Saturday, December 29, 2012
With Good comes Bad, and with Bad comes Good
I posted on Facebook that I had a very special moment yesterday morning. I didn't feel comfortable sharing the details because I was in a special secret foster situation. The shelter I foster for also has a program that allows people who feel the need to leave their homes because they don't feel safe. Knowing that people in abusive situations often won't leave because of their pets the shelter takes them in and fosters them for up to 30 days to allow them a chance to get back on their feet. Because we never know how the partner in the domestic situation is going to react, it was suggested that blogging about it wouldn't be a good idea. (and wasn't that hard on me!!)
I took on four pretty uniquely named cats, so I don't really feel comfortable sharing their names. There were special needs, and I was uniquely suited to care for them. It took a while for them to relax with me, but one of the four never did. She would hide when ever I came in the room. I was able to pull her out and hug and kiss her, but she would never fail to tell me she much preferred to be hidden. Well just over a week with me and she came out on her own, ate well, looked at me, let me pat her. I was so proud of her for being so brave and trusting me. They were all very awesome cats and I was really enjoying their company. Yesterday afternoon I got a call that the person was ready to take the cats back. So off they went. I was sad that they were leaving so soon, but happy that they were able to reunite with their owner - who loves them very very much - and that they would be going to a safer place.
This was a very emotional foster situation for me for a couple of reasons - I don't feel the need to go into all of the details - so after dropping them off I said I wanted to ask about kittens but wasn't sure I should. Chances are they wouldn't have had any for me, but before I could really even finish speculating about if they had any, the shelter staff I was talking to told me there were. Me being me, I couldn't help but go take a look.
Three little boys, two black, one gray with white.. all purring up a storm and seeking attention. I so needed that. They have slightly goopy eyes, so we'll be waiting till those clear up. They are of weight, but yet underweight. aka they are over 2.5 lbs but they feel like fur and bones. So a few days of love and food and paws crossed they'll go back in 2013 with no complications.
I joked I was going to call them Larry Daryl and Daryl.. but we ended up with Hawkeye and Trapper for the two black ones and Radar for the gray and white. Hawkeye is smaller than Trapper. He's also quite a lover, spending some time licking my fingers and purring my ear. I wanted to originally call Radar after a third member of the "Swamp" but I didn't think "Ferret Face" was appropriate, and Charles didn't have a nickname.. I suppose I could call him BJ, but that just didn't seem right. I thought about Blake or Potter, but Radar seems to work pretty well. I don't know if it will stick, but then again he isn't going to be here very long now is he *knock wood*
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I wish there were more programs like the one in your town, that fosters pets of abused partners. That is one of the missing links in getting help for so many humans in trouble.
ReplyDeleteI agree! That is wonderful that you did that for someone. You gave them peace of mind when so many other things were out of control.
DeleteYou do great work, Connie :) x
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a program like that,thats was a verry great thing to do Connie you are just fab!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful program for the pets of those living in unsafe situations. How great you fostered those furries until a safe home could be found for all. And those little babies are too cute!
ReplyDeleteYou are a true blessing to all you foster, Connie.
That is a great program. You are very lucky to get to help. Wishing the best for the family and cats.
ReplyDeleteGood job with those special adults and I am so glad their owner is now in a better place and able to take them back. :) You did good.....
ReplyDeleteLove the boys and the names. I have to admit, I have snickered about using Larry Daryl and Daryl before. But never thought about MASH - good choice. Love Radar yelling to get out!!
That is such a wonderful program. I hope those kitties and their person stay safe. Thank you for doing what you do, Connie. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to help people and their pets! Kudos and good Karma to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great program! DV is a difficult thing to get through and having a safe place for the pets would make it easier to leave for sure, thanks for helping out in that process! I'm gonna have to check in to see if the rescue groups in my area have a DV foster program and if not I'll see what it might take to start them on it.
ReplyDeleteI never imagined such program existed but it is so wonderful. You gave those kitties a very safe and loving place until their family got in a stable situation.
ReplyDeleteWayside does that - and we're so very proud that they do. But they're not fostered - they're kenneled for up to a month (though sometimes longer). I think a foster environment is an outstanding way to handle the situation!
ReplyDelete(We're so thrilled that Wayside was instrumental in a local woman's shelter deciding to build a wing where abused women *and* their pets could find safe haven, too!! If only there were more shelters like yours that offered such a program....)
I've fostered cats for women in transition a number of times. Our shelters now have programs for both women leaving abusive situations and families who lose their homes or are breaking up for other reasons, but in those days it was all word of mouth. Friends worked at the shelters, or the hospital psych ward or even the jail and assured their charges their pets would have a good home while they were "in". No one ever dreamed a day would come when these programs would be part of what people could count on for their pets. I'm so glad they're building up all around.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great program Connie!
ReplyDelete