Sunday, June 16, 2013

"Gus"

One of the shelters where I rescue had an outbreak of ringworm last year.  Instead of killing all the cats, (like other shelters do) they rented a trailer and put 53 cats - most of them kittens there to be treated for the fungus.

Months went by and the kittens in the trailer grew.  They were bathed in anti-fungal bath and treated regularly.  Some never had symptoms of ringworm.  But being a responsible shelter, they were all treated and DNA tested.  I was never permitted in the trailer until it opened for rescue months ago.  Seeing that many cats in one small trailer was incredible.  These are now adult/young cats that have never really had much attention, (the staff did the very best that they could!) and have never known what it was like to live in a home.

The trailer was all they knew.

Our rescue took many of the 53 cats over several months.  But as time went on there was only one cat left....

...Gus.

Gus has never known a home.  He's never known a kitchen, a vacuum cleaner, a doorbell.  He's never known regular love or a lap to snuggle.  Every time he was picked up he was dunked into a sink and soaked in an anti-fungal bath.  I had a feeling this was going to be a difficult transition. 

Today was Gus' rescue day:



You can tell Gus was a shelter favourite.  He had his own room with toys and a bed.  But it wasn't a home.  Apparently, Gus had started to meow for attention.  He watched 52 of his friends leave the shelter for new adventures. 

When David and I left the shelter with Gus the staff applauded.   "Difficult transition?"  We think not!  Gus is dying to bond with somebody!  He knows his name and comes when he's called.  He purr's and rubs and is dying to explore the rest of his foster Mom's house.  Gus is going to be OK!  He's going to have a beautiful life thanks to a shelter that cares enough about their animals to make it happen.

8 comments:

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Oh Gus! What a handsome boy you are!! May your forever home find you sooner rather then later.

Sparkle said...

Poor Gus - he didn't even realize what an awesome day it was for him! I'm so glad that he is adjusting so well to real life as a kitty!

Anonymous said...

Hi Beth, Love this little guy and so glad you care enough to help him...made my day reading this. Thank you for loving them all ..we need more people like you and less of the other kind..love Gail

Tina said...

Hooray for Gus! What an awesome shelter for treating the ringworm. Ringworm should never be a death sentence. My Sophie had ringworm as a kitten and I'm so grateful she didn't fall into the hands of someone not willing to treat it. Kudos to you and the shelter for saving these kitties. I love happy news on a Monday!

Strayer said...

That is so sweet! Glad a little fungus didn't spell death for him and the others. Most shelters would kill them all.

Random Felines said...

YEAH for Gus!!! And thanks to the shelter for helping those kitties...it breaks our hearts when something that is not fatal becomes a death sentence in a shelter.....

JLi said...

What a sweet pea!! Yippee for him!!

Caroline said...

Yay Gus! Kudos to the shelter for treating the ringworm (instead of pulling an SPCA and euthanising everyone)! I'm sure Gus will come out of his shell very fast. Great job Beth and David (the newest member of the Turner Rescue Team)!