Gabriel's Transport Day

Thank you all for the kind words concerning Bitsy.  She, like Scroungy, had been with us for so many years, none of us can really remember when she wasn’t here.  For sure, this was WAY too close to losing Scroungy and Elfius.  We’d like to take a break from loss for a while.     [Mindy (Slimmer Pugs) - thank you for the donation.  In Mindy's words - This donation is in honor of Bitsy and all other babies that we had to help or could not help over the Bridge.]

So let’s talk about something SO much happier.  Little Gabriel started toward his forever home yesterday.  Originally, Karen and I were working out a transport date for later in the month.  It was looking like June 22 might work.  Karen’s friend, Scott, was coming from Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN.  We hoped to find someone who might meet me in Effingham, IL and take Gabriel to Indianapolis.  Then Scott found out he might be called back to work before the 22nd, so Karen had to think fast and shift gears.  When it was all said and done, Scott offered to come all the way to us here in southern Illinois because he needed to do this right away.  This is an extremely long trip for Scott.  He must be a really good friend.  I said that to Scott when I met him on the road.  He said it was Karen who was the really good person.  Considering what she has done for us by adopting, I’d have to second that.

I had kennel business off and on all day yesterday.  But I wanted to help Scott out by driving at least a couple of hours.  We normally get to Effingham which is about an 8-hour day for us (round-trip).  It takes quite a bit of preplanning for me to be away for that long.  It was impossible to do that yesterday, but I hoped to go a couple of hours towards Scott and then get home, all in about a four-hour period of time. 

Everything dropped neatly into place, and we took that precious sweetheart Gabriel to Scott.  I had been emailing Karen with updates about the new little Monkey.  You might remember that when we took Gabriel back into our home after our vacation (to wait for his transport day), we wanted to bring along another kitten from his group so that he would not suddenly be all alone.  The foster mom had worried that something might be wrong with Wendy because she was not growing like the others were.  She seemed to be staying so tiny.  We decided to bring Wendy so that we could observe her for a while.  We settled Gabriel and Wendy in a large cage in my kennel office, and Karen and I started planning.

Gabriel’s eyes and nose continued to run off and on like they had been doing since he came back to life.  The drainage was always clear, except for a couple of times, and he seemed to feel great.  No one could figure out just exactly what was going on.  (Karen is going to check with her vet when Gabe gets to her.)  Wendy also seemed to feel great.  She was, in fact, smaller than the others from that flood litter, but by all indications, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her.  So the two lived in the office, and played with each other, and slept with each other, and ate with each other.  No doubt, they were buddies.

We didn’t worry about how this would affect Wendy when Gabriel finally got to leave because she would be returned to the shelter and she would go in with the group she had always been with.  What we didn’t expect was what happened instead.  Just when I was being notified by Karen that Scott would need to do the transport earlier than expected, a development was occurring at the shelter.  Because Wendy was “the property” of the shelter but was not actually physically there, her picture had been placed on the bulletin board.  On Saturday, while Older Daughter was working, a couple came in looking for a long-haired kitten.  There were two or three in the shelter (whom they met)  and they looked at Wendy’s picture.  After some debate, they chose Wendy.  Older Daughter came rushing home to snatch up little Wendy and take her back to her new forever family. 

Later, we talked about how the timing couldn’t have been better since little Gabe would be leaving on Monday.  But little Gabe was heartbroken.  He simply was not happy in that cage without his Wendy.  He cried a lot and reached through the bars at me as I flew in and out of the office working.  Every time I sat at the desk to make phone calls or do paperwork, I let Gabriel out of the cage to be with me.  Normally, he would play on the desk, making it much more difficult to do what I needed to do.  But cute!  Oh, how cute!  He also developed a habit of patting my face when I picked him up to give belly kisses.  What a kitten! 

Yesterday, Younger Daughter and I drove a couple of hours north to meet up with Scott.  We turned little Gabriel over and sent him on his long journey to his new Canadian home with The Monkeys.  A little kitten, lying in the road, completely motionless but still breathing.  That should have been the end.  But someone picked him up and took him to the shelter.  He was put in a carrier on a blanket where he would have stayed all night.  And that should have been the end.  But Older Daughter brought him home.  Gabriel literally came back from that place just before death and returned to life.  Because of Karen, he will now have a REAL life.  He will not grow up in a shelter cage.  He will be one of The Monkeys. 

Some pictures from the trip.

Comments

[Random Felines]

He will have a home because of Karen, but he has this chance because of you and your daughters!! Thanks for the good news....

Safe trip Gabriel and Scott!!

[Carly]

Wow, Chrystal, I go away for two weeks and come back to absolute crazyness at your house! Those Fantastic Fifteen are so lucky to have found you. i do hope they're continuing to do well and that, somewhere in your busy, busy day, you're finding the time to enjoy them.

