Doing the right thing is often not the easy thing

If this is the only post you read of my blog, know this was not easy for me in the least.

I am moving. I am not only moving, but I am moving two hours away and I am moving into a slightly smaller house so I am having to downsize somewhat. We are getting rid of some of our furniture and as many decorative items as I can bear to part with.

I am also making a plan to move our six cats and make it as comfortable for them as we can. I have a quilt at the new house soaking up the scent there so they can at least get used to that before we go, I have a 'go bag' being planned with some food and treats and quite a few items from home that will make them feel comfortable in the isolation room while they are there.

And then there is The Crimson Tide

I could not fathom the idea of bringing TCT (aka Spot) with the cats, and I couldn't face the idea of taking him up first, setting him up coming home, then bringing up the cats, mostly because the cats have to be packed up and out of the house before the movers come. I could bring the cats and then the fish, but that would be six hours on the road and one incredibly long day and it would mean the cats would be at the new house alone for over four hours.

So I thought about bringing him up on another day but then who would feed him? I also wondered where I would put him as we are not going to have both bureaus in the bedroom (downsizing) and with the cat's love of sitting on top of the tank I couldn't think of another good place to put it. I knew that the best thing for Spot was to find him a new home.

It broke my heart to think of doing it, because when I make a commitment to an animal I intend to care for that animal for their entire life but in this case, the kind thing to do would be to find someone closer to care for him. I know Spot isn't bonded to me, he doesn't care who puts his food in his water, so letting him go would not harm his quality of life (as long as I found someone who wanted him).

When Kathleen, who adopted Maxwell and Ducky (aka Faraday) from me a few years ago, posted she just bought a betta fish I lamented that I had wished she had said something (when really I was lamenting not having said something sooner) and she found someone who was willing to take Spot for me. I was both elated and sad.

This weekend Spot went to his new home.

I took the decorations out of the tank and lowered the water to make transport easier. Fortunately, his new home is just a couple of miles down the road so transport was pretty quick. I packed everything up and brought some warmed water for refilling the tank so he would have the water he is used to to help him adjust to the transport before changing the water (we are on a well, so all water is slightly different)

We brought him home in the beginning of November in 2015 (wow, I thought he was a year and a half, but he is two years) so it was hard to see the spot empty that night.

A few days later I am still thinking I forgot to feed him. I know he is doing well. I asked for an update the next morning and I was told he was doing well and I was given a few photos

I am still sad that he is no longer here but I know, I mean it *I know*, this was in his best interest. I accept that there are instances where you have made a commitment to an animal and in doing what is best for that animal you have to keep an open mind that sometimes letting go of your idea of what or how it should be is what is in their best interest. Be it a cat that can not adjust to the home that it is in or a dog that needs more exercise than the circumstances they are in can allow. There are many things you can try for those situations, so rehoming isn't the first choice, but it should be on the table that if the animal can't adjust that you do what the animal needs and find a place that will give the animal what it needs. I know there are people who disagree with this and who scream loudly at the idea of an animal leaving their 'forever' home before their life ends, but I think they are too close-minded to realize that sometimes, in some instances, they can be doing more harm than good.

Thank you, Kathleen, for once again finding a great home for an animal in my care (she has found homes for quite a few of my foster kittens in the years since I met her) and thank you, Melanie, for taking on Spot and these awesome photos.