Jul 6, 2012

Cute Crusade: Two Cats Rescued from Death Row Thanks to a Reader!

Oh, do I have a story for you today! Remember how last week I said I wanted to save all the cats? Well, I meant it and we're off to a good start this week!

A couple days ago I posted about a sweet cat named Marlin who (thank goodness!) got rescued just in the nick of time. His story moved me to tears (and a bunch of you all, I hear - sorry about that!) and made realize how much I want to do more to help save more cats.

On that post, I featured a picture of a tabby named Chalse. Chalse came into Animal Control here in Broward County with his four litter mates... but he was the only one left and his time was running out.

A couple days later, I shared a video on Facebook of him in his cage there, purring away, begging for loving and making biscuits like the happiest cat in the world -- oblivious to the fact that he was in a place where he could get sick any day and his time would be up. That video led to a miracle...

Marsha H., a friend of Cute commented on that thread. She had fallen in love with him and been calling animal control all day but wasn't getting through. She asked if I knew anyone who could help her get to him. She wanted to adopt him! Only thing was, she is in St. Louis, MO -- 1,200 miles away!



"Do you know anyone near there who could help me? It's hard to do long distance, but I know it can be done," she wrote. "Praying for Chalse - he has my heart."

Of course, I said! So I put her in touch with the woman who took the video and pictures of Chalse (she runs Good Karma Pet Rescue) and many phone calls, emails and texts later, Chalse is rescued and SAFE! A miracle! Now all we needed to do is figure out transport.

BUT WAIT, IT GETS BETTER!

On Wednesday, I shared a picture of Wendy, a gorgeous girl kitty at Clayton County Animal Control in Jonesboro, Georgia, who's time was going to be up Friday morning. She had outlived all her babies in the shelter and now it was her turn to be on the list... and they heartstick. Horrible. The original poster described her as a "velcro kitty", a sweet lapcat who just wanted to love. Plus, she has a heart-shaped nose like Pimp!

Wendy. This loving face had to be saved!
After I got back from watching fireworks Wednesday night, I turned on my computer to find this comment from Marsha: "Dorian - any chance I could get both of them? I just don't know what to do now. I wanted a lap cat lover, but Chalse stole my heart too? Oh for gosh sakes - I've got to stay off FB!!"

And I totally melted. These cats may have stolen her heart, but she stole mine! What an amazing person.

My response? First I wanted to make sure she didn't feel pressured to take every cat I post... but then it was a big yes! Of course we can figure it out! If she'll save them, I will find a way to get them to her even if I have to drive them there myself!

And so Thursday was spent back and forth on the phone with the fabulous Winging Cat Rescue in Georgia and more texts and messages with Marsha. Since Chalse was going to have to travel north, he might as well go through Georgia and pick up Wendy along the way... then they could ride together, right?

And now Wendy is SAFE, too!

Now that the cats are safe, this is where I hope you all can come in. Marsha has done the hardest part, opening her home to them. Now we need to get them vetted and funded and transported to her in St. Louis!

She will pay their adoption fees, but I told her no one would expect her to pay for everything. She is already doing so much to take them in! So I decided to open up a Chipin to cover some of the cost to help save these two beautiful kitties.

It kind of added up pretty fast, but it's all a small price to pay considering we're saving two lives, right? If you can spare a few dollars, you can donate at this link or using the widget on the right. Please, only if you can.

Here is how I figure the costs will break down. If there is any extra, I will use it for the next kitty we rescue. There WILL be more!

CHALSE:
Rescue fee/neuter/vetting 50
Health certificate 25
Boarding (14 days x $8/day) 112
Transport to GA 50
WENDY:
Spay/vetting/health certificate 100
Boarding (14 days x $5/day) 75
Transport with Chalse to STL 150

TOTAL 2 KITTIES TO FOREVER HOME = $562

I am setting the Chipin at $500 because my transport numbers are truly just estimates and $100-$150 will be covered by Marsha as adoption fees, I believe. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple transport people, but I hope this covers it. It's 10 hours to Jonesboro from Fort Lauderdale and nine hours from Georgia (Atlanta-ish area) to St. Louis. I'm assuming I'll drive part of the Florida part (for free, of course).

