General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBUBBLE & SQUEAK (kitties) would like to THANK YOU!! (w/one final request)
(I was previously given permission by Skinner to post periodically about http://www.wishadoo.org, especially when it involves DUers, with this required disclaimer: "The administrators of Democratic Underground have given permission for one discussion thread on this topic. The administrators of Democratic Underground make no claims regarding the legitimacy or illegitimacy of this fundraising effort. Permission was granted by Skinner on 8/6/2010, and the moderators have been notified."
Some of you may recall this post from months ago regarding a fellow DUer's call for help in finding a new home for two kitties, Bubble and Squeak. Glinda is the DUer whose friend has a terminal illness, which necessitated the kitties finding a new home.
[font size=+2]The good news is that Bubble & Squeak have a new home![/font]
Still, we're asking for your help one last time.
They made it to their new home last night. WeMovePets, a pet transport company, kindly agreed to move them to Maine to be with their new forever family. They provided this service at a reserved "emergency rate" of $500; normally the fee is well over a thousand.
ANOTHER DUer (jsmirman) helped facilitate the move and ended up putting the amount on his charge card because they required payment in advance, with no time for a fundraiser. The kitties had been living in a crate at the vet for several weeks until their big move yesterday. He put himself on the line financially to help Bubble and Squeak.
[font size=+1]We're asking if you can please help raise $500 to reimburse this kind soul. Even $5 given by many people can add up and help tremendously!
[font color=blue]TO DONATE TO THE "BUBBLE & SQUEAK FUND" please PM jsmirman and he'll provide details.[/font size][/font]
THANK YOU in advance for helping with this final stage of the journey for Bubble and Squeak and for keeping this thread kicked!
BIG THANKS to jsmirman, who has been a guardian angel throughout this critical time.
To read the background story and share via your social networks for non-DUers, please see the Wishlist post:
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist/118/update-friend-who-is-terminal-needs-to-find-loving-home-for-her-two-cats/
EDIT TO ADD: Please check out the other Wishlist posts; there are other DUers there as well....
rox63
(9,464 posts)Where it won't sink so fast. And the folks there are already inclined to help pets (and their people) in need.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)I have a little something in my eye here.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)BanzaiBonnie
(3,621 posts)Now, let's help get that $500 bill put to rest.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Blue Owl
(50,506 posts)K&R
Sienna86
(2,149 posts)Thanks to you guys for being great DUers.
GardeningGal
(2,211 posts)I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know how to pm another DU'er if I don't have one of their posts in front of me.
Can someone tell me?
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)by using the Google search bar ("site search" option). Type in the DUer's name to find one of their posts, and then you can click the PM icon.
That's the only way I know to do it! Not a silly question.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)is the only reason I get out of bed some days!
Kookaburra
(2,649 posts)glinda
(14,807 posts)If any one feels they have a few bucks to kick in to help get to our goal, we welcome it. Thanks everyone!
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)DUers can do this by tomorrow.
ceile
(8,692 posts)Thank you, jsmirman!
Sienna86
(2,149 posts)Paypal makes it easy.
FirstLight
(13,364 posts)i was so worried and heart broken when i saw the need i hoped somehow things could work out...so grateful to hear the furbabies are okay
and to You OGR and jsmirman for being the messengers of hope and joy!
glinda
(14,807 posts)Sharon and her nurse, the local Vet and others posted all over town to no avail to adopt them. They asked Shelters and others to help to no avail. The situation should not had been this dire but was given that she told me she could not take care of them very well anymore. She was on Morphine at last contact.
I am grateful to all at DU that have helped with this.
glinda
(14,807 posts)Care Acutely
(1,370 posts)TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)lots of cat lovers there. I'm so happy the kitties found a home together. Thanks for arranging this happy ending.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Thanks for the reminder!
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)on behalf of Ghostie, Xena Warrior Princess, Erica the Viking, Henry Boy, Dutchess and Loki, a.k.a., "Her Darkness" (she's a bit temperamental, don't 'cha know).
