A Canadian Holiday Post

It's a holiday in Canada today.  Being an American, it's hard to understand the big deal with Victoria Day, but whatever you call it, I'm happy with a gorgeous day off with my family.  Yesterday was a baseball game, today was a waterfront lunch and walk in at the waterfront park near where we bought our new house. 

Sadly, the phone hasn't stopped ringing with sick and dying kittens this weekend.  They all seem to have the same thing - diarrhea, loss of weight and basically a fail-to-thrive.  Even the vets seem baffled.  There's no rhyme or reason.  They're not coming from the same place and not in the same foster home.  But the symptoms seem to all be very similar. 

I sat at the Toronto Blue Jay's game yesterday with David and my sons texting a sad foster parent who was losing one of her kittens.  It's awful to feel so far away and unable to do anything.  The poor little lamb passed away during the 5th inning.  My sons started to give me a hard time about texting during the "family time", but when I told them I was trying to console a foster parent with a dead kitten they backed off. 

One foster Mom went to the "high kill" shelter yesterday and rescued a VERY sweet 2 year old fluff ball:

I saw her last time I was there and she was so desperate to get out.  Imagine how happy I was to see that one of our volunteers chose her! 

I didn't realize how desperate I had been for some good news until I saw this picture.  Another foster Mom went to the same shelter on Saturday and rescued a 2 year old grey girl and couldn't leave behind the world's cutest 10 week old orange kitten who was alone in the cage.  Ahhh...it feels good to rescue. 
Our adoptions this weekend have been very very slow - no doubt due to the holiday. 

There have been TWO MORE instances of the "butcher vet" spaying cats and leaving one or more ovary in.  The rescue is having to pay for the re-spay surgeries from a more qualified veterinarian.  I wonder when or where this will ever end?  I've contacted the other rescues who have used this vet, but what about the people who have paid for his services and wonder why their female is yowling and pee'ing all over the place 6 months later?   Yes, I'm contacting the proper authorities. 

I'm leaving on Wednesday for Southern California for a few days.  My daughter is having her Bridal Shower and I'm definitely not going to miss it.  It feels like a bad time for me to be gone, but I'm always accessible by cell phone if any volunteer needs me.  I know the volunteers often feel guilty about contacting me, but again - that's what I signed up to do! 

BBQ heating up....Corn on the cob for the grill....it must be...Victoria Day!