Dear Kerry- I'm a bit of a lurker on this board but read your email about the shelter for FeLV+ cats and wanted to say a little something. I adopted a cat I found outside my office in November of 2005. He tested positive for FeLV and that's how I came to find this wonderful list of people and cats here. A lot of people say they could never get a pet, let alone a pet with a health condition because it is too hard to lose them when they go. That, is true, however, the time spent with them is beyond explanation. When I took "Wowie" into my home knowing he had FeLV. I thought I might have to distance myself from the situation but I knew that no one would give him a better home than I could. Even though he had this condition, nothing about him made him any less wonderful than he is. Sick or not sick, living creatures who are here on this earth should be given love and the best care while they are here, just as we would do for any human being we loved. FeLV, while unpredictable, is not a death sentence. While some do not have much time, many others do live quite long and happy lives and it is us who can help to make their stay here, no matter how long it is, the best it can be. What a wonderful gift to be able to give, and what a wonderful gift the reward of a loving companion is whose life is better, because of you. Wowie is thriving and while I do not know what the future brings, I know that no matter who we are, life is unpredictable for ALL of us and no matter how long life may be, it is never long enough. Enjoy every day, make it count and make it count for those whose lives you touch as well. Wowie is doing SO well right now and I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the love and joy this cat has brought into my life I feel lucky every single day...just ask anyone I keep blabbing to about him! No matter how long his life may be, I will always be grateful for the time he has been a part of my life and know that because I gave him a chance, he has lived a more comfortable, warmer, loved existence in my home. And boy does he show that he appreciates it! Thanks for letting me share! Rebecca
> ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kerry MacKenzie<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org<mailto:felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> > Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 12:22 AM > Subject: I need your help > > > Dear all > I'll try to make this as brief/concise as possible. > Because of what happened with Pookie, Paula Fasseas, the founder/owner of > the shelter, PAWS, called me. I would never normally have had a chance to > speak to her---she's a society high-flier who owns banks (yup, you read that > right) and started up PAWS just a few years ago when her small daughter > suggested doing something for animals. > Pookie wasn't positive, but at some point in our conversation she > mentioned leukemia in passing. > Now, PAWS is building a 7-million dollar state of the art shelter in > Chicago, with adoption suites (and much more space I've heard given to dogs > than cats). I had also heard from 2 reliable sources that this shelter was > NOT going to have space for FeLV cats which saddened and sickened me. All > this money and effort, and no support for FeLV kitties. > I kept thinking I should write to Paula Fasseas. > So when *leukemia* came up in the phone call, this was a > never-to-be-repeated chance. > I asked her if there was to be an annex for FeLV cats in the new facility > letting her know that I had had 6 FeLV cats at one point and they have a > special place in my heart. I was expecting her to say no. But, she said that > there was an 8x16 room they could probably use for that... ! > And we then got talking a bit about FeLV and I explained why they *should* > be included in the new shelter. > She got quite animated and enthused about the idea, and I said I'd send > her this wonderful website address (which i already did). > However, yesterday it occurred to me that i should send a PS with some > brief case histories from you wonderful people, to illustrate in a very real > way why FeLV cats should be given a chance the same as other cats. > As an example, my statement will prob say something like: > "I took in a colony of 6 cats, 5 of whom tested positive. Four of them, > Caramel, Levi, Flavia and Snowball, kittens when I got them, enjoyed quality > lives for between 1-2 years, playing and roughhousing and grooming and > cuddling and enjoying their food and treats like all kittens do.They loved to > play ping pong in the middle of the night--I was frequently wakened by the > thud-thud against the door! Mickey is still going strong, and cuddles and > plays with Momcat, who incidentally is and retested negative. Kerry M" > If any of you--particularly those of you whose cats have lived longer, > could email me a brief description with their names, ages, and also whether > you mix too--I'll compile them and send them on. Please note I may edit for > space so she can read them quickly. > I got the impression Paula Fasseas didn't know a whole lot about FeLV but > that she was very very open to knowing more, and in educating the public--she > talked enthusiastically about doing that at the shelter. I said that if I > could help in any way I would. > This is SUCH a great opportunity, and I'd like to make the most of it, and > I feel it would really really help if I can send her brief real-life > examples, from my FeLV-list friends, of FeLV kitties living quality lives! > Thanks in advance!!!!! Kerry M. > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > /pipermail/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org/attachments/20060410/344ab60b/attachment.htm > > ------------------------------ >
