Announcements

I checked my email late last night. There were lots and lots of pleas for cats in dire need. Cats of all ages. Some were local, some were from good old Henry Co. There was an urgent notice put out that three kittens had been there too long and that by 7am they were slated to be euthanized if a rescue didn't come forward to save their lives.

I looked at the photos and descriptions. Any one of these cats would make a great addition to any family. I asked myself what I could do to help? I don't have any more space in my own home to foster these cats. My dear foster mama in Georgia is also full up. I don't know where I could board the cats and even if I did, I still could not take them here. I looked at the photo, below. It's an “odd-eyed” (one green and one blue) white kitten. She's sitting on a little bed. The pattern on the fabric is whimsical with cute little candy corns on it. For some reason this got to me. I started to cry. This poor little kitty has no idea her life is about to end in a few more hours.

I talked to Sam. I asked him; “Should I tell my readers about this even though there is no time to put in place a rescue or adoption? Or should I just not say anything? There are SO MANY that need help, I can't list them all. No one likes to know about these cats dying when they can't do much to help them. It's so frustrating and painful! And the cccccandy corn bed!!”..then I started crying again.

It's one thing for me to cry, but for this situation, I felt it was better to hope that someone could step in and help them, knowing that help was probably too late to arrive.

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Odd-Eyed White kitty with a blue and a green eye.

I could not sleep. Not a wink. I was very tired from the stress of seeing my client fall ill and be whisked off in the ambulance a few hours earlier. I kept thinking about the kittens. I just felt sick and angry. I want to go to Georgia and make them pass a law that forces everyone to Spay & Neuter their pets! No, not realistic, but I'm entitled to my wishes, right?

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Little Flame Point with lovely blue eyes.

I got up at 1AM. I sat on the sofa with one of the cats and had a cup of mint tea to settle my tummy. I tried to feel sleepy, but it didn't work. I didn't want to go near my computer, but I didn't want to wake Sam up by turning on the TV. I got up and walked to my office and turned the computer back on. I poked around and looked at my email, went on Facebook, then...it dawned on me. I knew it was stupid but what the heck?

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Little Lynxy Point with lovely blue eyes, too. What a charmer!

A few days prior, we had a new visitor on the Covered in Cat Hair Facebook page. She, too, did fostering and rescue right in Georgia! She has a Blog about her foster cats that was really cute. I don't know what prompted me, but I sent her an email entitled; “Silly Question.” It was 2AM. I told her about the kittens and asked if she might know anyone that could help. Realizing it was the 11th hour...

A few MINUTES later, she wrote me back. She just happened to be awake, medicating one of her cats. She wrote me a sweet note and said to send her the info, so I did. I sent her listings on 6 or 7 cats. I waited...

She wrote me back. She cc:d Betsy, our contact at Henry Co. She said to go ahead and pull ID#'s...1, 2, 3...KITTENS! My stomach flipped. My heart skipped a beat...did she just say YES to taking the kittens? Did that mean I was going to foster them here? I HAVE NO SPACE!!!

I quickly wrote her back and told her my concerns. Her kind reply was that, no, she didn't need me to find homes. She could do that locally. She just needed me to get the kittens busted out and have our SUPER BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD, BOBBY, pick them up and get them to the Vet. She would do the rest!

And so...at 3AM, just FOUR HOURS before these kittens took their last breath, the paperwork for them would be updated to read; “RESCUE HOLD,” but in the language of the shelter means;

BUSTED OUT! SAVED! RESCUED! GETS TO GROW UP AND HAVE A LIFE WITH A LOVING FAMILY AND NEVER BE INSIDE A METAL CAGE AGAIN!

I sent out some emails and did what I needed to do to get things in order. I was feeling pretty wobbly I needed to try to sleep. I set my alarm for 6:45AM to make sure Betsy got my message. I crawled into bed next to Sam. I woke him up. I whispered that I was sorry, but I couldn't wait to tell him something. I tried to keep calm, but I couldn't hold back the tears any more. I started to cry again, as I told him the kittens were saved and he said a sleepy “Oh that's so wonderful!” as he held me tight. I thought about the little kitten and the silly candy corn print cat bed, but this time, as the tears fell down my cheeks, they were not tears of grief-they were tears of joy.

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control

Please thank Kate for stepping up and helping us out. As a "Thank You" to her, I paid her Vet bill. I felt like it was the least I could do. Please also thank, Bobby, for picking up the kitties this afternoon and sitting with them at the Vet's office and for making sure they are safe and loved until they go to foster care.

I am amazed, humbled, stunned, thrilled, delighted, excited, grateful, so very appreciative, to all the people who dug deep into their pocket and offered to help me cover the Vet costs for rescuing the kittens!

