We are not a rescue, but we still end up with random cats that we try to help. Carl was adopted by a volunteer. Archimedes was adopted by other volunteers and a board member. Peyton was adopted by Marie. We have one kitten we are fostering (sort of) for a bit to help someone out. Charlotte had to be euthanized because of advanced cancer growth. Biddy got some real talk about kidney disease and referred to Animal Friends. A dog named Leon was euthanized after being mauled. Another cat got sick while family was out of town and we sent to Urgent Care for veterinary treatment.
And then there’s Charlie. She showed up at a food pantry caretaker’s house and there were no funds for veterinary care. Charlie was going to be put back out and was clearly a friendly. Marie and Lauren rushed over and scooped her up. She went to live in Marie’s upstairs until we transferred her to a foster home.
We thought Charlie was young so she went onto the Animal Friend’s waiting list. Charlie’s wellness veterinary check was scheduled for tomorrow. She was staying with a vet tech who noticed nothing atypical about her behavior. Vet tech thinks Charlie was an undersized 4 or 5 year old cat.
Last night, J said goodnight after a check a little past midnight. When she came down in the morning, Charlie was dead. Just dead. No obvious reason. No indication. Our best guess is that she had a heart or other organ defect.
As you might imagine, we are quite sad. She was sweet and playful. Self-recriminations rain down on us, but it is highly unlikely there was anything we could have done. Her last full day included cuddles from her foster mom, warmth, food, and comfort.
We are not a rescue. The foster home is a rescue, who takes in our colony cats before and after veterinary care. The weight of dealing with the pantry theft and reorganization is already much to manage.
Most of these cats literally fell into our laps – Peyton jumped into Marie’s arms while she was walking to my house. They’ve been neglected or sidelined. A few have been lost and were reunited with their humans.
People call us in panic, including our caretakers. We urge them very strongly to connect with a rescue that will be much better prepared to guide them. But there’s no cavalry, no secret farm that can take in all of the animals in need of help.
One of the most difficult things we encounter is when someone, who is likely desperate, will say “well, I guess I’ll put them back outside” or some other emotional manipulation. That angers and saddens me.
But we took in Charlie to help someone who ended up rejecting our ongoing help. That comes with the territory. Charlie was warm, dry, well-fed, and got to play with toys and humans for a few months before their death.
We are not doing an autopsy. Instead, we are cremating her to be with another cat from that colony who we had to euthanize a month earlier, Charlotte.
And we will move forward. We are not a rescue. We try to be responsible adults when we encounter a situation.
Charlie had a comfortable final few months. It makes me very sad that she died alone, but I also appreciate the many cats who are enduring this storm because of the work we do. I hope Charlie finally finds peace whatever that means for cats.
Your investment helps us navigate situations like these.
Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities/Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry
- GoFundMe bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx
- Venmo @PittsburghLGBTQ
- Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ
- CashApp $PittsburghLGBTQ
- Zelle folx@pghlgbtq.org
Marie took this video
