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Many of you have seen the beginning of this story develop in another thread.
Here’s the full story. I hope it inspires you. If you’re one of those angry, negative people this probably isn’t the thread for you. It’s a long drawn out story.
First the back story.
As I get older I find myself becoming more compassionate. It’s funny, because I’m also becoming one of those crabby old guys that has no patience for what I consider to be stupid people. I thus prefer the company of animals to people. My wife and I have been taking in assorted rescue animals for more then two decades. Not every one, but there are certainly some that we feel have been sent to us because nobody would appreciate them but us. We sometimes feel that nobody would appreciate us but them.
The last few weeks we have been in Mazatlan, Mexico. We go there a few times a year to stay at a friends place. This time we discovered a small cat living in the roof of the outbuilding. I went out one morning to see a pair of eyes carefully watching me from the safety of one of the rafters. A little head would slowly rise up, make eye contact, then slowly drop down. This went on for several minutes. Over the next day or so this was repeated several times, until the head would just stay up and watch me. As soon as I moved the cat would vanish. Gradually it would show itself, but vanish when I came near.
One morning I’m in the back patio having my coffee when I see a little body beside me, watching warily. When I move it flees. Over the course of a few days it gradually trusts me to the point that it would lie on my lap. As we got to know it it becomes apparent that this was someone’s cat, lost or abandoned. We go to a shelter to see if we can leave it there, and I leave in tears. There are countless lost and abandoned animals there. These aren’t feral, they were someone’s pet at some time. They can’t really take this one as all shelters are full of animals. So my wife and I decide to try to take this one home.
We go to Paws of Love vet clinic. They examine the cat and give it the shots and certificates necessary to cross the border. Their service and attitude is exceptional.
We book air passage for the cat to come home with us on Westjet. Their ticket people were super supportive. The stewardess ultimately helped us as well. They were amazing.
The customs guys at the airport were fantastic, and waved the fees. On the drive part of the way home I stop to get gas. I look for a small bottle of water for the cat. The guy behind the counter says they only have large bottles, but they are two for one. I remark that I only need a small quantity for our cat in the car. He raises his eyebrows, then disappears into the back room. He soon appears with a small bottle of expensive, imported water. He smiles broadly and says: “This is for your cat. Merry Christmas!”
We arrived home yesterday, safe and sound. We took a cat from Mazatlan, Mexico and flew it to Calgary, Alberta Canada. Then drove it by car to Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was comparatively easy and inexpensive. We did it, you can to. The one photo is the first day on the roof in Mexico. The other is safe in Canada.
I posted some of this on another thread as it went along. Everyone there was very supportive.
Here’s the full story. I hope it inspires you. If you’re one of those angry, negative people this probably isn’t the thread for you. It’s a long drawn out story.
First the back story.
As I get older I find myself becoming more compassionate. It’s funny, because I’m also becoming one of those crabby old guys that has no patience for what I consider to be stupid people. I thus prefer the company of animals to people. My wife and I have been taking in assorted rescue animals for more then two decades. Not every one, but there are certainly some that we feel have been sent to us because nobody would appreciate them but us. We sometimes feel that nobody would appreciate us but them.
The last few weeks we have been in Mazatlan, Mexico. We go there a few times a year to stay at a friends place. This time we discovered a small cat living in the roof of the outbuilding. I went out one morning to see a pair of eyes carefully watching me from the safety of one of the rafters. A little head would slowly rise up, make eye contact, then slowly drop down. This went on for several minutes. Over the next day or so this was repeated several times, until the head would just stay up and watch me. As soon as I moved the cat would vanish. Gradually it would show itself, but vanish when I came near.
One morning I’m in the back patio having my coffee when I see a little body beside me, watching warily. When I move it flees. Over the course of a few days it gradually trusts me to the point that it would lie on my lap. As we got to know it it becomes apparent that this was someone’s cat, lost or abandoned. We go to a shelter to see if we can leave it there, and I leave in tears. There are countless lost and abandoned animals there. These aren’t feral, they were someone’s pet at some time. They can’t really take this one as all shelters are full of animals. So my wife and I decide to try to take this one home.
We go to Paws of Love vet clinic. They examine the cat and give it the shots and certificates necessary to cross the border. Their service and attitude is exceptional.
We book air passage for the cat to come home with us on Westjet. Their ticket people were super supportive. The stewardess ultimately helped us as well. They were amazing.
The customs guys at the airport were fantastic, and waved the fees. On the drive part of the way home I stop to get gas. I look for a small bottle of water for the cat. The guy behind the counter says they only have large bottles, but they are two for one. I remark that I only need a small quantity for our cat in the car. He raises his eyebrows, then disappears into the back room. He soon appears with a small bottle of expensive, imported water. He smiles broadly and says: “This is for your cat. Merry Christmas!”
We arrived home yesterday, safe and sound. We took a cat from Mazatlan, Mexico and flew it to Calgary, Alberta Canada. Then drove it by car to Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was comparatively easy and inexpensive. We did it, you can to. The one photo is the first day on the roof in Mexico. The other is safe in Canada.
I posted some of this on another thread as it went along. Everyone there was very supportive.