I had hoped to be able to pay for the Spay/Neuter of the cats, and just pay the rest of the Vet bills out of my ever more empty bank account. I only asked for $400, but with help from Sparkle, the Designer Cat, who wrote a GLOWING article about Kitten Associates (okay, and about me, too) and her urging to her readers to keep helping me even if I met my goal, I extended the goal by $100 so I could buy some de-worming supplies and cover a tiny bit of the Vet bill I've already paid.

I looked at the totals on ChipIn last night and saw that not only did I reach the goal of $400, but the goal of $500 and then went far beyond that to $715 (and counting! I haven't been to my P.O. Box yet!)!!!

I realize that every fundraiser won't go this well and I can't always be asking for donations (even if more cats will have a need), but for right now, this moment, you have allowed me to cover just about ALL the Vet expenses for these kitties (I already paid over $400 for the first round of Vetting on all 6 kittens. The S/N will be another $400), which will give me the opportunity to focus on their care and not worry about anything else. (Okay, maybe getting on Petfinder would be a worry).

Because of your generosity, you have directly effected the future of these kittens lives. You stuck your neck out and believed in me. I am deeply grateful for your help and I will do everything I can to make sure each kitten has the best home possible.

And now, let's see how this story unfolds...Kittens are due here the end of the first week of August. I better get my ass in gear! Got to be ready for them!

Firstly...WOW! Thank you for the donations! We're off to a great start. A few folks have asked if they can mail in a contribution. You are welcome to do so. Here is our address:

Kitten Associates

P.O. Box 354

Newtown, CT 06470-0354

Please make check out to: Robin Olson (since we don't have our Kitten Associates bank account yet!).

THANK YOU AGAIN for helping the Kittens!

So the little cow kittens will be here in about 3 weeks. I guess they'll have some company. It's not my fault. Betsy should not have sent me photos from kittens that were brought in to Henry County on Friday night, just after our cow kitties were rescued!

She sent me this:

and this:

and this:

and this:

I also found out that the cow babies and their mama missed being euthanized by a few hours! A lot of babies died that day. Now these guys will have a few days, then their time is up, too. I know I can't save them all (yet!!!)

I asked Maria if there was any way to fit 4 more foster kittens into their own space in her house. She said, YES.

I asked Bobby if he could go to Henry and pick up the kittens on Monday and get them to the Vet.

He said: “Yes.”

Betsy asked me if I would rescue them.

I thought about it. 6 foster cats is a lot to care for and a lot of cats to be stuck with if they don't get adopted. These guys are so cute I think they'll get adopted quickly, but as with any rescue, just the basic costs to get them all spayed/neutered and rabies is $50/cat if I go to the low cost clinic. I also have to have them all vetted before they go into foster care, combo tested for FIV/Feluk, de-flead, de-wormed, and FRVCP shots.

Doing this is not cheap. And God forbid any of the cats get sick and we know they probably will, then it could go into the thousands.

So, when time came to decide on if I should rescue these cats or not...well, you know what I said.

YES to ONE!

YES to ALL FOUR!

I've paid for their initial vetting this afternoon. For the first time in my life, I'm going to ask for some help. I've got the first vetting on my dime, but now I'd like help paying for the cats to be S/N. I've cut my goal down as much as I can.

I don't have my Non-Profit status, so you can't write any donation off, but you CAN feel good knowing the money goes to the kittens. You can visit H.O.P.E's Website and see their costs listed there, so you know the costs are legit. I'm only asking for money to help get them S/N and rabies shot and a little extra in case I need a booster FVRCP. I've got their food, litter, any other vetting covered (if it's not astronomic). If you'd like to ChipIn a few dollars, that would be great. I promise to work on getting my Non-Profit so you can write the next donation off!

Yes, I'm doing this bass-ackwards. I should have a few big benefactors, but I don't have time to find them. These cats would be dead, so I just did what I needed to do.

Now I hope you'll join me and be an important part of this rescue! Run to your sofa and dig around for some spare change! Every dollar helps! I know you get bombarded by requests for donations, so I'm going to try to keep my request to a minimum

Thank you for your help and to everyone for all their supportive messages and good wishes. I hope to make you all proud of me and rescue more kitties in the coming days!

There comes a point in your life where you start to see a direction you need to take. You can avoid it or run away from it. You can meet it head on and get bugs in your teeth, but you gotta do something.

I can't sit here and know little babies are being euthanized, along with their mamas. It's just so wrong on so many levels. No animal should be put down just due to space limitations or budget reasons, but that's how it goes.

Since volunteering with local rescue groups hasn't worked well for me, I'm just going to do my own thing. I am scared shitless, but perhaps that will motivate me to find a way to get this to work out? There's a lot of work to do, but I've already got things started.

Of course, I'm doing this bass-ackwards. I have no funding. My 501(3)c paperwork hasn't even been downloaded off the web yet. I'm working on getting onto Petfinder because I seem to already have foster cats coming here soon, but I DO have one thing figured out!

