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My name is
Kimberly, and I know you have heard my pleas for help for my 20 rescue foster cats (now 19 since Rolly Polly passed on). I
have never before asked for help before this. I donated a little every month to many animal charities/organizations. Anyone
who knows me knows I love animals more than most people and would do anything for them. I have my own animals who are loved
and well taken care of. They are my family. I also have a human family, a home, a job etc. I am one person trying to change
the world for animals, just like many of you are.
When
we moved into a bigger house, instead of adopting I decided I wanted to foster to save more animals. Our original plan was
to convert our garage into a kitty city room. I was checking out the very few animal organizations that were established around
my area and my local SPCA. In the future I wanted to get a non profit status and have my own rescue but thought it would be
wise to work with an already established group first.
Then
I got an email... Kittens were going to be gassed at a shelter in WV; they were in a very rural area, and if people could
see them they would get adopted. I told people whom I knew and people said they would adopt. That weekend I went there. When
I got there, let's just say I was in shock at the number of cats roaming around. I was told they didnt have enough money to
get them fixed and they kept multiplying. As I was in the office I told her I would take 7 kittens originally, she then begged
me to take 3 more, which I agreed to. She loaded them up in the car, and my big carrier was a mesh carrier that I couldn't
see through unless I opened it. I should have counted, but I am too trusting. I planned on getting these kitties adopted and
then coming back and getting more to adopt out. I wanted to work with this shelter so they wouldnt keep multiplying and having
to put them down.
I got home, and to my shock there were 10 extra kittens. We bathed andcleaned
them all off put them in a clean crate until I could figure out what we were going to do. I called the shelter but they were
already closed. I wasn't too worried as they were cute, tiny kittens and of course would get adopted right away, or so I thought.
The kittens were so small that they were able to get out of the huge dog crates we had made for them. The garage wasn't cool
enough even with the huge AC. We ended up having to put the babies and their mom in a seperate room, the "pregnant" cat (who
turned out to be Artamis, not pregnant, just had to have a life-saving operation andturned out having FELV) in a separate
room, Fluffy in a seperate room and the rest in a separate room. All of our rooms were full but we had people waiting to adopt
them so not for long, right? And what a wonderful thing it was to take on these kitties and teach my son. We welcomed and
loved these kitties from the start.
I
called/emailed many rescue groups letting them know the situation and no one wanted to help with 20 foster cats that I had.
I finally found a lady who lived hours away who rescued dogs and she said she would let me rescue cats and reimburse me for
everything she told me to keep all my reciepts. My trusting self got the best out of me.
I did the same thing
with the vets. Finally I found one place that was willing to give me a rescue discount. We went from finding out that pregnant
Artamis was not pregnant and instead had to have a life saving operation that we were told she probably wouldn't even make
it out of. Another kitty was extremely sick (Hope) and she almost didn't make it. There were endless visits back and forth
to the vet and in the middle of the night to the emergency vet. Everything from ringworm, upper respiratory infections , breathing
troubles, closed eyes, swelling and fluid removal, IV fluids etc. Then they all needed their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd distemper and
then they got 3 dewormings, rabies shots, tested for FIV/FELV (some twice). Artamis got special blood work, Rolly Polly passed
away, they had fecals, were treated with Albon as some had loose stool, had flea/tick monthly treatment and the list goes
on and on. The lady who I was working with dropped me once she found out the initial amount I paid to save Artamis as well
as the cost of them all having their first distempers. She never returned my calls/emails. I now was all alone trying to pay
for 20 extra cats that nevertheless were sick. Even with a discount it was a HUGE expense which is not counting the endless
litter/food and supplies they need.
Ringworm
ands respiratory infections were a huge mess. They needed bi-weekly dips of lyme dip which smells like rotton eggs. Then everyone
needed to get fixed which thankfully has been done. I have maxed out my credit cards, used all the donations I have gotten
for vet bills, emergency vet bills, medicines, cat food and litter, altering etc. The sadness lies in my trust. I got taken
advantage of from where they were saved and at the same time I should have counted, but didn't think I had to. I trusted the
lady who told me she would reimburse me for everything, the lady in another state who promised to come and take five of them
who never showed up, and the people who said they would take them but then backed out because they didn't want to dispense
medicine or do lyme dips.
So here I am almost four months into my "good
deed" of rescuing 20 cats that were going to be put to death. I have myself gotten threats because I am asking for help and
donations. Then there are the people on here who help as much as they can and support me and send me notes and lift my spirits.
If I could save every animal in the world I would. If I could pay for all these cats' needs I would.
I didn't go into this
thinking I would be fostering 20 kittens nor did I go into this thinking I would be paying for everything. Yes, I have myself
to blame. Yes, I have asked for help from a million different places and rescue groups. No one wants to help. There is one
kind person who has offered to let me in her rescue group, the problem is they don't have a shelter built yet nor any money
to help with vet visits. I hate having to ask for help and I never in 100 years would have imagined what a situation this
would have ended up being. I pray for these kitties to get forever homes. My ads don't stand a chance with all the free kitten
ads. My kittens are no longer at that tiny baby kitten stage. Some still need to be treated and still have infections, some
have latent herpes virus which means it will come and go like a cold, they all still get treated to prevent ringworm, and
I am in the process of getting more stronger environmental cleaners to disinfect my house.
I have opened my home and my heart to these cats. They have taken over my home and my life. I don't
regret it; I love them, but I want them adopted. I don't have time for my own pets let alone all of them. Poor Artamis is
all by herself in a room. She is the sweetest lap cat in the world who wants constant attention. There are plenty of people
who dont have cats or have another FELV-positive cat but won't take her. They don't even look at her because she is not a
kitten and she has FELV, but you would never know it as she is so healthy.
Obviously trying to get them all healthy and adopted has always been my #1 priority. My plan is
to make my big room a big kitty room. I will need the things they need in there like old comforters, dog/cat beds, more litter
boxes, a very good air purifier etc. I need help making this cat room especially since I have a feeling some of these kitties
will be here for a while. I also have the 3 kittens and their mom who have been separated whom I plan to try and introduce
to everyone and hope they all get along. If not they will have to stay separate, and Artamis has to be separate. I have a
list of items that they need. These things are for strong cleaners to kill virus, ringworm etc. on my carpet, walls, their
sheets and beds etc., shampoo for them, special things for their herpes virus and to make their immune system stronger.
If anyone can help I
would appreciate it more than you know. I need help making this cat room, getting the supplies on the internet, finding them
homes and donations which can be made via Paypal to meowmiracles@aol.com or to my vet. Please know I am doing everything I
can for these kitties. If you know anyone who might like to adopt one or a pair please please have them contact me. If you
feel this has merit and it's worth your time please get the word out so others can possibly help. Anyone is welcome to come
by and see the kitties. Thank you if you have made it this far.
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