If you feel so inclined to help cats and dogs whose owners are in hospice, etc.
11In central Illinois an organization takes in cats and dogs whose owners have died, are in hospice, nursing homes, etc. and can no longer care for their cats or dogs. They focus on this group so that their owners aren’t as anguished about having to involuntarily give up their pets at/near the end of their own (the owners, not the cats/dogs) lives. A friend of mine volunteers with them. They took in 10 cats the other day.
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This is a beautiful thing. I worry about what would happen to my animals if something were to happen to my husband and i. Taking that worry off of someone in hospice or a nursing home or off family members who just list a loved one, is an incredible help. Did what I could.
@mehbee Thanks. I worry the same thing. I told Brenda (my friend who volunteers with them) when I die of the current cancer I have (longer life span, just one with no cure) that we need to pretend I live at her house so my cats can land there. That being said I have 3 who are 17 who I am very likely to outlive and one who is 7 who I may or may not outlive. Since Dec I have had a 2-3 year old I rescued from campus (was dumped there and wandered for several weeks before I caught her) who I am waiting for a the kill shelter to place who is in foster care with me (I’d keep her were it not for the cancer as she is a darling, loving, gentle, sweet little thing). There need to be more places like this.
@mehbee Last year a friend of @Lisaviolet had a friend and her friend’s husband unexpectedly die a month apart. That family took their dogs but not their 3 cats. By calling around we found a no kill shelter who rescued the cats from the kill shelter. One was adopted and the other two were together in foster care last February (2017) when all this happened. Hey @Lisaviolet do you know if the other two cats found homes yet?
The 2017 thread for those who are interested:
https://meh.com/forum/topics/know-anyone-who-wants-a-kitty
@mehbee I already have a couple lined up who will take the dogs, and a backup couple for them. Last ditch they can go back to the breed rescues they came from. Technically the rescues are supposed to get them back, but since I’ve made solid adoption plans for them to be able to stay together with people they know well, the rescues are good with being last call. I’m not wealthy, but I have some assets including a house and no heirs, so the dogs will have a hefty trust to see to their care. The friends who’ve agreed to take them don’t know this, only the person I asked to be my executor.
@Kidsandliz I don’t know. The last I heard they were in foster care together.
@lisaviolet Well at least they are in foster care and not the shelter and at least they are together.
I’m already helping a young friend who had to move after a horrible fight with her mother. The apartment she’s in now does not allow pets, so she has someone taking care of her cat. This person is charging her $40/week which I think is outrageous. She doesn’t have a job yet but is looking.
I can’t take her cat in as I have dogs. I’ve hired her to walk my dogs a couple times a week for $40/week which is also a bit much but that way I can justify the expense to my husband
@looseneck I am so glad you are helping her. If there is a no kill shelter around see if they have someone willing to foster her cat for her, that is often free or just food and litter.
@Kidsandliz I’m pretty sure all the shelters here are no-kill or only put down very pets. We have to import from high-kill states to have enough to adopt. Very aggressive spay/neuter programs here are keeping populations down. We are also against puppy mills and pet stores. Adoption/rescue are pretty much the only options unless you go to a breeder.
I’ll ask the local rescue today if there is anyone who can help. Going to an adoption alumni meet&greet event today so Scout can meet up with old buddies!
@looseneck What did they say when you asked?
@Kidsandliz Unfortunately I got there later in the day (too many errands to run) and no one was around who could help. I’ll email my contact later. Hopefully she can help.
That’s a pretty awesome group, on every level.
As a side note, when we had our Wills drawn up several years back, we put a specific clause written as to who in our families we’d want to take our beasts, should we both check out at the same time. Now what they actually do after that is entirely up to them but at least we feel like it’s covered.
@MrHappypants That’s prudent.
We’re not taking any more in. Hopefully, we’ll outlive the furries we have. Our youngest is ten, so our chances are good that any will need homes when we do pass.