Sam gave my group a name. We were driving in the car, talking about whether or not I should make a go of it on my own and he just blurted out; “How 'bout Kitten Associates?”

YES! Done! Locked and loaded. Love it!

My first two babies under the Kitten Associates rescue moniker, you already met last week. They're at foster mama, Maria's home in McDonough, GA until they can hitch a ride back Northeast with Aunt Izzy, our CiCH friend.

Maria sent some photos of the babies. They look big and happy! I still need to name them! Any ideas? One boy. One girl.

©2010 Maria Sandoval, used with permission.

Their Mama, a sweet calico is already adopted by a nice lady in North Carolina. Mama needs to be spayed still, but for now she is very comfy and happy in her foster home and to be back with her babies for awhile longer.

©2010 Maria Sandoval, used with permission.

So two kittens that I have to find homes for and pay out-of-pocket for anything they need while with me, is a good start. I can afford this. No problem. But...

...I forgot to take it slow...baby steps.

I've been trying to write this post for a week. I'm torn between writing a virtual rant vs. just moving forward with my life. The temptation is to light these words on fire and to really let off a years' worth of steam, but reason states that those of us in the rescue community all know each other and burn one bridge now means making trouble for yourself later.

So with that in mind, I will write this:

I QUIT.

©2009 Robin A.F. Olson. Spencer says it all.

I left The Animal Center for good. No turning back. Done. Whatever reasons I have for this, for now, will be my own. I gave it my all for 5 years, but there was a price to pay that I wasn't willing to pay any longer. I leave angry and hurt, but I know in time those feelings will fade away and for now, I can use that energy to do something positive.

I've been grappling with what to do next. The answer has been right in front of me for a long time, but I was afraid to give it a shot. I'll continue to use my tiny networking skills to help rescue cats from southern death row shelters. I'll also keep doing everything I did before, but...

I'm going to make a go of it on my own. I'm going to start my own Non-Profit Cat Rescue Group. Stupid idea or perfect timing, I have no idea. There are lots of hurdles ahead, but I'm going to try. This is the dawning of my new journey. The road I've travelled on has led me to this place. I stand here before you and take a deep breath. I'm ready to stick my neck out, kick some ass and save lots more cats.

You're welcome to come along for the ride and see how this pans out. Maybe you'll say “I knew her back when she first started that group...it was just her, but now look at it!” but hopefully not; “Oh yes, that was before she got stuck with all those cats she couldn't adopt out and went crazy and they found her body...the cats got to it first...”

I'm truly scared. I had all these plans to start super small, go slowly, only take those two cute cow kittens in to foster and see how it goes...

But so many need help! I can't just sit here with two foster kittens when I have room for more! Oh boy...what have I done?

Details of my craziness coming soon...

I am SOOOOO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Cali Mama is NEG/NEG for FIV and FeLuk and so are her super cute cowbabies!

Everyone is clear to go into foster care...but wait...there's more!

Last night a lovely lady named, Marian in North Carolina offered to give Cali Mama a home! So as soon as Mama is done with quarantine and is ready to travel, our dear friend, Bobby has offered to DRIVE her all the way to Charlotte- which is a good five hours drive. Who would just offer to do such a thing without an ulterior motive? BOBBY! He is such a nice nice man. Last year he helped me by picking up Huggy Mama, who was my first rescue from Henry Co. He truly loves animals and has a heart of gold. Thank you, Bobby and thank you Marian for giving Mama a new home to call her own.

My brains are scrambled. I think I forgot to thank someone. Once I have normal blood pressure again and cognitive function, I will re-check this post and make sure I didn't leave anyone out...

oh yeah..and the COWBABIES ARE MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE!!!!! Okay, I'm just fostering them, but...

Don't let me keep these foster kittens. When I start writing about how I can't let them go, remind me I told you to YELL AT ME! I can't keep them, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE TUXY BABIES!!!! I can't wait to meet them!!!

Last night was a CRAZY barrage of emails going back and forth. Things were lining up to rescue this mama and her little babies! I had a transport, I had someone to pull the cats for me, I had a place for them here, but I didn't have a two-three week foster home or place to board the cats until they could leave the State and head northeast! All pets have to be quarantined for about 2 weeks before they can go anywhere to help prevent the spread of disease. Finding a place to keep them safe is really tough-espeically when you live 1000 miles away!!!

Somehow things just started to click...

I decided to try and ask for help. Our new BFF, Maria, saw my plea. She actually LIVES in the same town where the shelter is located! She DOES cat rescue for RescueCats! She HAS an EMPTY foster room! She even is prepared to de-worm the kittens! This lady knows her stuff! Oh yeah...and Maria contacted me and offered to help! She made all the difference in this rescue even being possible.

