Kleenex alert.
Today was a huge day. It was my 1st full 10 hour day back to work after my first chemo cocktail. Then, immediately after that, it was off to the Spare Cat Rescue Board meeting which lasted almost 2 hours! A day like that obviously calls for ice cream. So off to Braum’s we went. I got a hot fudge sundae. I was beat and the pillow was beckoning. On the way home, I got a call from my husband around 8:52 – I answered, “hello”. I should have answered, “Cat 9-1-1 – what’s your emergency?”
The neighbor said that there was a trash bag of kittens someone had thrown in the river. Step one. Hang up. Step 2. Call Kaylene, our fearless leader and President and founder of Spare Cat Rescue. Step 3 – jump out of mom’s car before it has stopped moving. oops. As we approach the house, we see the neighbor and we pull up. Kaylene has tried to contact the animal control officer and is on her way in to pick me up. The neighbors are there holding one yellow tabby kitten – wet and wrapped in a towel. They begin to tell us a horrific story as we all stand in the middle of the road and listen in horror.
The neighbor’s daughter and the boyfriend were at Spring River in Carthage out by Kellogg Lake when they spotted a trash bag floating in the river above the dam. Then, they spotted a small, wet, kitten struggling to make it to the boat dock. They could not reach the trash bag but could see that there were other kittens and some movement in the bag. It appeared that one kitten had already expired. The girl brought the kitten home and recounted the horrific story to her family – she was very visibly shaken up and upset. They were not able to keep the kitten, so we took the kitten with us until we could figure out Plan B.
STOP! Ice Cream! There’s only 1 thing in this world that trumps ice cream – kittens in distress – I put the sundae in the freezer – hopefully, it will still be there when I get back.
Kaylene arrived and with carrier with kitten (now named “Lucky”, of course), camera and flashlight in hand, I jumped in the car and off we went with Darrell at the wheel. From the back seat, I commented, “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing at 9:07 on a Thursday night than emergency kitten rescue.” I’m not tired anymore.
At the next meeting, we should probably discuss acquiring a spot light and a flashing police light for Kaylene’s car for just such emergencies.
Upon arrival, it was already dark. We had a good description of where they last saw the trash bag and began to scour the bank, calling out to baby kitties. The water was still. No kitties (plenty of spiders and poison ivy, though). Along the way, we picked up some fellow cat lovers who joined in the search. We asked some folks who were hanging out below the dam if they had seen the bag or kittens or someone with a bag. No one saw anything. Neither did we. We spent almost an hour running up and down the banks in search of baby kitties – sadly, with no luck. With a heavy heart, the search party disbanded and we packed up and headed home.
Stop crying – there’s one happy ending here. The neighbors across the street contacted me and they said that their grandson, Cean, wanted the kitten. They are animal lovers and just recently rescued a big white dog. So after a sad, fruitless search, we were able to end the night by finding Lucky a new forever home! Cean might change the kitty’s name, but he really IS Lucky!!! We delivered Lucky to Cean’s grandparents’ house where he is staying the night. We asked permission to share pictures with you. More pictures will be on facebook. By the time we left their house, the little baby kitten was already feeling loved and much better and was reaching to Cean’s face for kisses. I think I saw him trying to play, too! We are so happy to be able to say that Lucky has a new home. Thanks to the “first responders” who saved the kitten and reached out for help; Henri & Anthony; Cean and Cali; Darrell and Kaylene; Mom; Mario; and the folks at the river that helped in the search.
Their vet is Doc Martin in Lamar and I will give her a call tomorrow at 8:00 sharp to tell her the good news about her new patient! We will be getting plenty of updates from Cean and family.
As for the person that felt that just abandoning a litter of kittens on the picnic table at the river wasn’t sufficient and felt that it was necessary to be RUTHLESS and MEAN, there’s a really, really special place in hell for you and although nothing about this episode brings me peace, that one thought helps a bit. If you or anyone you know saw ANYTHING suspicious tonight at the river, please call my cell phone at 417-388-3340 or the animal control office of the Carthage Police Department.
Sorry this is so late, but you gotta write about this kind of stuff right now. My hot fudge sundae is a cold fudge sundae, but still good. Now I am tired. Now I can rest.
Good night Lucky.
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Until next time….
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And now, your favorite part….
Cean Frye and Lucky (aka “George Jr.”)
Spare Cat Rescue's Blog 
I feel like puking!!!!
Way to go Cean!!!!