I wish I could somehow magically transport you into the pieces of this story as they actually unfolded. There was excitement, yes, but LOTS of anxiety as well. There was a camaraderie which buoyed this entire event from beginning to end. It was blind connection to the point of bliss. Read on.
You know my family and I discovered a very large feral cat colony living in the buildings of an abandoned Florida hotel. That was last May – nearly a year ago. I won't go through the entire story again. Basically, we borrowed a trap from a then-stranger (Anita from the organization Spay The Strays) in the neighboring county. We made an attempt to rescue a handicapped tuxedo (we named Domino) because my heart wouldn't let me leave him there without trying. We did not rescue him, but my ongoing conversations with Anita once I returned home led to someone in that county volunteering to become a feeder at the colony we had discovered. Enter Cheryl.
Cheryl and I have texted off and on for months and months. She would feed and water and keep an eye out for Domino. I explained to her that I would take on his care if he could be located and trapped. We developed a friendship, and Cheryl was determined to find Domino if he was there. In the meantime, of course, Cheryl was becoming attached to her ferals. She was their caregiver. There is no organization in Cheryl's county, but there was always hope that someday a TNR program could be set up and the ferals at this hotel could be maintained.
I'll never forget the day I received a frantic text from Cheryl. The owner of the restaurant next to the abandoned hotel told Cheryl that the buildings had been scheduled for demolition. We were devastated. Spay The Strays hoped to help where they could, but the organization is already overburdened and overwhelmed. As the big equipment started rolling in, Cheryl started moving the feeding stations to the back buildings - away from the intial demolition. All she could do was hope to draw the cats out of the buildings first in line to be torn down.
I was distraught. If you were reading my blog as this was playing out, you could tell that I was beside myself to try to find answers. At some point, I had to take a deep breath and let go. I couldn't save dozens and dozens of feral cats. I had to go back to my old stand-by. I can't save them all; I have to be content to save a few. It doesn't make any difference in terms of the overall problem, but it makes a difference to the ones I take in. I could take some in. I would take three for sure. We could transport three. It wouldn't change anything at the colony, but it would change everything for those three.
Cheryl and I discussed and worried and brainstormed. I put the word out to Kathy of The Rescue Railroad. I had only recently volunteered to drive a leg for this transport organization when they were moving four dogs from the deep South to homes and shelters up North. I would ask Kathy for help. She was completely overwhelmed and constantly booked up. But I received word back. Couldn't do it Easter weekend, but we would attempt it the weekend following. This was our one shot. We had to make it work. SO many things had to come together. Cheryl had to actually GET three cats. There was no place to go with them because of so few foster homes in the area. Then there was the transport itself. Kathy would organize it. Then she would post it. There were TWO days of driving to cover, plus an overnight spot for the cats. Would THAT many legs really fill? Would Cheryl be able to trap the cats at just the right moment to be ready in time but not too early with no place for them to go? And what about vet appts for vaccinations and health certificates – necessary to be on transport. It seemed like it would be impossible to get all of this to come together in perfect timing. So many people needed. So many details . . .
Tomorrow - the rest of the story.
fingers crossed.....it is sad that they are losing their home - but at least they have Cheryl and they have you
Posted by: Random Felines | 04/10/2013 at 09:19 AM
Oh my we are waiting and pray that some good is coming of this
Posted by: Timmy Tomcat | 04/10/2013 at 10:07 AM
The life of a stray is lonely -hungry - loveless and lost. If only a few can be saved that is a blessing. I do wish you had word of Domino but any ones that can be saved are a miracle. Strays are so scared that they will run from the very people trying to save them. I do hope Cheryl can get there at the right time to trap them and they will be on their way to a better life.... Ginny & The Fur Family
Posted by: ginny&the fur family | 04/10/2013 at 11:22 AM