God must like me at least a little....

The other day, I made a phone call.
Several, actually....

I was desperate to find out what was wrong with one particular kitten I have.

I didn't really find out (and thankfully, the kitten seems to be getting better every day), but, I did end up talking to this one lady for a while and ended up pouring out my whole "cat story".

She, in turn, made a phone call or two and I then got a phone call or two back and...
long story short...

There IS an organization that cares only about helping animals.

PAWS of Pa.

These people are friggin' INCREDIBLE.

They spay/neuter, do shots, pick up and return, foster... and will put into adoption "special care" kitties if need be.
Wanna know what they charge?
Nuttin'.

These services aren't for rich people who're just too lazy to get this stuff done.
Mostly, their concern is feral, farm or "barn" cats (or other homeless critters) who may otherwise not get the stuff done that should be, like being spayed or neutered... or having potentially life-saving shots.

I've known of them for a while, but I never did call 'em, mostly for two reasons...

I was scared they'd be like those Animal Cop types who'd wanna come in and take over and start doing shit "for my own good", like they do to people on Animal Planet and I was also convinced I'd kinda screwed these cats outta the running by taming them down to such a great degree.

Besides, I've had some shitty experiences with the SPCA's back in Jersey.

I found a cat once, on my way to work, who had just been spayed... still had hair missing on the surgery site, in fact.
I took it to "the shelter" because I had cats of my own, plus I KNEW somebody would be looking for her.
She'd JUST HAD SURGERY.

I get her there, take her in and, my hand to GOD, that cunt in there slapped a muzzle on her and PUT HER TO SLEEP while I was still there.

Another time, I had to turn a dog in.
I had a German Shorthaired Pointer.

I got a puppy.

The GSP bit the puppy through the head and killed it over a goddamned piece of rawhide.
I'd just gone to pee and was gone two minutes, if that.
I walk back into the livingroom and there was Double Trouble, dead, tooth marks in his skull and there was the GSP with the baby's rawhide in his mouth.

I fa-REAKED.

I took that murdering son of a bitch right to the shelter and told them exactly what had happened and that that mutha fucker needed to be put down IMMEDIATELY.
(Kinda like they'd done to that cat...)

Not only did they NOT put him down, they had his murdering ass in the paper the next week, up for adoption.

I hate SPCAs.

So, I never did call PAWS, or anybody else for help with alla these cats.

Til I called about the one kitten...

They called ME.
OFFERED to help.
For free.

Well...
I talked to that lady for almost an hour tonight.
Told her everything.
Including that these cats are only barely "feral" and are more "really nice cats who live in a barn, except the ones I keep in the house to try to keep them from getting knocked up".

Didn't matter.

Told her I'd not asked for help before this, because since they aren't "feral", I hadn't wanted to use up resources meant for truly homeless cats.
Told her I was scared.
Told her I have no "disposable income" per say.

Didn't matter.

Not only are they still willing to help, they're gonna do ALL the cats here.
"Mine", the really "wild ones" outside, boys and girls.
Spay/neuter, shots, returned.

I am FLOORED.
I am grateful.
I am so very relieved.
I am going to volunteer to help them in any way I can.
(Already have, in fact...)

So... if you're the kinda person who makes donations to good causes, if you love cats, if you just frickin' FEEL like it, click the link, make a donation, send 'em a "thank you" for all the good they're doing, whatever you wanna do.

The lady I was talking to told me they'd even sponsored a dog to have a double hip-replacement.

They are fuckin' AMAZING.

All they want to do, all they care about, is helping animals, controlling the populations and that the animals are cared for ("fed", basically.... not required, because most truly feral cats aren't being fed at all, but they love to know they will be fed and given water and such things... Hell, they even have one lady near Harrisburg who takes all the cats they come across that have feline leukemia, feline AIDS and other contagious diseases. She keeps them forever and takes really good care of them, treats and all... AND, these people are STRICTLY "no kill"...)

Which these cats all will be (fed and kept "forever")... even better than I've been able to do for 'em prior to this.

Feeding them and giving them shelters is one thing.
(Hell, I even went out before I went to Georgia and got two "used" cat climber thingies for these guys. One is outside, on the porch and the other is in here. They're multi-level things with places for them to lay, hide, climb, sharpen their claws and one even has toys attached to it. Got it offa "Freecycle. You should see if there's a Freecycle in your area. It's wonderful.)

Making it possible for them to have shots and not keep multiplying is a whole 'nother level of "taking care of them", I think.

The lady I was talking to tonight is coming tomorrow night to take three of the boys to be neutered (and no, not the three "boys" who live in the house and are bi-peds, though that's an idea... hmmm....).

They'll be back Friday night.

That is so cool.
Just last night, I had to go running outside with a flashlight and break up a fight.
Told Bubba he wasn't the Alpha cat, that I am.
Gonna PROVE IT, now, I guess...

Jesus man... I'll be able to let the girls out after this.
Maybe let the boys in sometimes (though I know that once they've learned to spray, they may always do it... We'll see...)

What these people do is nothing short of God's work.

I feel blessed that they called me.

I hope I'm able some day, some way, to even BEGIN to give back what they're giving me, what they're giving alla these kitties around here, on this farm.
Freedom.
Freedom from numerous litters, freedom from diseases, freedom to just be cats.
And me the freedom from trying to afford to feed 'em all and rehome kittens and alla that shit.

Thank you, God.
Thank you PAWS of Pa.

And, thank YOU to any of you who click the link and blessings on anyone who sends 'em a few bucks or just a thank you.

Peace

And, WHY do I now "hear" Rob hackin' up a hairball?

Posted by: Stevie at 11:27 PM

Comments

Posted by: Ruth at July 13, 2006 05:23 AM (kqTXB)

Posted by: Cindi at July 14, 2006 02:21 AM (OrwN8)

Posted by: Helga at June 24, 2007 04:56 AM (Nbfo8)

Posted by: Vilyamoh at September 16, 2007 05:26 PM (Hv0Q4)

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