The money from this Chipin will go to me and I will divvy it up to each group and pay their costs, since there are so many people and steps involved. Georgia law says animals need to be quarantine for 10-14 days before traveling across state lines, so that's why so many boarding days. It may end up needing to be a few more if they are waiting on rides.

If I find out we have enough or it's less, I'll close the Chipin as soon as I hear. A bargain to save two lives!

Here's one more thing we might need...

Does anyone know anyone in Atlanta or Nashville who might be willing to help drive these kitties for a few hours? This is the route I think they'll take. I can get Chalse to Georgia (where Wendy is), but we need to figure out the Georgia to St. Louis route. I'm thinking Atlanta to Nashville to St. Louis?

You can click to biggify.
Please leave a comment with contact info or email me at dorian (at) yourdailycute.com if you think you can help! We are thinking this will likely be sometime around July 20th.

I've said this so many times, but you all are a truly amazing bunch. I have met the most wonderful people through this blog. I am reminded over and over again. Just look at the miracles we can make happen!

THANK YOU, MARSHA H. for saving these babies!

42 comments:

  1. Wonderful news Dorian.  I truly wish I could help but my hands are tired $-wise and location-wise.  I'm so happy though for both of these babies and thanks to Marsha for taking them.

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  2. The Underground Railroad Rescued Kitty Network (on FB) might be able to help with transport.

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  3. That is perfectly OK, Jean! Even just being a friend helps... If you all weren't here, I wouldn't have anyone to share this stuff with to be able to make it happen in the first place! :)

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  4. Such terrific news!!!  Just sent some green papers.

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  5. This is such great news! 

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  6. Cats are like potato chips....you can't have just one! So, two kitty's closer to their forever home! Wish I could help with the transport too! But every penny helps too!

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  7. Great job Dorian!!  There is a group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/URRKN/ that might be able to help - Marsha will need to post as she is the adopter - but you may be able to send a private message to ask about transport as well.

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  8. That is so awesome! The amounts for transport seem a bit low to me though. I guess we will see once everything gets arranged. Cuteheads to the rescue!

    (Daniela, who finally got a disqus id and is now dck133) 

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  9. there is a truck driver network that transports animals, I caN'T remember the name of it though.  let me see if I can find it.

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  10. That's so great !!!!!!  Congratulations !!!!  I so want to find a way for them all to be saved !!!!!!!  Love, Gracia

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  11. truck driver rescue group is operationroger.rescuegroups.org

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  12. Kudos to you, will chip in!

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  13. I have tried doing the chip in with three different cards and it keeps telling me either the security code is not valid or the card cannot be used for that.  (cards that are not maxed out) :-) will try again later, Not sure what the problem is.

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  14.  Thank you! I'll look into it!

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  15. Aw, thanks, Margaret. That's so strange. Thank you for trying! :)

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  16. Will share. How awesome that these two cats found a home. 

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  17. This story truly touches my heart!!!  I hope after the two kitties are safe in their new home, perhaps we will be able to see a current photo of them together!!!  Bless everyone involved in saving these cats!!!

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  18.  I am so proud to know you, Dorian, and your cuteheads too. This group is a wonderful bunch of people!

    I'm too poor to contribute financially, and too out of the way to participate in the driving relay, but you all have my best wishes, for sure.

    I volunteer in other ways, such as fostering kittens for the shelter; I do what I can that does not take money.

    I'd love to hear from other cuteheads how they help cats! There are many ways, including writing a check where its needed, and I honor those who do that. What else do you do? Please share.

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  19. If it still doesn't work, can you install PayPal? Never heard of Chipin. I would love to donate too to get these beautiful cats into their loving forever homes.

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  20. Ah! Yes, that would work. Chipin.com is just a site that makes it so you can track what you raised and create a goal and a fun widget like what's up there. But when you donate, the money does go to my Paypal account!

    So if you would like, you can also Paypal directly to dorian (at) yourdailycute.com -- and it will go to the same place. Thank you for asking, Celine! I didn't even think to mention that.  :)

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  21. Margaret, not sure if you see when I reply to Celine down there, but take a look. If you wanted to send to Paypal, it all goes to the same place! Was a great question by her.