So did our DEAR friend Bobby, who graciously offered to drive over to Henry Co., sign out the cats, take them to the Vet and wait with them while they are being checked out. You'd think that would be enough, but Bobby offered to help in other ways, which I will tell you about later! There is more news ahead, but I have to wait until I know that mama and babies have passed their exam (so to speak) and can go into their foster home. There is the gut-knot-worry that their "Combo" test to determine if they have FIV or Feline Leukemia will show a positive. We do NOT want this to happen and it's the last real serious hurdle in this rescue.

Bust 'em loud and bust 'em proud! BUSTED OUT!

So as of this moment, Mama and kits are NO LONGER IN A CAGE ON DEATH ROW. THEY ARE BUSTED OUT! NEXT..combo test result. OK? Or NOT? Can we jump up and down for joy? Not yet, but maybe a little “yippie!” wouldn't hurt.

I'm really trying to jump over the hurdles to help save one mama and two kittens from Henry. Co before it's too late.

Right now I have a rescue in New Jersey ready to take the Mama into foster care and find her a loving home. I am willing to take the kittens into foster care and do the same for them.

I have someone who can pick the kittens up from the Shelter. I have our Izzy, a good friend to CiCH and her sweet hubby, ready to help with the transport since they are also rescuing a GA kitty and adopting her! It will be their 18th cat!

The problem...I can't find a place to board these cats. They have to go through, at least, a 2 week "quarantine" period either at a Vet or in a foster home where they keep their other animals away from the foster. The fosters would have to have their own space. They also have to be vetted, which we can raise funds for. If we can find a home or rescue or Vet to take them for 2 to 3 weeks, until Izzy can get there, we are golden.

If we can't, these cats will die. It would be one thing if no one wanted them, but they ARE wanted and we want to help them, but we're stuck and time is very short. They will be euthanized soon.

I'm so frustrated! I just need one person to help us out, just for a few weeks. We could pay a fair rate to board the cats. They would have to run them to the vet once or twice and just love and care for them. That's it.

If any of you have any affiliations with friends in GA who might help us, please have them contact me ASAP: info@coveredincathair.com
Please spread the word!

Okay, everyone. We had a great success two weeks ago, finding a home for a special, all-black sweetie, adult Mama cat, we named Arizona. Now we have another adult mama cat, who is in dire need of a home or rescue placement. Do you think we can get her busted out of Henry Care & Control, too? We just need ONE HOME or ONE RESCUE GROUP to take her in! This girl is pure delight!

Add to that, her kittens are facing death row, too. They also need adopters or a rescue group to pull them! Pet ID: 6/25-2568

THE INFORMATION, BELOW IS DIRECTLY FROM HENRY CO CARE & CONTROL in McDONOUGH, GA.:

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PLEASE REFER TO THIS ID# Calico in C1; ID# 6-25/2567 WHEN YOU ASK AFTER THIS CAT and Pet ID: 6/25-2568, 6/25-2569 IF YOU ASK AFTER THE KITTENS.

This gorgeous, SWEET girl has been with us since June 25th which you all know is unheard of this time of year! She is so special her caretaker/kennel master has really tried to find a way to save her life.

Please help us save her life. She is very affectionate and loveable.

Can everyone try one more time to get her noticed. Our cat kennel master really does love those in her care and watching them perish here is heartbreaking for all concerned.

**Please Note; When forwarding, crossposting, or re-posting I ask that you leave this message intact exactly as it was written by me. I do not give permission to post my message, part of my message, or my photographs on Craig's List. Thank you for your help and support, and for respecting my wishes.**

Betsy Merchant~

We are very rescue friendly and are more than happy to work with any rescue group as long as the group has a valid Georgia Department of Agriculture license! Any rescue group, whether in or out of state, that takes pets from Georgia shelters, is required, by Georgia law, to have a rescue license issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division. Having tax exempt status is not the same as a license. For more information on obtaining a license, please call (404) 656-4914.

Contact:

mystiblu@bellsouth.net

Henry County Animal Care and Control

527 Hampton Street

McDonough, Georgia 30253

(770) 288-7401

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16747436

Our Hours:

Monday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm

Saturday: 9 am-1 pm

Sunday: Closed

County Observed Holidays: Closed

The shelter is located at 527 Hampton Street in McDonough. We are located south of Atlanta off I-75. Take exit 218 and head east on 20/81 toward McDonough. Our address is 527 Hwy 20/81 East.

For all other information regarding ordinances, county codes, and other functions of Henry County Animal Care and Control please visit www.hcacc.org

If you can't provide a loving home for this wonderful kitty, would you please ReTweet, re-post on Facebook and tell all your friends about her-ESPECIALLY ONES WHO LIVE IN GEORGIA? THANK YOU!