Fly Free Sweet Buffy

Buffy

I recently did a Former Foster Friday about Buffy and her brothers and I told you that there were some digestive issues going on. Well apparently it was more than that. Buffy has been dealing with some pretty severe IBD and has gone to several specialists and had biopsies and tried many different things, but after so many years things have progressed to the point where the vet has told her there is no going back and Buffy is simply suffering.  The decision has been made and the appointment has been set for today.

Buffy has always been near and dear to my heart. She and her two brothers came to me in 2010 and I was then asked to take another set of kittens. I am not a fan of mixing litters because you do not know what anyone has been exposed to prior to showing up at the shelter, but sometimes I take the chance because the shelter is scrambling to find a place to put them. I put the kittens all together and it was absolute mayhem but it was so much fun. I thought I saw the original three hanging out together despite having four more kittens to play with but it was hard to tell.

Shortly after the two families combined, Buffy became very ill. She was very distressed, and almost flat out. I snuggled her close and ran to call the shelter to find out what we could do for her. It was suggested that we euthanize her but I thought she would have a chance if we could just get her some oxygen. I'm not quite sure why I felt this way, but I did. I got the okay and I ran her up to the emergency clinic half an hour away. They gave her an exam and decided to put her into an oxygen chamber and start her on antibiotics. They sent me home with instructions to call in the AM.  I did and was given the run around. I couldn't even get information if she was alive. I hung up and waited for the vet to call and talk to me. After a short time I couldn't handle not knowing so I called back. I still couldn't get any information how she was doing but I was told that the doctor hasn't decided if she can go home, so at least I knew she was alive. I was told the vet would need to talk to me and he would call me. I waited what seemed like an eternity and then came to the conclusion that the shelter wouldn't be okay with her staying at the emergency clinic all day when regular vets were open so I just hopped in the car and went up and to get her. When I saw her she was so dramatically improved from the night before that I nearly cried right then and there. The vet sent her home with antibiotics and she slowly recovered.

the morning after we almost lost her

I kept her separated in my office for a couple of days to give her time to regain her strength. I could tell she was lonely, so I brought her down for visitation rights long before I thought she was ready to rejoin the group. Her brothers ran over to her and sniffed her all over and were very very careful with her and so very sweet, that it kind of hurt to take her away that first time; because of their love of her I left her in the room after the second visit. It was funny because none of the other kittens in the room seemed to care.

It was then I decided we had to try to get them adopted together.. it is so rare to get siblings adopted in pairs, that getting triplets seemed unsurmountable. Interestingly though I've actually had three sets of three siblings go home together.. but their home was waiting for them to go up for adoption and everything fell in place. I hated to let them go - as I hate letting go of any kitten that I have 'saved', but I knew I could not keep them all and I could not separate them.

and now her time here on Earth has come to an end. We have chosen to love creatures who have a short lifespan and who are so fragile.  We have chosen tears.

Former Foster Friday - Buffy and her Scoobies..

It has been a while since I have been able to do an update on Buffy, Zander, and Spike.  I fostered them back in 2010, but to me it seems like it was yesterday.  I remember Buffy so clearly because of her trip to the emergency clinic.

I ran into their mom a few months ago and learned they are having some digestive issues.  I recently connected with them on Facebook because FB is way too smart and suggested that we might know one another. I found out they are still having issues and are being treated by the vet I ended up going to.

For those of you who don't know, these three kittens were brought into the shelter and I started fostering them.  I took on another set of kittens and I ended up naming all of them after characters from the Buffy the Vampire series.. (I was actually watching the Angel series at the time). These three were so incredibly bonded that I asked the shelter if they might put them up for adoption as a threesome.  We were all incredibly skeptical that we could keep them together, but low and behold a woman I went to high school with was in the market for a pair of kittens, and just happened to be a HUGE Buffy fan.  She had come in to the shelter a few weeks prior and fell in love with some kittens but was about to go out of town and had to forgo adopting those.

I loved the kismet of the whole thing, and while I was fearful for them - because seriously how could I not be - I ended up being very happy and even thrilled with the adoption.

because:

Former Fosters - Buffy Zander and Oz (Now Spike)

I looked back to find the labels for this post and realized I've already done an update on them already and I used the EXACT same title.  I was going to change it, but I decided against it.  :) If you want to see baby picts of them, click here and scroll or just click here

I just heard from Buffy's Mom.. she sent me some more WONDERFUL photos of her kitties.. they look so wonderful and happy and HEALTHY!!  for those of you not around last June, Buffy became incredibly sick with anemia and spent the night in an oxygen chamber.  We never did figure out why and after recovering it didn't happen again.  The three of them were quite bonded before her trip to the vet, but when she got back her brothers were so happy to see her but so cautious with her because she was so weak, that I asked the shelter to see if they couldn't get adopted together.  It's rare, but I've had a couple of sets go together, so I was hopeful.  Low and behold a woman looking for more then one kitty stopped by the website shortly after they were posted who was a huge fan of the Buffy TV show, and it seemed like the perfect match all around.

I had my doubts, I'm not too proud to admit it, but then again I ALWAYS have doubts.. I gave my heart and soul to Buffy to help her get well and no one was going to be good enough for this set of kittens, but I so love being proven wrong!!

I can so easily tell them apart. I wish I could say it is because I know them so well, but it is Spike's panther nose that sets him apart, and Zander is a fluff boy, so he's easy to pick out too.  I think of them often and I think I fell in love with them all over again through these photos!!