No. Not on My Watch. No Way.

Henry County Animal Care & Control, where Zabby was rescued from, is bustin' at the seams. This post by Betsy Merchant tugged at my heartstrings-as so many of them do.

I'm just a little nobody, but I have a few good friends who know a few good friends. It doesn't hurt to ask for help, as long as I'm not being obnoxious to those few good friends, right?

We got a nibble of interest on this kind mama and her babies. A warm hearted woman all the way in NW Indiana took a liking to the kitties. After suffering the loss of two of her cats, she may feel she's willing to give a home to a new family. I don't know IF she'll actually end up adopting Mama & both babies, but that is the hope.

Photo by Henry County Care & Control

If we can get her to green light this adoption, she'll have little to do. After hours of emails back and forth, we've been able to work it out with the super nice contact we have at Henry to talk to her Director about allowing us to transport the cats, all together, to Indiana and their new home. Normally this is not allowed and I can see why. The cats have to be spayed first and get all their shots and tests. The kittens won't have to be spayed, but all the test and shots and a two week quarantine is necessary before moving them across state lines.

We can work out the transport and we might be able to find a foster situation for them for the two weeks we need them to be quarantined. Sounds fairly simple, but if we don't get this adoption to happen, then, on Monday, time runs out and the cats may all be euthanized.

I feel sick to my stomach about this. I've written about it before and I've talked about my frustrations. I so want to help change the situation in these struggling shelters. I know saving one or two doesn't really help-of course it helps the ones that are saved, but it is said it's like trying to empty the ocean with a spoon.

Photo by Henry County Care & Control

It makes me realize just how LUCKY my own cats are-to have such a loving home, dedicated to their needs and comforts. When I think about all those poor innocents, stuck in a cage-with little chance of ever getting out alive, it just breaks my heart in two.

I'm too close to this story to accept it if they're put down. I'm not going to tell myself it's ok and we'll save the next one. I can't do that. IT IS NOT OKAY FOR THEM TO DIE. IT IS NOT OK! If it means I get them to Connecticut and foster them here in my spare bathroom, then that's what I will do-even if I'm taking in another mama and five kittens in a few days. These cats are going to be the lottery winners at Henry and beat the odds that are against them.

I am not going to let them die.