Ernest & Dale

Last week I received an email from a fellow rescuer who asked me if there were any Maine Coon kittens at the shelter.  She has a friend looking for one, and (in typical rescuer style) was horrified to find this lady had been calling breeders.   At that time, there weren't even any look-alikes, but I kept the name in my files.

When Ernest was brought into the shelter, I thought of this lady:

Ernest was brought into the shelter as a stray.  He was SO SCARED in this picture, but settled in nicely.  He purr'd when I pet him and rubbed into my hand.  Purebred Maine Coon?  Probably not.  But he's 16 weeks of fluffy cuteness, so I called the adopter.  Tiina was lovely!  On my description and say-so, she wanted Ernest.  We met at the local Tim Horton's where she burst into tears as soon as she saw her new family member.   "How could anyone leave this kitten at a high kill shelter?"  She was incredulous. 

Maybe I've just become accustomed to the stupidity of others and it takes so much more to shock me these days.  Regardless, Ernest has a home!  :)

I've got another REALLY urgent plea.  "Dale" is not doing well in a shelter cage....well, watch the video and you'll see what I mean:


When I got to the shelter this morning, there was blood all over the cage from where he tore his feet on the bars.  His face has been broken open and was bleeding from pressing himself against the bars.  I feel as desperate and he looks to get him out of the cage.  When I picked him up, he put his paws around my neck.  I tried to lean him back into his cage and he wouldn't go.  I had to pry him off my neck. 

We both cried when I left.  I'm so worried that they're going to euthanize him tomorrow morning because he's so upset in his cage.  

I hate it when I'm doing something good like getting Ernest adopted, but leave with such a heavy heart over another cat.  Please help Dale. :(