Happy New Year to all! I'm still in Seattle visiting my parents and am due to be home tomorrow evening. My parents have an ancient computer, so can't check email. When did I become THAT dependent on email? I can sign in to my blog, Facebook, and that's about it. My connection to the world seems smaller. :)
I've been following up with the vet regarding Travis and unfortunately his eyes remain the same. Unless there's huge improvement, he'll be blind.
We visited a little town in Sumner, Washington yesterday. It's one of those quaint towns with antiques and stores with lacey doilies in windows. Imagine my excitement to see a "Cat Store". It was a store where all things are cat related! I charged into the store with the exuberance of a Wal-Mart 50% off sale shopper.
The lady that ran the cat store gave the proceeds of sale profits to a rescue and local SPCA. As expected there's a HUGE Himalayan cat there named "Hunter". When I asked permission to pet a sleeping Hunter, the lady at the counter said, "Hunter *insists* that you pet him!". As some of you know, I don't believe in coincidences, so you can imagine how I felt when I saw that Hunter was totally blind.
Hunter is 14 years old and had been blind since birth. He was a rescue when a breeder saw the defect and dumped him in a field to fend for himself. Hunter's Mom gave me lots of reassurances about Travis. I could've spent the day talking with this lady - the antique stores in Sumner could wait.
I left with two pairs of cat earrrings and a "Spay and neuter your Pet" sticker.
It's hard to believe that I've been writing this blog for 2 years now. I was hoping I'd have something profound to say today as I sit at my parent's ancient computer on this rainy Seattle day. I go home tomorrow to my own little fur-family. I go home tomorrow with renewed hope that somewhere, somehow, I can help ignorant people understand the importance of commitment and love to their pets.
Wouldn't it be great if the rescue business was so slow, I'd be out of a volunteer job and could do Meals on Wheels or something....
I can only dream....
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11 comments:
Dare I ask about Chunk :S
I got a little teary over the "coincidence" of meeting Hunter and his mom... the way the universe works never ceases to amaze me! I hope you've had a great vacation. :)
tally: Chunk has become a "Shelter Cat". He was the first one to greet me at the shelter last week at the front door! They're helping him lose weight and he's getting lots of exercise. I love him. :)
And what about Chance and Wiggles?
Chance was rescued, but unfortunately I do not know about Wiggles :(
Omg, good news! I watched him since he first showed up on Petfinder - there was just something about him! I was thinking of him the other night, and was worried when I saw his listing was gone. But, oh yay, good news for Chunk :).
Beth,
If you need further reassurance that Travis can live a happy life, visit http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/. This is a blog written by a man that runs a sanctuary for disabled animals in Montana. They do amazing work and you'll probably find their stories about the quality of life for their blind/deaf/three-legged animals reassuring.
Toronto has its first extreme cold weather alert of the season (-22 with windchill). I am encouraging everyone to build winterized feral cat shelters, have one with a heater in my back yard plus tring to keep a beautiful black cat down the block alive. She's a gorgeous black who had a litter (already rescued) but I worry for her and all those 'discarded' cats out there....
Shannon: Thank you SO MUCH for the blog link! It's so inspiring. I'm totally enjoying reading all the posts.
-B
We have several blind babies in our rescue, who were adopted by us volunteers. Chucky is by far my favorite. He is the sweetest, most loving orange guy, and every single cat that comes in gravitates toward him. He lost both his eyes at just a few months old, but does great. We just have to remember NOT to move the furniture around and let him get used to new things.
Travis will be okay, no matter what... You of all people should know the resiliency & determination of cats. :-)
I still have "Gilbert" and "Ella Fitzgerald" at the shelter who are both blind and need help! Both are on medication for URV but both still doing ok so far. Anyone who can help PLEASE tell Beth ASAP!
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