Letting Go and Saying Goodbye

[kimlovescats]

Today I did something that I have needed to do for a very long time .... I took the step of turning a handful (6) of my rescues over to another program. A dear friend of mine who has a rescue of her own in a neighboring city, works closely with the Humane Association of Wilson County, in Lebanon, TN. They have come so far in recent years. First and foremost, they have changed from a kill shelter to a NO KILL shelter! They have a wonderful facility, and a great mobile spay /neuter station. They run a very successful SNIP and TIP program, and my friend Tina and her husband are volunteers for the Snip and Tip! They have a great adoption rate, as they adopt out of their own facility plus several Pet Smart stores including the one here in my own town. Tina recently took 5 of her hard to place kitties to them, and they were all adopted within only THREE days! I know in my heart that this was the right and the unselfish thing to do for my babies. It was extremely difficult to make the decision of who would go and who would stay ... as I did let a couple of my intended "keepers" go! But I had to be realistic and do what was best for the kitties.

There was no question in my mind, that my original herd of Grace, Hallie, Harper, Smokey, Dexter and Roxie absolutely HAD to stay here. They were kitties who were our family kitties before I ever decided to become an official "rescue". In addition, I tried to keep at least one kitty that each of my family members were bonded with, and would otherwise kill me over if I let them go!
So, in addition to the ones above, Tabitha stays, Amber stays, and Ginger stays ... as she is Amy Beth's kitten and will be moving out with her soon!

Also, my 3 semi-ferals (Bonnie, Boots and Marmy) are still here, and will probably stay ... unless an exceptional circumstance opens for them. Tomorrow, my friend Tina will be coming to pick up Momma Freida and the 4 newborns .... and taking them into her rescue program. So, there will be no more pictures of them. I am sorry! Tina has worked as a vet tech for several years in the past, and she gives 110% of her time to her kitties ..... unlike me, she has no human children of her own, and hence, no grandbabies!

All of the ones that I had to kiss goodbye today, are what I would consider to be "highly adoptable" and I have no doubt they will be snatched up in a heartbeat! Please join me in wishing these babies good luck in finding their new forever homes!

Angel
Ditto
Billy and Bobby
Pepper
Freddy

Good bye babies, I will love you dearly forever. Thank you for teaching me so much about love, life, and sacrifice.

Your catmommy in spirit forever.
Kim

[K & L]

Kim
Even though this has got to be very difficult, sounds like you made a wise choice! Bye babies, we'll miss seeing their pictures. And farewell to the rest. You did good Kim.

[QueenScoopalot]

I know it's a decision you didn't take lightly Kim, and I'm sure it was hard to let them go, but it allows space for future rescues too. Have a wonderful new life kitties. And (((HUGS))) for thinking of the kittie's best interests Kim.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Oh Kim, how terriblly hard that must have been. BUT you know in your heart, as well as all the rest of us here at PT, That sometimes it is better to let them go and have new homes, rather than keep them piling up, and trying to give them all up one by one, all by yourself.
You did a WONDERFUL thing for these kitties, I KNOW they will be snatched up quickly, and they will love you regardless.
GOOD LUCK KITTIES! I HOPE YOU FIND YOUR FOREVER HOMES VERY SOON!!! WE LOVE YOU!
HUGS to Kim and family

[catmandu]

Kim,knowing how much,you love your Cats,I know how difficult,that decision was.But as my Dear Mother,once told me,Son,you cant save them all,and that was when ,I only has the three Cats! And The Found Cats,are praying,for Your Strays,to get Good Furr Ever Homes.And,if people,just realized,that Pets,are not Toys,but living Creatures,of God,there would be,a lot fewer animals,that would suffer,or have,to die.I just discovered,that Scrappy 2,is a female,so now,we have,to get her off,the street,before Kitten Season,because,the Idiots,let her run loose,and care for thier Cars,maoe than thier Cats!

[Prairie Purrs]

It must have been a heartbreaking decision for you. I'm sure they'll all find wonderful homes. Thank you for taking such good care of them and for keeping their best interests at heart.

[catnapper]

What a heartbreaking decision, but you are making it in the best interest of finding those loves forever homes. {{{HUGS}}} to you and good luck to them.

[Laura's Babies]

Oh Kim, I am crying. This hurts as I well know.. I am still hurting from parting with Wally and Marty and I guess that is why this makes me cry so easy. Just know I am crying with you...

[kimlovescats]

Thank you to the few of 96 viewers of you, who had the heart to respond to this thread. For those who care, this is the end of my rescue work .... no more rescues for me. I am not healthy, my diabetes is not under control, and I do not have the time, frame of mind, or health to devote to rescue work anymore. I have rescued and homed close to 100 kitties in the past 3-1/2 years, and it's time for me to make a real home for my original babies, and the few that are currently "unadoptable".


Kim

[Karen]

Kim, you need to take care of you. We will miss seeing the kitten pictures, but are thankful that you shared them with us, as the miracles that they are.

Good luck and God bless all you kitties in your new homes. Purrr Pet Talk into your new owners' ears, as we'd love to hear from every kitty among you!

Thank you, Kim, on behalf of all the kitties you have helped - and all the humans whose lives have been blessed by those kitties, and whose hearts have been touched by your generosity and caring.

Take a moment, take a deep breath, and then give those permanent Kimkitties a good snuggle from me!

[jazzcat]

Oh Kim, I'm so sorry. I know this was a very hard decision for you to make but I also have some idea of how much you must have agonized over it. I know you are doing this all in their best interest. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it all is.

As one of the lucky ones who benefited from your hard work and commitment to helping cats I want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Please take this time to regroup and recoup. You need to take care of yourself first and get healthy. You still have several furbabies and skin babies who need you not to mention several PTers (me included ).

I'm here if you ever need me.

[Lilith Cherry]

I am sure that must have been a hard thing to do! You are such a loving person and great meowmie! I am sorry to hear that your diabetes is playing you up, I am the same way and it makes one feel very tired and unwell! So take great care of yourself and get well soon; I am sure the rest of clowder will "help out" as much as possible. lots of loving thoughts and hugs, Lilith

[Laura's Babies]

I know all this has to be so extreemly hard on you but you are no good to anyone if you are not well! Take care of yourself so you can be there for your OWN family.. We love you regardless of what you do, rather you rescue or not. You will still be "Kimlovescats" That will never change!

[rg_girlca]

Kim, I am so sorry to hear that you have not be feeling well. I hope and pray that you are able to get your diabetes under control.

I know how very difficult this decision must have been for you and how heartbroken you are over it. It is in the best interest for Angel, Ditto, Pepper, Freddy, Billy and Bobby and I hope and pray that they all find good loving forever homes, which i'm sure they will.

You have done such a wonderful job on helping so many of these precious kitties, now it is time to take care of yourself.

((((((HUGS)))))) to you my dear friend and remember, I am only a phone call away.

[NoahsMommy]

Kim,
That had to have been the hardest decision you've had to make.

I'm sending you lots of hugs and love. You have my support, 100%.

I hope you feel better physically, very soon. Get some cuddles from those nurse kitties...they work wonders.

Love,
Kelly and the furballs

P.S. Edited to add. You've done amazing, amazing work for all those cats. You'll have a special place in heaven...I just know it. Bless you for all the time, love and energy you've given to needy kitties, Kim.