First of all this is the email I got from Lise this morning that set me crying, and then the link to the story... 'A gift for Meredith'The email copied to here in response to a plea from us to help get this cat:
Lise's words...
I have a secret to share with you......Carver Louis is now resting comfortably in a cushy little bed at ARNO, after gobbling up several cans of cat food (no recall food!)
For today, I would love it if you just tell Meredith that I am going to check it out this weekend.........I brought him to ARNO at lunch time and Jackie took his photo and as soon as Jackie uploads the shot and sends it to me, I plan to write something for my blog with an appeal for help as well and I would like it to be a surprise for Meredith once I write the story. Of course, he will be vetted (he is not neutered yet and he has a horrible case of fleas) and generally well taken care of and loved but I would like to write a story about this duo and appeal to anyone who will help him get to his forever home, including airlines, transport groups, etc., because in addition to the obvious reasons discussed below, this one is already special to me for reasons you don't know yet.
Carol, when I saw this story this morning, this is what really got to me...... that the SPCA told Meredith that they have no room for another stray cat......I can only assume that she probably gave them all the info including that the kids were mean to him, and yet they couldn't at least offer to check the situation out, etc.??
I have a fairly good working relationship with Laura Maloney, the Director of the SPCA and I plan to eventually let her know that I am disappointed in the way they handled this. In addition to just not living up to the humane aspect of what the SPCA should stand for, the fact that they could say no to a woman who had come to this city to help it get off its' knees is incredible to me! I don't know Meredith, I have never spoken to her, but, I know all I need to know about her.....she didn't even come her to specifically help animals, she came to help this city and while she was here helping us, she managed to care for this cat.....I'm sure as heck going to find a way to give her peace of mind and get Carver Louis to his rightful home.
When I went there today at lunch, the Center's doors were locked and as I turned around to get back in my truck, I saw him, tucked in a little ball in the far corner of the front yard right behind the brick wall that protects him from the street. He immediately stood up and meowed and came right over to me and as soon as I touched him, he purred very loudly. I walked the few feet to my truck to get him some food because he is on the thin side and he followed me and jumped up into my truck and immediately begin eating some cat food kernels off the seat. I scooped him up, along with a carrier and some cans of food and went back into the grass. While he gobbled up two cans of food, I talked to the few people who passed by....without making any judgment calls, this is a neighborhood with plenty criminal activity and even the non-criminals would be considered shady.....young adults I saw were drunk and fighting, etc......there was a man who pulled up in a car and came over to gain access and after talking to him, I found out that he delivers there regularly and knows the lady who runs the center for the kids and he confirmed for me that he has often seen the kids throwing rocks, etc. at the cat. He said the cat has always been there and he is probably sweet because some people take pity and fed him but not on any regular basis and not really since Katrina. I asked him to please let the lady know that I took the cat and that I would be in contact with her.
On the way to ARNO, Carver scarfed more food down inside the open carrier and then purred the rest of the way. I named him because I took him from Carver Baptist Center and am going to find a way to get him to St. Louis....Carver Louis.
If you guys can just give me a day or two and not tell Meredith, only that I will go this weekend and find him, I promise, I will have Carter's story for the world to read before then.
on March 24, 2007, 9:36 pm, in reply to "Here's the link to the story etc."
on March 23, 2007, 9:12 am, in reply to "Here's the link to the story etc."