No dinero but sending positive vibes that this will happen. You guys are good eggs, OGR, jsmirman and all who can help.
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)Howler
(4,225 posts)K&R
Digit
(6,163 posts)For a worthy cause!
Logical
(22,457 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)I am sure that they will give your grievance all the due attention it truly deserves.
None at all.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)we consider DU a true community, not just a website or discussion forum.
So long as we're granted permission, we can post when one of our members can use our help.
General Discussion is just that: general discussion which is of potential interest to community members.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)and because OGR got permission from the OWNERS OF THIS SITE to post.
See, there is this thing after the title of each thread. It's a little "X" that you can click on to "Hide Thread." It's really much more utilitarian than actually coming into the thread you don't like to bitch about the thread you don't like.
Now, go rain on somebody else's parade.
Logical
(22,457 posts)lildreamer316
(14,803 posts)OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)I hope most of it was raised. I could kick in some more bucks if need be.
glinda
(14,807 posts)and there will be wonderful updates to all of this!
I am so happy. Relieved.
DiverDave
(4,887 posts)(well for quite a long time) anyway I wish I could help.
But I can pull this from the bottom of page 1 anyway.
Good on you guys, it sure is nice what you are doing.
glinda
(14,807 posts)OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Thank you!
Response to OneGrassRoot (Original post)
PotatoChip This message was self-deleted by its author.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)They already look at home, exploring. Great sign!
Enabling them to stay together makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for posting these pics!!!
So very nice to "meet" you.
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)Yes, they are doing very well now. They were a little frightened at first (as you can imagine) but have since come out of their shyness. I noticed it today especially. Now that it's become clear to them that we have a regular routine, they have really blossomed.
They are both very sweet and I'm glad to have them as a 'pair'. It's a long boring story, but various circumstances in my life had led up to these two being a perfect match for me and the SO.
When Glinda reposted the request for a home for them, (I hadn't seen the first) It was amazing timing! Despite the logistics, it 'felt' right for us, and the added bonus was helping this terminally ill woman know that her kitties would be able to stay together and be well cared for.
Thank you so much for helping Glinda and jsmirman with this.
glinda
(14,807 posts)Kitty heaven!
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)You are doing great work. I also appreciate the name of the animal transport company in your OP. We have to transport a puppy and kitty across the country, the kitty belongs to a friend also diagnosed with cancer and we are babysitting her for now.
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)They were kind enough to come up as far as St Johnsbury, Vt where I met them. It was a 300 mile round trip for me, but a beautiful ride and well worth it.
As far as I can tell, it is just the husband and wife team, but they somehow manage to operate nationally. The wife told me that their home base is in Texas but now that their children are grown, they have been able to expand to cover all of the lower 48 states.
They are very down-to-earth people who clearly love animals, as well as what they do. They are USDA licensed too, which is important to know since apparently many of these types of pet moving operations are not.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)We were looking for an animal transport company, it will probably be a few months before we need them. They sound wonderful, and I feel a lot better about having to do this now. Again, thank you, this is what we were looking for.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)how to do so. What a nice thing he did for the kitties.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)for others, they can contact him via the email provided in the Wishlist Post or via the post itself when logged into Wishadoo.
So nice that you're babysitting your friend's babies. What a difficult time for you all.
Thank you for intending to help reimburse jsmirman.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Yes the kitty we are babysitting for looks a little like one of the kitties in the photos here. She is nine years old, but has adapted pretty well to our home despite being a very shy cat. We are hoping her mom will beat the cancer, Melanoma stage 3, so she can rejoin her. If not, we will probably adopt her.
Btw, were you happy with the transport company? I will probably call them anyhow, as we will be moving in a few months and will have to transport our puppy and our friend's cat.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)They had the interactions with the company, so they can give you feedback.
Thinking healing thoughts for your friend....
