A BIG warning to all animal lovers. I know youve heard this before, but please check out the shelters from which you adopt (and PLEASE do ADOPT) and research thoroughly. My main warning is about LA COUNTY shelters, but it can happen anywhere. A few weeks ago, I resccued a tiny kitten from the East Valley Veterinary Shelter and had a heartwrenching experience. Im a sap for animals, and by the time I went into the second room I was in tears - such precious felines and canines jailed in cages too tiny for uncommon criminals! I was seeking a kitten or cat. Many of them were sleeping or playing with litter mates. But in the highest right corner was a tiny squeaker yelling down to me. He looked so wee in the metal box that I had to get him out. I thought he needed a mommy, but what he needed was a vet! (a good vet!) Im not going to blame this all on the pound or my vet, as I should have been more cautious, done more research and been more assertive (with my vet) . And maybe use a little more head than heart. I named the kitten Diesel, a nickname dubbed to another cat by Tess McLaughlin for having a loud, roaring purr. But he never got the chance to grow into his purr potential. He was under two pounds and ematiated. His assessment form said he was a 5, just right on a scale where 1 was ematiated and 10 was way too fat. Ok, I didnt bother to read the forms carefully (mistake #1) , they werent correct on them anyway. I thought all he needed was lotsa food and TLC (#2 mistake). He was the one the few in the room who wasnt on antibiotics for upper respiratory infections and he was clearly getting one. They said he didnt need it yet, and so did my vet, surprisingly, who sent him home without antibiotics, but with lysine chews, which he wouldnt eat. (Lesson #3: be pushy with medical professionals. I am with my doctors, I will be with my vets in the future!) By the time I got the medicine home, he wasnt alive to take it. I had a sick premonition about it (Lesson #4: listen to my gut and to friends, who wanted me to return him to the pound. But I couldt return a baby whod already bonded). In the weeks that passed, I called other county shelters and told that most of their cats were on antibiotics and that most shelter cats have such infections. So, the last lesson, I thought, for me never to step into a county shelter. I got him on a discount day meant to unload all the kitties, but made up for the savings fivefold in meds. They do give a certificate for a free vet check, which I did after the weekend adoption. The rest was my fault. So, maybe thats the real lesson. I will adopt again, probably soon, but not from a public pound. (I can get an exchange, but will take my financial losses and learn). Im looking into a kitten rescue organization who rescue them from death row, but then they are fostered in homes and tested and vetted. Im researching and asking lots of questions before I ever go near their cats. Itll cost a lot more, but thats ok. I know that every person and animal can die at any time (boy, do I know!) , but Im going to try to start with better odds. Ive posted this video of our first night home, before the infection took hold and he played hard and jumped high. And purred like a perfect little Diesel. RIP baby Diesel. Cross the Rainbow Bridge and play the way you should have here. )
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:08:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015