BEST. BIRTHDAY PRESENT. EVARRRRRR!!! Chris Burns, Harvie Schreiber and other Donkeys among us may remember, back in late May, when I sent out an SOS for rescue of a 5-year-old Calico girl who was in danger of being PTS at the Los Angeles Vet Hospital where she had been abandoned by her owner. Crista had lived in a cage there for 3 months, and she was absolutely terrified the whole time, as she is afraid of other cats and dogs. No one had stepped forward to adopt Crista in all that time, and it was only when a kind vet tech took up her cause that any outreach to rescue had been made. Susan Fox, my dear friend in San Diego, stepped forward to volunteer as a foster mom for Crista. Chris Burns hooked us up with Pilots & Paws, a volunteer air-transport group, which is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! On my birthday, Jillianne Matway Richards, a volunteer from Pilots & Paws pulled Crista from the vet hospital and took her to the airport to meet her flight to San Diego. While Michelle Aylward patiently coordinated the transport, keeping all parties apprised of Cristas progress and constantly updating everyone on status, I sat and watched, on pins and needles, waiting for news that Crista was safe and on her plane. Susan Fox caught a ride with her kind friend, the groomer, to the Oceanside airport where they met Kat Parker,another kindred rescue spirit, and awaited Cristas flight. I was terrified that Crista might have to be returned to the vet hospital if the plane did not take off. There were repeated delays. I watched and waited and sweated. Well, I neednt have worried. Pilots & Paws are AMAZING and wonderful. Once Crista was in Jilliannes custody, she was SAFE. There was no way, Michelle assured me, that Pilots & Paws was going to return Crista to a place that had threatened to kill her. They were furious with the vet hospital, and I was like, ALL RIGHT, KINDRED RESCUE SPIRITS!! Woooooooooooot!!! Well, Cristas flight did not take off that night, due to technical difficulties, but Jillianne took Crista home and fostered her until she could *personally* drive Crista from LA to San Diego and delivered Crista to Susans door. So kind! So wonderful!!! Crista was not an easy foster. She was aggressive towards Susans other cats, so she had to be sequestered in Susans office, which was actually a nice temporary home for a cat-aggressive cat. Susan did everything in her power to give Crista a hand-made bed and toys, a lovely open-air window-catio, and set up the screen door between the office and the rest of the house so that the bottom was blocked, and that kept Crista from seeing the other cats. Then another problem reared its head: Crista was a biter. Often without warning. This was a serious health risk for Susan and for any potential adopter. Also, it was high kitten season, and no other fosters or adopters were coming forward, even as Susan worked diligently to advertise and place Crista: No kids, no cats, no dogs.... A tough sell. I advised Susan to address the issue on a private posting board for animal-lovers, where she could get advice from kind and experienced animal-loving-and-rescuing people. People sadly but truthfully advised that in such a case, PTS is a responsible and sometimes the only option. Susan and I agonized over the decision, knowing that it might be the right thing to do. We were desperate. Susan and I discussed Fluoxetine (Prozac) as a last ditch option to save Cristas life. Susan did not want to euthanize Crista, so she tried it. I sent a bag of Pill Pockets. Crista responded really well to the meds...and pretty quickly. There were no further biting incidents, and Crista calmed down noticeably. She had been a very anxious cat before. Now she was much more mellow and affectionate. She gained confidence. She still had her Calico Drama Queen Act down, especially when she got her nails clipped, but she was a happier, well-adjusted cat. The cross-country labor of love paid off today when Cristas forever Mama came to pick her up and take her home. Crista has a new name now. She is Missy. Shes not expressly named after OUR Missy Ward, but its a wonderful coincidence, as our Missy is such a wonderful advocate and rescuer of the kitties. Its also a nice name for a saucy, sassy Calico Grrrrrrrrl!!! Missys forever Mama recently lost her 16-year-old cat. She lives alone with no other pets. Missy will be her One-and-Only, as she has needed to be for so long. Susan told Missys Mama about everything Missy has been through, about her biting and meds, and this lovely lady still wanted her just the same. As you can see from the picture, she is so happy to be bringing our girl home. For me, this is the BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!! It was somewhat long in coming, but well worth the wait. THANK YOU, SUSAN, for your patience, diligence, stubbornness and commitment to this not-so-easy foster girl. THANK YOU, Liz Marshall, for your email newsletter post seeking help getting Crista out of that vet hospital! THANK YOU Chris Burns for hooking us up to the amazing Pilots & PAWS! THANK YOU, Michelle Aylward and Jillianne Richards for transporting Crista and making that commitment to keep her safe and on the path to her furever home, even when the plane couldnt take off that night and for delivering Crista to Susans door in San Diego. THANK YOU DonkeyFo for your love, support and wonderful advice...for admitting my friend, Susan, too! Thank you, Harvie Schreiber and Carol Bender Gaffney, for the inspiration for the cross-country rescue. It took a bit longer for Crista to find her furever home than it did for Lionel, but what matters is that she has found it and has a loving Mama who wants her just the way she is. And thank you, Missys Mama, for adopting an older cat. Missy is not a perfect cat, but what truly matters is that she is perfect for you. In your loving care, Susan and I truly believe she will finally fully blossom. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!!!!!
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 02:15:05 +0000
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