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)I just need a little reassurance from someone who has actually done it. The kitties look like they survived very well though in the photos, so I guess I'm just being an over anxious 'mom'.
glinda
(14,807 posts)There are truckers that transport but many times those routes do not connect easily and there are layovers who knows where. I emailed a couple of other "ground movers" and when I called WeMovePets (good reviews), I was expecting a regular quote. The owner and I talked about the situation, which was very dire....if my friend were to pass, the kits may have been shoved out the door into the forest or any various similar scenarios....they had spent their whole life with this one reclusive human owner....and the owner had already outlived the time expectancy the Dr. gave her. The owner of the Company offered me an emergency rate because she said due to the circumstances, it was truly an emergency and a tough situation. My friend and others had looked since last November or Oct. to try to place them. Anywhere! To "no" responses and to rejections from even Shelters. I even was trying to make arrangements to get them somehow but my mother died and I had to take her cat...giving me "5" total!
I do not believe she gives this rate easily to everyone. But I was very grateful she offered this to us to make their journey happen. To make it all happen with Jon's help also. And of course our new kits' parents. And OGR also. The Veterinarian and Assistants. And to DU peeps who are compassionate and rise to the occasion when a fellow Dem is in huge trouble.
Howler
(4,225 posts)K&R
glinda
(14,807 posts)flvegan
(64,416 posts)Welcome to the club.
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)made a donation in memory of our Mouse...who crossed the rainbow bridge almost 3 years ago...
his brother, Simba, was clearly affected by his disappearance since he looked for him in all of Mouse's hiding places. They were both 14 at the time...Simba is now 17.
So happy that Bubble and Squeak found a new home, together, and glad to be able to help with their 'transportation' cost.
[IMG][/IMG]
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)I can imagine Simba had a really difficult time with Mouse's passing.
I feel for all of you.
Five years ago (seems like yesterday!) my beloved 11-year-old Jack was fine one moment, then gone within hours...17-year-old Rosie followed him three months later. I do believe a broken heart was part of her decline.
Bless all of our babies, human and furry ones alike.
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)About a year after Mouse passed, we were talking about him one day. All of a sudden Simba sat up and started looking
at us very intently. We really believe he understood we were talking about Mouse...and wanted us to know it.
glinda
(14,807 posts)Howler
(4,225 posts)Done! Done! and heres a kick too!
glinda
(14,807 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Howler
(4,225 posts)We can do this!!! D.U. Knows how to give good love to animals Great and small! Thats why I love all you folks so much!!!
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)and then help with Bubble & Squeak's transportation costs to their new forever home!
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Thanks for the support, mnhtnbb, and thanks to all helping in this effort!
Howler
(4,225 posts)And a kick!!!!
Howler
(4,225 posts)Kick! I'm being violent!LOL!
oldtime dfl_er
(6,931 posts)My last three have been rescues.
I don't have much money but I can kick in a couple of bucks - literally - if it's still needed. Would that be of any help?
Sienna86
(2,149 posts)You can PM jsmirman.
Glad they are happy and safe. What good people here at DU!
jsmirman
(4,507 posts)Dear Folks,
I can't start this message by saying anything other than "wow."
The response from DU'ers has been overwhelming and overwhelmingly generous.
I want to tell you exactly where things are at, and mention one thing I'd like to do, and I'll get to that in just a moment.
I first want to say that this has been such a wonderful thing, to get those two sweet little cats to a great, safe new home, and then to have so many people here at DU pitch in to help cover the costs associated with their trip.
Bubble and Squeak arrived safely at their new forever home almost four months to the day that I started trying to help work this thing out (I think it was like a day past four months). Glinda had, of course, been at it much longer than that, trying everything to find a new home for these two.
It was a tough process. I know that on my end I tried everything and everyone I could think of - there was a lot of frustration before reaching this wonderfully happy ending.
With that in mind, I want to thank Glinda for being there to take my call when I first decided I had to get involved with this, and then for the countless hours she spent trying to find a solution right down to the end when we didn't have that much time left.
I want to thank OneGrassRoot for being involved in this from the start and for this magnificent thread that has brought so much kindness my way.
