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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle little Star. When you go out tonight look for the brightest light in the sky. That will be little Star.


I sell on an ecommerce site. We are a fairly tight knit community of sellers many of whom are one step beyond furbaby lovers. We constantly post about love of furkids, share information and just plain try to help each outside the realm of day to day ecommerce activities.


Last night I was contacted and asked if I could help someone with a kitten they had found. Many others had already jumped in and made many suggestions as the "finder" (and I use that term loosely) was concerned about the kittens health as there were "white things sticking to the fur". By the end of the night we guessed it may be blowfly eggs on the fur and beneath the skin. At all times, I kept in contact with the "finder" who appeared to be germ phobic and obviously not a furbaby person. We tried our damnedest to tread carefully so as not to offend her but yet save this young baby.


The baby was placed in a box out near a barn..alone all night. It's eyes were sealed yet could walk. I can only imagine the pain and grief this little one felt crying for someone to care for him/her. No food, no water, no comfort because someone was too terrified of "white stuff".


I belong to a VERY special group of rescue people. I am so proud to call them my friends. Nothing stops them, nothing. They work their regular jobs and do rescue on top of that. Think of the hours involved. I've watched as they laughed in joy at the conquests of saving one cat. I've wept with them as they lost one baby after another yet they do not stop. You really have to know them to realize the work they do, day in and day out. They save the cats that are to be euthanized in the morning, staying up all night trying to figure out how they can squeeze in just one more kitty. How they work together like a finely tuned engine, no one skips a beat. How they immediately stop everything at a drop of a hat to save a cat or kitten. How they spend literally their entire paychecks on this work. Their reward is the happy little purr and smooshing of happy feet from their wards and the knowledge that this small wee being is going to eventually live in a home where they will never know hunger, fear, cold, or being unloved.

Back to last night. When it became obvious that the "finder" would not do a thing to help this kitten, many of us ran for our FaceBook friends in the business. I contacted my group. In no time flat they were organizing a rescue. Let me explain that this meant they dropped what they were doing, stopped their dinner, their families, and their nightly chores of cat care for so many just help one little Star.


It was a battle to communicate with the finder as she was too worried about how she would look to her children, her fear that the police would be contacted, totally irrational fears of disease. Yet she was HAPPY that her children were able to find a kitten.


One of my rescue friends was willing to drive 2 hours each way to go pick up the kitten if it was still alive. "Finder" had signed off and out for the night to put her kids to bed. Didn't care that people were working their asses off for most of the night. Didn't bother to check on the kitten, alone in the dark and hungry. I finally went to bed around 4am resigned that Star would be in heaven.


Today around noon, I find out the kitten is still alive and "would I get someone out there right away so she didn't look so bad in front of her kids". Again the rescues go full speed ahead to get someone there as fast as they can. Did I mention that "finder" was offered money to cover vet costs if she would only take the kitten in? Did I mention that this group of unbelievable people were willing to cover and fund raise to cover all vetting costs out of their own pocket, to spend their hard earned dollars on the gas expenses, taking the time off of work without pay, that they bartered with yet another rescue within an hours drive time to get the baby picked up sooner. Did I mention that if the baby had survived it already had a home?


I sit here crying my eyes out at their supreme efforts to save Star from a woman who claims to be so worried about her children. So worried that she pointedly stated that this was not her responsibility (wait didn't she ask for help initially?). 3 of us called her. She was begged to please go give the kitten something to eat. She shoved a can of tuna at the kitten (my interpretation). Her response was that she was grossed out because the "white things" hatched into worms and were eating the kitten, that she wished they'd never found it.


In between the emails and activity on both threads in 2 separate places, people were voicing their jubilation that something was being done to help this kitten. No one said a word to the "finder" who had again grown silent, too silent. She finally responded stating that "we all should be ashamed of ourselves for damning her"?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? and then shortly thereafter deleted the thread.


One of the ladies called the "finder" again to ask her to check on the kitten. Baby Star had died alone, cold and in the drizzling rain.


I received this note of THANKS from the "finder":
"she called (meaning the rescue) i checked the kitten it died and she hung up telling me she wished i would have been more responcable with the kitten??!! and wouldnt run away from it, wtf ok i did its not my cat for one I dont have wild cats either ok no pets at all so how am i getting the blame i tried to get the kitten help ok without getting my kids all worked up over it ok they are a fucking mess as well and she said that and hung up the nerve wow should have never asked you bonanza wierded opoinonaters for any help wow soooo annoyed right now!! I mean really"


She's annoyed? Lady, you have NO IDEA what annoyed is even close to. Oh yes this was also directed to me: "THANKS for your help…..and thanks for making me to be an evil no caring bitch much much appreciated :) "


It's OK "finder". Take your shots at me I have nothing but sympathy for you. I do however take great offense that you called one of the ladies back later on screaming "that it was her fault because a rescue didn't get there in time, that she was a fucking (I apologize) bitch for upsetting your children"


How dare you? You could assume no responsibility what so ever in this horrendous mess. People were running like madmen because you wouldn't lift a damn finger. Again HOW DARE YOU? How can you look those children in the eye and blame someone else...you could have taught them how much people really do care. So many valuable lessons to make them stronger in their values. Now they learn to be bitter, run from responsibility and pass the buck. How does one raise their own children if you are so sickened by germs. How do you handle the children that are sick, that vomit, that get diarrhea..are they left on their own as well? I understand not all people are pet people. But at least have the courtesy to be respectful to those that tried to help you.


To my dear rescue friends..words can never convey the sheer admiration and love I have for each and every single one you. Day in and day out you fill my inner self with peace and love by your acts of love and kindness.


To my fellow selling friends...we are a family of crazy fur loving maniacs and I couldn't go a day without you. You care, you share and above all else you give.


To the "finder"...you have to look at yourself in the mirror and live with how you treated an innocent animal that needed your help. You have to look at your children and know the real truth. Karma bites hard..real hard. You have my sincerest sympathy.


Tonight I feel truly blessed as I look into the sky, seeing that one big bright Star. I know you have crossed the bridge and will always be loved and cared for. Please know that despite the fact that we never saw you nor held you, that you were as surely loved as any kitten could have have been been.






Twinkle, twinkle, little star,


How I wonder what you are.


Up above the world so high,


Like a diamond in the sky.


Twinkle, twinkle, little star,


How I wonder what you are!



When the blazing sun is gone,


When he nothing shines upon,


Then you show your little light,


Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.


Twinkle, twinkle, little star,


How I wonder what you are!




Then the traveler in the dark


Thanks you for your tiny spark;


He could not see which way to go,


If you did not twinkle so.


Twinkle, twinkle, little star,


How I wonder what you are!




In the dark blue sky you keep,


While you thro' my window peep,


And you never shut your eye,


Till the sun is in the sky,


Twinkle, twinkle, little star,


How I wonder what you are