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  22. I LOVE THIS, Alice. Love, love, love.

    In fact, I think I'll make a whole post dedicated to it soon and see what everyone says. I would love to know all the things everyone does. Thank you!

    And thank you for doing what you do, too. I can't foster or adopt any more kitties, so the sharing and fundraising is the part I can help with. If we all do our part, we can make a huge difference together!

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  23. BRAVO! Well done to you and all the cat lovers who are making this rescue come true! 

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  24. So glad you're doing this, Dorian!  Wendy's little face just jumped out at me -- I wish I could have taken her, too!  But I can't take any more cats.  What I do is write about good rescues as often as I have an editor willing to publish!

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  25. I have found an Atlanta woman that can foster both cats and drive them to Nashville on the 22nd for a lunchtime rendezvous. I gave details to BZTAT.

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  26. thank you both they are so sweet

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  27. This is such a wonderful thing to do.  I just made a small
    donation toward the expenses.  I hope it helps.  Kiss the kitties for me and the bird (somebody who might be involved).  Good luck to all the good samaritans.                        

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  28. Let me know the dates and if I'm off of work, I might be able to help in the transport.  I live in Evansville IN, the SW most tip of Indiana.  I'm so happy these babies have a home.  I can't sing her praises enough.  So many babies in need of good loving homes.  We received a call from a no kill rescue w/work with this week and now we have a new baby in our home as well.  {There was another one I heard about that I wanted to adopt as well, but our new little Riley will make number 10 for us and that is our absolute limit and I know she will be safe w/this rescue}  I'm so happy for the babies and their new family!

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  29. I was able to process my donation, thanks for coordinating this, let us know how it goes, hope everything works out ok for these babies!! :-)

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  30. Marsha, You are the best. Such great news for 2 kitties getting their furrever home. 

     Dorian, I too read your story on Marlin & cried. Then cried for Chalse. And again for Wendy.  So glad all have happy endings !!!! 3 cheers from my boys here in Ohio.

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  31. Yay the goal is met WOO HOO!!!

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  32. I had a thought, something to mull over....maybe not right away but one day A CUTEHEAD CONVENTION WOO HOO !!! We can all meet and get some cheap hotel rooms, if there is such a thing, (not at Loews of course....WAIT A MINUTE maybe we should have it at Loews..... wouldn't that just "get  their back up " PUN INTENDED " We could all descend on their hotel   they could not stop us from feeding or trapping the cats if we are guests, right????  ok I am at work late and a little slap happy... 

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  33. I love it, Margaret! I wish I could meet all of you. Whenever I get a chance to meet in person that I've meet through here, it's amazing! Maybe if/when I do some traveling around, I'll kind of put the word out and if any of you are around that area, we could meet up for dinner or something. Now I just need to travel more! That's a great idea, actually! :)

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  34. Thanks! I need to look at a map again. Geography isn't my thing. :) We may need to fill the space between Nashville and St. Louis. Paws crossed we might have the other legs pretty worked out. Hopefully I'll be able to get most of it sorted out this weekend!

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  35. I know! Her face was so sweet. She stood out with me too, and that's why I shared her. I am so glad we could make it work for her and Chalse! I can't take any more cats either... but I can share and raise money. We all do what we can and it all adds up!

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  36. I will bug her for pictures for sure! :)

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  37. Yay! Welcome to Disqus! It really is easier with it. And now I think you get emails when someone responds to you! More fun!

    I think they can travel on the cheap as far as it's working out. Am hoping to catch people who are already going that way, so we can just tell them to bring the cats with them.

    I could go to Tampa. Melissa is already going from Tampa to Georgia (and said she could bring Chalse) and someone else just told me yesterday they are already going from Atlanta to Nashville just two days after that (and she could bring them both with her)... so now we just need Nashville to St. Louis! Assuming the others work out and the start dates are good for everyone. I would give everyone money for their troubles and other stuff (they need carriers and pee pads and feliway spray), but the actual rides shouldn't cost us much. I hope!

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  38. Thank you! I'll check it out!

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  39. Thank you, Brian! <3 You're the best!

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