodle and I wouldn't want to separate them. So our pack of three dogs will stay as it is and I help rescue in ways other than fostering . I can imagine the emotional turmoil you went through Marianne .I'm so glad you were able to save your sweet one . I agree that it's a good life lesson to trust your feelings about what is or isn't a good match for animals in our care. I'm glad it worked out in a positive way. I know we all want the best for all concerned . As for my foster , he does occupy the space we had for a sheepie which is why I belong to the board but don't actually have and OES . Someday , maybe ...... |
Sorry about the thread hijack, Marianne  We have fostered many dogs over the years - and never kept a single one. And it's not that I'm that attached to Harley himself. I love most dogs, and I love Harley, but I don't have this burning urge to keep him. It's more the thought of him having anguish over being uprooted that would be the deciding factor. He's too sweet to have this happen a 2nd time. Maybe I'm worrying about nothing - he is a basically a very happy, confident dog who considers no human or dog a stranger. But we just worry about him...like he's our kid  Based on our large "regular" household and my dog history and medical skills, we usually only take fosters who are in need of training and behavior work OR have medical issues - things the regular foster homes aren't keen to take on. Harley just had such a heartbreak going on and had an immediate need for a home, that we caved and took him home with us (he was given up during our big fundraiser/get together in Milwaukee : Bassetfest). Oh - and the potential adopter called my cell today while I'm at work, so I'll be calling her back tonight...... |
| Maybe this potential adopter will have the perfect home for Harley. I guess as Marianne's post suggested, if everything else looks good, go with your gut. |
| Silly Sheepie Boss you aren't hijacking the post as I like to hear others experiences with fostering! Sometimes I have to shake my head when the someone contacts one of the rescues I foster for and says...I don't have time for him/her anymore. I always wonder if they think rescue people have unlimited funds, stay at home all day and have no other pets? Saying that, at least they tried and didn't dump their pets as so many others do |
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