I don't know where you live, but could you get a cab? Maybe make a 'trade off'
of some sort with your roommate? I'm sorry you're in this position, and I hope
Charity gets better.
tonya
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
As most of you remember, Charity ["feral" mom dumped w/ babies] & I have
a long & controversial history...... [She got out of taped-up box, so I had
Timmy & Thomas as bottle babies..... ]
I was able to trap her, but she "escaped" while I was cleaning her crate
[post spaying thank heavens]. I decided not to re-trap her since I had a
special area for ALL the strays/ferals here. And, also, she had me in ER so
many times....... Clearly, she disliked humans, and after being tossed out like
trash I couldn't blame her..... I believed she had been somebody's cat once
upon a time & when she had babies, well, they DUMPED them!!!! (Education IS
the key..... Spay/Neuter all your babies....)
So, I believed as long as she always had food & shelter [here], it would be
less stressful than trying to re-trap her. And, she had her constant
companion, Black Bart........
However, life can change so fast.......
I had my MVA, my room mate was NOT tending my stray/feral area & when I
finally got home from hosp., o my way to Dr. I saw Charity running across the
very heavily traveled, busy road I live on!!!! So, despite all my "handicaps"
I made a promise right then that I would tend to my stray/feral area... Even
opened up the barn so they could get indoors when weather turned bad......
So, I was very concerned about the cats I'd been tending to, but, I managed
to "hobble" out to barn area to feed & water, put "fresh" bedding out, etc.
(And barn is W-A-Y back in yard, never a problem before MVA, but after, well,
it's very difficult for me to get there....) But, da_n it, I made a promise to
these "lost souls"......
I was thrilled when I saw Charity & Bart back in the area...... Made me even
more determined to get out there so they wouldn't wander & get killed on the
road......
Which I did. But, the snow and ice this winter really made it even more
difficult...... But, despite my problems, I kept barn open, re-insulated spots,
etc. NOT EASY, but I somehow managed to get it done.....
After all, I made a promise........
So, one snowy night early Feb.. while I was out walking my Rottie, [Lady]Bug,
who's bigger than me no less, lo & behold, guess who stalks me out????? Miss
Charity........ Now mind you, Bug is deaf, I'm almost blind [great
combination, huh?]....... I heard this pitiful plea, couldn't see "who" it
was, but Bug, who lives & loves all my furbabies, saw her {Charity}, went
totally ballistic - strange cat in her territory....... When I finally
realized it was Charity, I was mortified to say the least........Just imagine
the thoughts running thru my head - me falling, Bug getting off leash &
Charity's demise.......ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC, & that's putting it mildly......
Somehow I managed to get Bug back into house..... But sweet Charity was on a
mission....... She NEVER gave up, and actually came & "waited" for me on back
porch - something she never did!!!!! So, when I went back out, w/ a carrier
no less, I decided the time was right...... But, not having any strength on my
right arm, it was a disaster, to say the least.....Neither of us would give
up......And, she "insisted" I hobble on the snow/ice out to barn!!!!! She was
patient w/ me, but a tad irritated...... She knew what she had to do....
So, we finally get out to barn, where I thanked the lord I had my recliner
[Boy, did I ever need that!!!]
Lo & behold!!!! My Bart was there!!!!! And obviously in VERY poor shape!
And, this mean 'ole intact feral came right up to me, rubbing my legs!!!!! I
was shocked!!!!! He had never approached me prior, always "ran off" when he
caught a mere glance, and now he was almost a love muffin. Something was
off..... Big time....
He looked very ill - skinny, bloated in abdomen, you name it, .... I
actually though e was another stray/feral - until I saw his " shrunken"
equipment... Then I just knew it was our Bart..... So, I set him up, made an
emergency appt. & deep down inside, my heart was broken......
While waiting the 2 days for appt., , he ate very well, turned into a
love-muffin, I kind of got my hopes up...BIG MISTAKE!!
At my vet, Dr. V. started to drain fluid, I finally asked him to stop.
Also, Bart was pale white, all over almost.... NOT a good sign.
He was also "mostly" blind...... Among numerous "other" things....
NO WAY TO "EXIST".............
So, I made the dreaded decision.....Very, very hard. but thought Bart would
NOT have the [or any] quality of life..... [And, he was an "old" man.....]
Ok, now to Charity.....We DID have a vet. appt.soon after, but I had to
cancel because three was NO way to get her in carrier....Wane a compete exam,
including BW, but never got there. And, she was doing so well. My primary
concern was Puma, I must admit...
Now get this..... Thurs. PM she wouldn't [hardly] touch her wet food... So I
pulled a "Puma, Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys - NO GO.!!!!!!! But, when I
pulled out the people tuna, she did eat that. However, ;last night, Friday,
she ate NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH!!!!! [Been up w/ her ALL night......] I did give
her sub-q fluids, she "seemed" to perk up for awhile, maybe 15 minutes!!!!!!
But, she is crying, as if in pain......... NEEDS to get to vet ASAP!!!!
Here's my rant -
1) I CAN'T DRIVE!!!
2) Mom is helping Aunt move......
3) Rescue buddy has to take her mom to Dr
4) Room Mate - Don't even ask........
5) Neighbors out of town
6) Daughter is in Mexico.... Wonderful thing..... Working w/ Wild Animal Zoo
for 6 credits for college..... (Only 5 others, nationwide chosen, and, guess
what???? She's going into veterinary medicine!!! AM I A PROUD MOTHER???? OF
COURSE.........
Just checked [again, I check every 30 minutes or less] on Charity..... She's
still w/ me, but has ben "limp" since around 2:00 AM........
What's a Mom to do? And, besides all else, this [whatever it may be] came on
so suddenly!!!! She's not pale, lke Bart, from anemia & I don't feed my babies
"junk", and she's the only one w/ such severe problems.....
All this time I was so worried about Puma. HAH!!! He'll probably outlive
all of us [humans].
Sorry so long.... Had to rant.....
Hugs,
Patti & her gang
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