I agree with everyone else Patti. You did what you could, and she knows where to come for food and shelter.
My boyfriend once let a feral get out of the house once and I never saw her again. I know it's upsetting, but things may still work out for her. They do have a will of their own, and she may just be happier away from people. :( tonya --- Terri Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Patti, > > Don't despair. Give her time. You went above and beyond what most > people would have, and this girl is better off because of you. If > she chooses to return, then she will. In the meantime, I would send > her positive, loving thoughts, and keep leaving food for her. I'm > sure she wasn't "playing" you -- if she is truly feral, then it's > going to take a long time for her to want to be stationary. She's > used to being on the run. If she was dumped, perhaps she is trying > to find her way home, but she is confused about what "home" is. > > You did NOT let her down. You love her. Please don't give up on > her, and don't give up on YOU. > > Big hugs to you. Don't you give up!!! > > =^..^= Terri, Siggie the Tomato Vampire, Guinevere, Sammi, Travis, > and 6 furangels: RuthieGirl, Samantha, Arielle, Gareth, Alec & > Salome' =^..^= > > Furkid Photos! > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7sgqa/<http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7sgqa/> > My FeLV Site: > http://pages.ivillage.com/ruthiegirl1/MyFeLVinformationSite/<http://pagesivillage.com/ruthiegirl1/MyFeLVinformationSite/> > My Personal Page: > http://www.geocities.com/ruthiegirl1/terrispage.html?1083970447350<http://www.geocities.com/ruthiegirl1/terrispage.html?1083970447350> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org<mailto:felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> > > Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:58 PM > Subject: Need encouragement, PLEASE > > > Dear List, > I am feeling VERY downtrodden & blue. I don't know what to do, > where to turn. I FEEL SO OVER-RIDDEN w/ guilt, I can't stop > crying..... > > It's a long story, I will try to condense. > Kerry is a little familiar as she is also on the Four Paws Feral > list, and also I have mentioned "Charity's" store on this list. > (Although she is FELV-) > > Early in July, some cruel, a**hole dumped a box under my neighbor's > bushes which contained a young Mama & 2, 5 week old kittens. > Needless to say, since the box was NOT secure, Mama escaped, > (apparently to try to find her way "HOME" to the low-lifes that > dumped her! I can not, nor will I EVER be able to understand the love > & dedication an innocent baby will demonstrate toward the sc*m that > abused her!!!) > > Anyway, I took the babies in, since they needed to be bottle fed & > would have died if left to the elements, or predators. > Several days later, I noticed the poor, bedraggled Mama had made it > back, looking for her babies, & was hanging out down by the barn. > I immediately got a Hav-A-Heart trap, and had her in less than 10 > minutes. > She was dirty, starved...broke my heart. > But, it did not break her spirit!!! > On moving her from trap to crate, she somehow got hold of my hand & > BIT me down to bone. OUCH!! > But, how could I blame her??? Poor thing, dumped like garbage along > w/ her babies.... No wonder she had NO trust of people. > So, wound cleaned up, I transfered her to crate & made imm. > arrangements for exam, vx's, testing & spay. I named her "Charity". > > She tested negative, YEAH!!! Rec'd vx.'s (all BUT FELV, the low > cost clinic does NOT vx against Felv as part of their low cost > program) & was spayed. > I set her up in a large crate in barn, working daily w/ her to win > her over. > What an ordeal....it was almost comical at times. (Except for the > times she nailed me!!) > But, I did NOT give up and w/ advice & encouragement from several > people exp. w/ ferals, I kept at it. > I got several long, plumey feathers to stroke her with, and I > SWEAR, she enjoyed the touch. Often, I would catch a glimpse of her > w/ her head tilted back, eyes closed, could almost "hear" her saying, > "Awwww, that feels mah-ve;lus Dah-ling, keep it up!" > > As the weeks, months passed, she'd venture to front of crate, just > to sit & "observe" my every move". She was beginning to trust me at > last...... > > Finally, last week, she'd allow me to present her food, right to > her as she "lounged" in her sherpa lined bed at the back of her > "digs". > She'd actually nibble as I still held bowl... > Things were looking up for sure. > There was NO MORE FEAR IN HER EYES!!! SHE TRUSTED ME! I HAD MADE A > FRIEND!!!!! > > However, Wednesday evening, despite all as usual, she BOLTED out of > the crate and made a bee-line for the small opening near the far end > of the barn.... She literally SQUEEZED her small body thru the crack > & was GONE!!! > > Immediately, I ran out, but there was NO sight of her!! I am sick! > Now, she HAS been confined to barn area foer OVER a month, so I > know she has a "feeling" it is "HOME". > > That nite, I left the door slightly ajar, along w/ food, water & > her favorite ~ chicken. > I then placed her bed next to the food. > It has a godish~yellow corduroy cushion, which had just been > laundered. (This was the cushion she had used when I first realized > shw was seeking shelter in the barn. At that time there were > tell-tale signs of grey hair.) > > Yesterday morning, I noticed that there were the tell-tale grey > hairs on the cushion, the water had been sipped & the dry food was > scattered a little over the placemat, as if she'd been nibbling. BUT > THE CHICKEN HAD NOT been touched at all!!! > > Had she come back, ate, drank & napped and took off again??? > I scoured the neighborhood, speaking to neighbors, and strangers, > put up signs, BUT NO ONE HAS SEEN HER!! > Many look at me like I am crazy when I explain she is "feral". One > even went so far as to tell me that she is 'better off" on the run!! > (Oh, it is so hard to LIKE people!!!) > > I am sick!!! Did I let this girl down??? I did all I could....she > was actually starting to TRUST ME!! > OR, was she "playing me", just waiting for the right moment to > escape??? > > Any ideas, suggestions? > Should I attempt to re-trap??? (BUT IT WAS SO,SO EVIDENT SHE HATED > BEING CAGED, TRAPPED LIKE THAT!!! > > I live near a VERY busy road.... > So far, I have been too frightened to search the roads,,, > > Oh, what do I do? > Please help. > MY HEART IS BROKEN WITH GRIEF & GUILT. > > Patti >
