Rufus - FIV positive needs home ASAP Update 2.8 #40

[lvpets2002]

Woo Hoo Pat I am all paws up for you to get Rufus.. I will aggree he can live with your cats as long as there is no blood shedd.. Let us know ok.. We will have to add extras to the Gift Box sending..

[doolittleky]

Ok, I am confused on who is actually adopting Rufus. I am about to get off work and don't have time to reread all the posts. I thought the shelter lady(sorry I can't remember her name) didn't want Rufus to go to California because it was too far and she also wouldn't give him to someone who was going to put him with other cats that were negative. Are those the two that have offered to take him? How much time does he exactly have? I maybe could foster him with my FIV+ cats but couldn't keep him if a home could be found for him so hje wouldn't be killed. Gotta go. Will check tomorrow.
Melissa

[SinbadsMom]

Rufus will have a home, but exactly where still isn't completely settled, as far as I know.

Distance has always been a concern, which is why they've been hoping to find Rufus a forever home in or close to Michigan (the Lighthouse member who offered to take Rufus lives in Washington and has been considered only as a last resort because of the distance, and I'm sure Lighthouse members would have chipped in to help with the transportation cost).

The shelter still does not want Rufus with FIV-negative kitties who might be at risk. As far as I know there has been no change on that.

They're now considering a sanctuary for special-needs pets much closer to Michigan where Rufus could live safely and comfortably, the rest of his life, with other FIV+ cats. And they have someone who could drive Rufus there. But that isn't settled yet, either.

I'll post more info when I have more, but this is what I'd heard as of last night.

I'm sorry if I confused anyone by posting yesterday, but I did want to reassure people here that Rufus definitely will have a forever home.

And I do appreciate the offers of help here, and I know Rhoda does. She's been planning to register for this board but she's always swamped, and a family member of hers just had surgery (which went well, thank God).

Cindy

[phesina]

Thank you for the update, Cindy. Lots of good news here.

[lvpets2002]

Has AnyOne Checked With Pilots-n-Paws?? I am a member with them & I will see if where in WA state they fly into.. Does anyone know what town this lady lives in of WA state.. You can PM me if you dont want it public on here..

[kuhio98]

Has AnyOne Checked With Pilots-n-Paws?? I am a member with them & I will see if where in WA state they fly into.. Does anyone know what town this lady lives in of WA state.. You can PM me if you dont want it public on here..

Sorry for going AWOL. I'm still recovering from pnemonia.
As I understand it, the rescue will check with transportation groups WHEN they find a home for him. As far as I know -- at this point -- Rufus STILL needs a home.

Does anyone now of a rescue in your area (hopefully within 400 miles of Michigan) that will take an FIV+ kitty?

[SinbadsMom]

You're welcome, Pat!

Helene, that's great that you're with Pilots-N-Paws. The shelter is aware of your group (and one of our Lighthouse members has a dog transported by your group). But as Lisa said, arrangements can't be made till they're sure of a home.

Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear you have pneumonia!

Rhoda's posted another update on our private board (the larger of our boards), and it's not at all certain yet that the sanctuary will offer Rufus a forever home -- it might, but there were some misunderstandings about just how settled this was, and how much it might cost. The one definite offer so far is from our member in Seattle.

Rhoda's worried about flying Rufus to Seattle in a plane's hold, by regular air routes. This would be very stressful for him. There are truckers who can help with transport, too, and I've sometimes seen transport relays organized by individuals on pet boards and pet loss boards to take pets long distances, but that would mean days of driving, and possibly with very bad road conditions. Pilots-n-Paws would be ideal, for getting Rufus to Seattle, if this could be arranged.

But at this point, because of the distance, the shelter is still hoping to find someone without cats who can offer Rufus a forever home within a few hundred miles of Midland, Michigan.

Cindy

[jennielynn1970]

Any news on Rufus? This thread just breaks my heart. I hope he can find a home close by. I'll throw my cards in on this one... I have FIV+ cat here at home, if need be, I can be a player as well. I'd hate to see him end up in a shelter for the rest of his life. So... put me in as a player if needed, ok? I'm in Allentown, Pa. I can be a foster or a permanent home. I just don't want to see him end up being put down or stuck in a shelter.

Most of my fosters were FIV+, and I loved them all. I just hate seeing them stuck in shelters.

[kuhio98]

Jenn ~ You would be the answer to all of our prayers if you were able to give Rufus a permanent home.

The current plan is for Rufus to go to a rescue in Pennsylvania! How far is this rescue from Allentown?

Here's Rhoda's latest update:

My dear friends, I have been so depressed, exhausted, angry, and just a gamut of emotions and I haven't been able to come to the Lighthouse much or find time to do my housework or any other projects that are pressing me. I don't know where to begin.

My New Year's resolution was to get my life in order again.

Rufus has weighed on my mind something terrible. His wounds are abscessed. Yesterday he was neutered and has had all his vaccines and his wounds were flushed out while he was under and injected with antibiotic and also medicated salve. He was laying on the desk in the front office wrapped in warm towels, still out, and staff and others were cooing over him and I kissed him so tenderly. And when he started coming to, I cradled him in my arms and put him back into his tiny cage.

We have heard nothing as yet from the sanctuary in Wisconsin and now the director is saying we have to make some decisions. We all know what that is - and it includes putting cats down, I'm sure. Let's face it, we've taken in about 55 cats now since the 3rd of January and they are contained in a very small space.

Sylvia contacted our rescues because I have been working at the shelter. One of our rescues will take 4 of our cats. Another rescue will take the 4 feral kittens and I will call Capital in Lansing to see if they will take our 4 black kittens.

But I just had a phone call from Sylvia as I was getting ready to respond to a post by Cindy and Best Little Cat House in Pennsylvania has said they will take Rufus.

http://www.thebestlittlecathouseinpa.com/

We have a member willing to drive him there. Lynn from Pennsylvania has said that if we can deliver him Thursday or Friday that will be fine. They want no money. Can you believe that? She said that since we were just getting started to please put anything we might get toward the shelter. I just talked to Ryan earlier today. I saw him at Vet Med where I had taken Vivian to get spayed.

When Vivian was shaved, it was discovered she had already been spayed previously in her life. And she now weighs 9.2#. She weighed just a bit over 7# when I got her. She and Lucy Mae both drove me crazy this morning from 3 a.m. on because I had to pull all the food away last night. And Vivian has done nothing but eat since she has been home.

But back to Ryan - I talked about a transport for Rufus if we couldn't get the truckers or the pilots. He said for money for a cheap motel and gas he would drive Rufus anywhere we wanted, even out to Washington to Syvia's.

So it appears right now that Rufus is truly saved. He will be going to Pennsylvania. And perhaps my life will go on, minus the wine bottle for awhile. Well, I wasn't too concerned about that. Last night and the night before I couldn't finish my glass. I just wanted a sip of it and threw the rest down the drain. I was too depressed to even drink wine.

I should never, ever get so tied to a cat. But Rufus was very special to me because I never believed he was really feral. And Animal Control would have put him to the gas chamber but they didn't have time for a 48-hour notice.

Hugs and love,

Rhoda