The Kindness of Strangers

I'm such a sap. I get goosebumps during the national anthem and cry when a stranger has her baby during "A Baby Story." But I almost always get choked up when I read or hear about the kind acts from strangers.

Most recently, I've really been touched by the outpouring of love and support regarding the pair of cats that I posted about on Friday. First, I noticed my friends on Facebook posting the video and asking for help. Then their posts contained the word "Shared"..."Shared"...."shared"....as they also shared their story.

I was contacted by two rescue organizations - both in the states that have offered to help the seniors. I love thinking about two other women on either sides of the country who are just like me - loving and working to save the animals. Until Friday, they were strangers to me. I still haven't spoken with either one on the phone, but their emails and voicemails sound just like me!

I'm over-the-moon happy to report that my pair of seniors have been rescued today. Many, many thank you's to Crystal and her daughter who delayed their mother/daughter day to pick up this pair for me. I only wish I had pictures of the rescue.

Crystal told me that she put their carriers facing each other, and they put their little paws out, so they were touching. They vet assistant told me this afternoon that they are literally snuggled together so close, that just about everybody part was touching. They love each other and I'm so happy that they will remain together forever.

Now the hard part comes on WHERE they will go. Normally, I spend my day doing rescue, but today was different. At about 8:30 pm I received a phone call from my youngest son who was in a terrible car accident last night. After seeing the wreckage, I don't know how he survived. But he not only survived, but walked away from the scene with some bruises and soreness:

I've spent my day today dealing with the literal wreckage from the accident and with an eerie feeling in my stomach. It must be a mother-thing. I hate that I'm so vulnerable to losing somebody that I love so much. I'm so grateful to the kindness of strangers that helped my son at the scene before I could get there.

Some people have asked me, "What can I do to help the senior pair?" I think we're going to need donations. (Lordie, I hate asking for money.) If the pair ends up in Tennessee (a Seniors for seniors program), I may need gas cards to help with transport. Or California, we'll need a Pet Airways transport. (I won't put them in cargo!)

I wish I had a spot for them within our own rescue, but I don't. We have a "To Move" list a mile long as we have foster parents who have cats that need to be moved into a new foster home for one reason or another.

Tomorrow is a new day and I need to take a deep breath and sort this out. I can't leave my little seniors at the vets forever. I'll need to make some more contacts and do some planning. I need to focus.

(In addition: If you'd like to donate, you can go through the Toronto Cat Rescue "Canada Helps" - it's a button on their home page: www.torontocatrescue.ca . In the subject line, would you please put: "For Beth Turner's rescue efforts in Woodstock". That way we'll be able to keep track of the money received. Thank you all so very very much!)