by Paula Hunsaker
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 and check out their website.
Sweet Tiara was pulled from CCSPCA, a high-kill shelter. Tiara had kittens with her when she came to the shelter. While there, another rescue pulled Tiara’s kittens, but left Tiara behind. When I was at the shelter, I noticed that Tiara had been tagged on her kennel card to be pulled at the end of the day to be euthanized. She was out of time at the shelter because she had been with kittens and would require additional time at the shelter before she could be spayed. A female cat that had been nursing kittens requires a longer time in between being a nursing mother cat and being spayed as her milk needs to dry up before a spay procedure. I stood at the kennel door looking at her kennel card, and all the while Tiara was reaching out of her kennel door and pulling on my jacket.
Tiara
I opened the kennel door and reached in to pet Tiara, and she was so sweet and loving. Right off the start she started rubbing against my hand and talking. I stood there petting her and thinking that I cannot leave her behind to be euthanized. I told the shelter staff I would be pulling Tiara. When I took Tiara out of the kennel to put her into a carrier to leave, it was like Tiara knew her life was being saved and her reaction was so thankful in helping her move forward into finding a safe and forever home. I know some other rescue groups will save kittens and leave the mom behind knowing that she will not make it out of the shelter. I just do not have that kind of heart to leave any family behind. If I am taking a family, they all must go together. Our policy is “Leave No Family Behind.” After we got Tiara back to the rescue, we began getting her ready for a forever home. Once we had completed our vetting, she was ready for adoption. Then that special day came for Tiara to find her forever home. 
An incredibly special family came out to our rescue with an open mind, in that they would let a cat pick them. When they were in our adoption area, Tiara was all over their daughter. Tiara was putting on the charm wanting all their daughter’s attention. Tiara was chosen that day to leave our rescue and to begin her life with her forever family. It is always a wonderful feeling to see our rescue kitties get another chance to a new beginning with a safe and loving forever family. Plus, after all the work we give to our kitties, it is always a tearful feeling seeing them leave. We treat all our rescue kitties as if there are part of our family here at our rescue. It is like a feeling of a child moving away from home. Tiara was incredibly special, and she always showed us, in her own way, how grateful she was to us for giving her a second chance to move forward in life.
A few days later I got a phone call from Tiara’s new family. They were asking what kind of toys she likes and what items did she enjoy here at our rescue. They went on to tell me how much they loved her and what a good girl she is, and that she got along with their dog so well. Then a few weeks later we got this email from Tiara’s new family, and I’d like to share it with you.
“Hi Paula, here are a few pictures of “Tiara” which we renamed Stevie. We are having so much fun with her and she has quickly become our latest member of the family. Thank you for rescuing her! She is perfect for our family. We just LOVE her!!! —Marlene”
It is updates like this that make all the hard work we do in rescue the ultimate reward in knowing there is a family that opens their hearts and will give our rescue kitties a forever home to be loved and cared for.
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.
Beautiful story. So glad it had a happy ending. You do great work and help so many find fur-ever homes. Blessings.