I'm terribly sorry to hear about Little Bit. I know how dear she was to your heart. Wish I could reach to give you a squeeze, as I know the recent losses have come thikc and fast, and they must be made much more difficult with everything else that's going on too.

Oh, but what great news about little Gabriel, and about miss Wendy!That's simply marvellous! I'm so glad that another few of your little ones have found forever homes. Now here's hoping that the fantastic fifteen follow right in their footsteps.

Thinking of you

Carly

[The Monkeys]

We can't wait to meet the newest Monkey!! We get this chance because of you and your daughters saving him and giving him his life back! Thank you, Chrystal. We are so happy to welcome him here.

P.S. Scott and Gabriel are safely in Columbus and will be starting their journey to Montreal tomorrow. Thank you for bringing him to meet Scott!

[meowmeowmans]

Oh, this is all so beautiful! We are so thankful for all that you are doing, and so incredibly happy for Gabriel, for Wendy, for you, and for Karen and the Monkeys. Thank you ALL for giving us all something to smile about.

[Fuzzy Tales]

I just can't get over how ALL your kittens are so fantastic in the car! Amazing!

We're all thrilled that little Gabriel is on his way to Montreal and can't wait to see him in his forever home! Yippee!

[The Poupountte]

Gabriel and Wendy,

We wish you both the happiest of lives, filled with warmth, love and lots of playtime!

Purrs,
The Poupounette Chans

[Milo and Alfie]

Bless him. His name so suits him. We too wish both Gabriel and Wendly happy lives in their loving forever homes.

[Deb & The Taylor CatSSSSS]

Hey Hey He's a Monkey.....

Okay, I had to write that......:)

What an adorable Monkey-to-be!!! Exciting news about Wendy too!!!

Happy Dance.....all together now....ready???

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY DANCE DANCE DANCE

Don't forget, all of you out there in the blogosphere, there are a lot more of Chrystal's kitties who needs homes! Transportation is available anywhere, near or far. Overseas??? No problem either! :)

Love to all!

Auntie Deb

[Ginny & The Fur Family]

Good bye to Gabriel and Windy. kisses and hearts and good wishes to both and to the new forever home parents. You did a great thing adopitng from Chrystal - when she gives them back their lives they are really born again. She gives them love not just medicine. The Fur Family will be going over to the Monkeys home to get glimpses of the new little Monkey and hopefully the new owners of Windy will keep us all updated on her new home life- More rain today here in Fur a way Land. - Hope the sun shines soon. Have a good day... Ginny & The Fur Family

[Pam and the Califurrrrrnia5]

This post makes me sooooooooo happy!!! Who cares that I got a flat tire on the way to work this morning!!! Could little Gabriel be anything else but a MONKEY? He has Monkey written all over his cute lil self! He is going to a wonderful home with some G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S sisfurs and brofurs! Hooray for Wendy too! Looks like you've got another couple of miracles under your belt, Chrystal!!!

[Andrea & the Celestial Kitties]

Yay for Gabriel getting a forever home!
Yay for Scott for doing the transport!
Yay for the Monkey's for adopting!

I know it doesn't remove the pain of losing beloved Bitsy, but this has to be a little like a soothing balm. Good things still happen, kitties do get homes.

People, kitties lovers! This should spur us to action. If we seriously search out forever homes for the sweet kitties Chrystal has rescued, we can see this wonderful event happen over and over. We can help empty the cat house! Know someone who loves kitties? Send them to this site!

God bless you Chrystal, you're doing a wonderful thing even through your own rough patches.

[DB]

Best of luck to little Gabe, although he hardly needs it since he is going to be a Monkey! And Chrystal and her daughters made that possible.

HOORAY!!

Good news about little Wendy also. I hope those people know how lucky they are!

[Webbthistle]

Yay for the littlest Monkey!!
And hugs to Wendy and her forever home!!
Goodness abounding!

[Michele]

Just wanted to say that I LOVE this blog and all of the kittens, you and your family are so dedicated to this cause and I love getting your daily updates!

[Cat's Cats]

Wonderful news that Gabriel is on his was and that little Wendy has found a forever home too!

[Abby]

What wonderful news about Wendy AND Gabriel!
I am so amazed at the peaks and valleys of each day .... The lows can be very difficult but the highs are oh so sweet.

Purrs
Abby and Mom Debra

[Cats of Wildcat Woods]

Cheers for Gabe and Wendy for getting a chance at a love filled life!

[Marg]

We are so excited that Gabriel is on his way to that wonderful home of the Monkeys. He is just so cute. And more exciting news that Wendy found a home. All good news. Take care.