How Great this Joy

Wed, 2012-05-02 18:01 — Robin Olson

They were going to die unless a miracle happened. A black and white cat and her four kittens needed a rescue and needed one soon. They were in an overcrowded kill shelter I've often written about called Henry County Care & Control in McDonough, GA. Over the past few years I've been able to help many cats from this facility, but I can never save enough and at the time, almost exactly a year ago, I had too many foster kittens of my own and could not take on this family.

The mama along with three additional mamas and their kittens were going to be euthanized so I went to work writing blog posts about them and asking for help.

I'm not sure what effect my posts had, but three families were rescued, leaving one kitty we called “The Cow Mama” behind. Her time was up, but no one could help. I asked my friend, Dorian Wagner of Your Daily Cute who LOVES cow kitties as much as I do. We begged, pleaded, wrote emails, made calls. We did not think this family would ever see sunshine again or know a loving home. Instead they would know a lethal injection and a black plastic body bag.

Second Blk-white mama.jpg
©2011 Henry County Care & Control. Cow Mama hopes for a miracle.

But that didn't happen.

I contacted our friends at Humane Society of Forsyth County in a last ditch plea for help. They agreed to step in and take the entire family! What a relief! We were deliriously happy, but like with any rescue we always wondered what happened next?

Yesterday I got an email from Rachel C. who's given me permission to share it with all of you. Rachel wrote:

Hi Robin!

Last August we adopted two kittens from a foster mom with the Forsyth County Humane Society. This morning, as I was sipping my coffee, I got a wild hair to do a Google search to find the old postings for their adoptions in honor of the kittens first birthday tomorrow. My search led me right to your blog post “Not on My Watch: Believe in Miracles”. You see, our newest additions are two of the cow kitties rescued last year in the nick of time from Henry County. Thanks to you, the balls were set in motion to rescue these wonderful animals, and in turn, gave us the wonderful gift of these loving felines. The two we adopted were the runt, who is on her back underneath her mama’s arm in the picture, and the one who’s markings resembled that of a domino. I ran into their foster mom a few months back, and heard the other two were also adopted together a couple of weeks later. We were not aware their mother had also found a loving home, and we were excited to hear that. She had walked right up to my husband when we made our first visit to the Humane Society, so she was definitely one to make an impression.

©2011 Henry County Care & Control. Annebelle tucked under her mother's front leg.

These kittens, now named Annabelle and Princeton (somewhat prestigious names for kittens, but fitting for their “rags-to-riches” story), have adapted well in their new home, and get along, for the most part, with our existing 14-year-old cat, Nikki, who looks like the female twin of your Cricket! The kittens are absolutely hilarious! Princeton has grown into a handsome, talkative little man who likes to torment Nikki, pick wrestle matches with his sister, and yet underneath it all, he’s a little timid when it comes to the unknown. Annabelle is just flat out cute! We call her our vegetarian...she likes bananas and apples and carrots, though we try to keep her out of our human food. She also is the most daring, so we have to watch she doesn’t go exploring into unsafe territory when the rare opportunity arises. Both are cuddle bugs who like to curl up on laps and sleep right between our pillows every night.

©2012 Rachel C. Princeton (left) and Annebelle (right).

A big thanks for all you do! Keep up the good work and know that felines and humans alike are all greatly appreciative. If there is anything I can do to help with rescues, let me know. I will donate financially when I am able, but can always help with spreading word of rescues in need.

Best,
Rachel

As a Cat Rescuer, this is what I live for-stories like this that illustrate not only the power of what we can do when we work together, but the deep and profound love people have for shelter cats. These cats are not purebred or exotic. They came from a heartbreaking situation, but they made it. They won the kitty-lottery and got a great home which is the goal of every single rescue. If only all our shelter cats were so lucky.

the kittens.jpg
©2012 Rachel C. Happy Birthday Kitties! (nice tail!)

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“Kitten Season” is in high gear and Henry County Care & Control is full up with mamas and kittens. If you're interested in fostering and live in the area, contact ME at info@kittenassociates.org. If you know anyone who volunteers with a Rescue or Shelter in Georgia, please ASK THEM if they would help-even ONE family or a few orphan kittens. The kittens in need are NOT listed publicly because they are too young to be adopted. Contact the good folks at HCCAC via:
Henry County Care & Control's Facebook Page or by their web site

Let's make another Happy Ending come to pass. All it takes is YOU. Just make the call, send the e-mail, ask one person to help. Look what we can do when we TAKE ACTION over just wishing it would get better. We can DO THIS!

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