As of last night, the last kitten from the latest 2 litters I have raised after pulling from the shelter before they were euthanized was adopted.
I wanted to share this with those of you who foster and rescue, I know many of you out there have a very difficult time letting them go and feel an emptiness in your hearts.
While I have been rescuing for many years, my husband has not, we have only been married now for a little more than 2 years, so he is still feeling loss when the kittens and even sometimes adults move on, as I saw him on our back porch last night with watery eyes after saying his goodbyes.....
It saddens me for him, I know those feelings so well, but have learned with time and countless cats and kittens, that I am their stepping stone, I was their second chance, I gave them life back, health, and so much love.
I will see them through to their new, loving and forever home, I see and feel how they adapt and become a member of the family of their adoptors.
Nothing makes my heart as warm and full as getting a random email 6 months, a year after they go, from someone who adopted one or a pair of kittens, who I saved, some I raised from just days old, recieving an update with a picture of that baby I raised and gave life to, now as a big boy, or a big girl, one I hardly recognize until I look at their face, awww....there's my baby!
Or one of "my" (as I still call them) adult cats. A sick/starving or injured stray, pregnant or not, just a mess, lost eyes, the state of wandering, where did my family go, the waiting for them to come get me, I am so hungry, I don't know where to go, it's scary......
Taking that cat in, giving food, warmth, love, meds, transforming that helpless suffering soul into a loved and safe, healthy and well cat, fur is growing back plush and soft, eyes are bright, they look forward to me coming in to visit and show affection. They get a name, they lose the hopelessness, they do belong in this world.
Then finding the right home, for example what a pleasure it was to recieve a recent email and picture of the once doomed cat Hope, who I had actually started a thread here about, what a mess, delivered 7 babies while waiting her turn to be killed, premature babes, just too small to make it,. she was too sick to care for them, even the vets recommended euthanizing her because they had serious doubts she could possibly ever recover. Hope is the name I gave her as she was being examined....., left behind, unwanted, sick as death and 4 lbs...bag of bones, so sick......and here she was now, being held and hugged by a young girl who this cat was able to fill that spot in her heart, her heart's desire, what she needed, and she will grow up with this bond and friendship beautifully.
Another story, book closed.
It's a great feeling of pride, fullfilment, and peace that I can't describe. That kitty's story with me is done and the book closed.
On to the next......because there are so many more who need me!
If I am not able to keep my heart available to rescue those who are fortunate enough to cross paths with me, who will save them if not me??
They always come. A phone call, or the humane society or shelter, or a new kid showing up at one of my colonies, they will always come.
This is what rescue is about. They needed me, and when they are done, my final gift to them is finding them their forever home, for them to live out their lives fully, loved and cared for.
Believe me when I say, I truly love each and every one of them. But this doesn't mean they are mine to keep forever.
I know they have a place somewhere in this world that they will fit into perfectly. It's my committment to make that happen.
Then move on to the next......
It really is okay to let them go.
I wanted to share this with those of you who foster and rescue, I know many of you out there have a very difficult time letting them go and feel an emptiness in your hearts.
While I have been rescuing for many years, my husband has not, we have only been married now for a little more than 2 years, so he is still feeling loss when the kittens and even sometimes adults move on, as I saw him on our back porch last night with watery eyes after saying his goodbyes.....
It saddens me for him, I know those feelings so well, but have learned with time and countless cats and kittens, that I am their stepping stone, I was their second chance, I gave them life back, health, and so much love.
I will see them through to their new, loving and forever home, I see and feel how they adapt and become a member of the family of their adoptors.
Nothing makes my heart as warm and full as getting a random email 6 months, a year after they go, from someone who adopted one or a pair of kittens, who I saved, some I raised from just days old, recieving an update with a picture of that baby I raised and gave life to, now as a big boy, or a big girl, one I hardly recognize until I look at their face, awww....there's my baby!
Or one of "my" (as I still call them) adult cats. A sick/starving or injured stray, pregnant or not, just a mess, lost eyes, the state of wandering, where did my family go, the waiting for them to come get me, I am so hungry, I don't know where to go, it's scary......
Taking that cat in, giving food, warmth, love, meds, transforming that helpless suffering soul into a loved and safe, healthy and well cat, fur is growing back plush and soft, eyes are bright, they look forward to me coming in to visit and show affection. They get a name, they lose the hopelessness, they do belong in this world.
Then finding the right home, for example what a pleasure it was to recieve a recent email and picture of the once doomed cat Hope, who I had actually started a thread here about, what a mess, delivered 7 babies while waiting her turn to be killed, premature babes, just too small to make it,. she was too sick to care for them, even the vets recommended euthanizing her because they had serious doubts she could possibly ever recover. Hope is the name I gave her as she was being examined....., left behind, unwanted, sick as death and 4 lbs...bag of bones, so sick......and here she was now, being held and hugged by a young girl who this cat was able to fill that spot in her heart, her heart's desire, what she needed, and she will grow up with this bond and friendship beautifully.
Another story, book closed.
It's a great feeling of pride, fullfilment, and peace that I can't describe. That kitty's story with me is done and the book closed.
On to the next......because there are so many more who need me!
If I am not able to keep my heart available to rescue those who are fortunate enough to cross paths with me, who will save them if not me??
They always come. A phone call, or the humane society or shelter, or a new kid showing up at one of my colonies, they will always come.
This is what rescue is about. They needed me, and when they are done, my final gift to them is finding them their forever home, for them to live out their lives fully, loved and cared for.
Believe me when I say, I truly love each and every one of them. But this doesn't mean they are mine to keep forever.
I know they have a place somewhere in this world that they will fit into perfectly. It's my committment to make that happen.
Then move on to the next......
It really is okay to let them go.