I want to thank, and if Glinda will forgive me here for saying this, the most important person in this whole thing - PotatoChip. PotatoChip was a Godsend, a port at the end of a considerably long storm, and PotatoChip's willingness to hang in there as we worked through all the logistical tangles and above all else, to provide such a great new home - no PotatoChip, no happy ending...
There's one other person, and I'm, of course, not going to put out her real name, but there was a wonderful vet tech in Sharon's neck of the woods who was so essential to this all - we really could not have done this without her. She coordinated with me to pick up Bubble and Squeak and keep them safe while they awaited transport - and the pickup was not an easy thing on the heart, as you can imagine. She then kept them safe and sound at the clinic and cared for them for *sixteen days* (I went back and did the math). She was an absolute angel in this whole process, and we would have been lost if she wasn't there to run point on the ground. What a blessing!
Okay, so here is where we are at in fundraising, and I hope you will allow me one additional request:
We have raised $450 in money that I have in my semi-physical possession (more like electronic possession, but it's in my account.
I have $40 in checks that I believe either have been sent out, or will be sent out on Monday.
That makes a total of $490.
What I would really like to do is raise $550. Why $550? If we can raise $550, that way I can recoup $450, have $50 be a donation on my part (and I would really like to be part of the financial contribution as this whole situation has been such a ray of light for me, too!), and I can make a $100 donation to the clinic that cared for Bubble and Squeak as I worked on arranging the details of transportation.
As I said, they were there for 16 days. $100 probably doesn't begin to cover things, but it would be a wonderful gesture from all of us here at DU to say... Thank You. Thank You so much for opening your door to Bubble and Squeak and keeping them safe and healthy during that crucial time.
So that's a lot of what I've got to say. I can't thank everyone enough for being so generous and so willing to help out with this great journey. Thank you to Glinda, thank you OneGrassRoot, thank you thank you to PotatoChip (and thank you for those amazing photos!), and thank you to that angel of a vet tech, who you should just all know is out there! You meet some great people along the way with things like this.
It has meant so much to be able to help Sharon know that her little ones are taken care of and have a happy home where they can remain together.
If there are any questions, I'd be glad to answer them - I may have left something important out. I guess I'll end this by saying one more time (and I would have eaten the whole cost if it had to be done, because these two were getting where they had to go if it killed me - thanks to all the DU'ers, that hasn't been close to necessary) THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
glinda
(14,807 posts)that I will be contacting the Transport Company, WeMovePets, personally, and thanking Dolly, who I had made a contact with a few months back and who kindly offered to assist us, when we found a home. She and her husband deserve a huge huge thank you.
And Potatochip....we can always use more pictures! Thank you.... I hope they give you many years of joy and healing.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING MY FRIEND HAVE CLOSURE. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS THE ONE LAST THING SHE NEEDED TO DO. THANK YOU. HAND OVER HEART.
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)What a beautiful, heartfelt update, jsmirman!
Beautiful albeit outcome for such a sad situation. Beautiful hearts -- you; Glinda; her dear friend, Sharon; PotatoChip; the vet tech; the transport company...and all those who helped raise funds and help in other ways.
jsmirman
(4,507 posts)in case people missed it...
glinda
(14,807 posts)jsmirman
(4,507 posts)I know I've got a lot of my focus, there, too. Once New Orleans starts to get back on solid footing, I think we can make one last push.
Until then, like everyone else, I'm praying our LA, MI, AL DU'ers stay safe.
glinda
(14,807 posts)are based in TX and I know they help sometimes with emergencies.
Howler
(4,225 posts)I just LOVE happy endings!!!.......Though this one was bitter sweet! I hope Everyone rests easier now.
mnhtnbb
(31,404 posts)and ALMOST being there with raising funds to reimburse jsmirman.
Wishadoo!
** TWO WISHLIST UPDATES **
1. The kitties whose (human) mom has a terminal illness, have found a new home and most (yet not all) of the funds to reimburse the kind soul who paid for the pet transport company to get them to their new forever home have been raised. Bubble and Squeak are doing very well!!!