by Lupe Gore
Feral Paws Rescue Group in Fresno shares with us some of their animal rescue adventures every month. Check out KRL’s article about Feral Paws to learn more about them. Lupe Gore is a FPRG volunteer.
As those who know of Feral Paws Rescue are aware, the Rescue saves cats and kittens from high-kill shelters. This is the story of a different type of rescue, and definitely one that could have ended in tragedy.
It was late afternoon on August 10, 2013, another very hot day in the Central Valley in California, with temperatures in the triple digits. I was working at the Adoption Center for Feral Paws Rescue and happened to open the back door and saw a large cardboard box on the doorstep. Fearing some of the cats inside the Adoption Center would accidentally get out if I opened the security door, I went out the front, and walked around the building. Inside the box were four kittens and thankfully they were still alive. I carried the box back around and into the Adoption Center. It is illegal to drop off cats this way but some people will do it anyway.
Dante
Dante remained with me and continued to grow, and I was constantly checking him for any sign of illness, but he was fine. At the time I had another kitten in my house who was also his age; I had named her Julia. She was a fluffy little black girl without a tail. She and Dante became best friends and were almost inseparable, playing, eating, and sleeping together. Julia was with me for over a year so both she and Dante celebrated their first birthdays at my house.
Julia and Dante
As I also foster for Feral Paws Rescue, there have been several cats who have come and gone since Dante came to live with me and he has gotten along with all of them, running throughout the house and playing with cat toys.
Dante also loves to sleep with me, and one of his favorite things to do is get right on top of me while I’m lying in bed. Except in the winter it’s usually too hot for him to stay there very long so he’ll just move over to my side. Dante is always purring and kneading the blankets. I often wonder if he realizes how fortunate he is that I opened that door and found him and his siblings on that hot summer day. I really think he does. I think all cats know when they are safe and loved and I think Dante knows just how special he is.
Dante’s first birthday
So, Dante, you are honored in this month’s article to wish you a Happy Fifth Birthday and many, many more!
Next cat adoption event: Saturday, June 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tractor Supply Co., 1630 Herndon, Clovis CA.
Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories from Feral Paws every other month, and we would love to have you join our KRL Pets Facebook group. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Feral Paws.
Love these foster failure stories! I have quite a few of them still living at my house. It seems to be a side effect of fostering!