Every
Cloud Can Have a Silver Lining
In Conny’s last blog post, you
learned of the passing of our beloved Ragdoll cat, Zorro, who succumbed to a
heart condition called FHC (Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy). This silent killer is common in Ragdoll and
Maine Coon cat breeds. Quality breeders
certify that their cats have been tested and do not carry the FHC gene. Unfortunately, we adopted Zorro when he was a
year old from a friend-of-a-friend who was moving, and he was a day away from
being deposited at a shelter.
One expects older pets to die, but
not pets that appear to be in perfect health and in the prime of their
life. That was Zorro—so handsome, so
loving, and so special. The shock of
losing him at age eight will linger along with our grief. Our only solace is that he slipped away
without pain on our sofa, in his favorite napping position and with his family
nearby.
Many believe that every cloud has a
silver lining. That even in the worst of
situations good can emerge to neutralize negativity. I like to believe that is true. Toward that end, my goal is to introduce the
followers of “Under the Toronto Sun” to a worthwhile foundation that my husband
and I support and where we made a donation in Zorro’s name after he died. It’s called
The Poppy Foundation (http://poppyfoundation.org/)
The Poppy Foundation (http://poppyfoundation.org/)
The Poppy Foundation is located at
the Bonanza Cat Hospital (http://www.lvcatvet.com/) in Las Vegas. Dr. Linda Steelman is one of those vets unable
to turn away a cat in need. Her hospital
is the last stop for unadoptable kitties through the Humane Society and other
cat rescue groups. They are unadoptable
because of incurable health conditions or because their injuries have left them
so unattractive that no one will adopt them.
Within days after adopting Zorro
when he was a year old, I took him for a checkup with Dr. Steelman. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the
hospital’s tiny waiting room and found myself surrounded by cat condo’s filled
with snoozing kitties. Then there were
the dozens of others walking around wherever they pleased, even taking
advantage of empty laps and head rubs wherever they could find them. Parents of patients preferred to stand rather
than take a chair away from a sleeping feline. The office volunteers often had
to remove their furry helpers from the top of the printer, telephone console
and sign-in sheets in order to do their jobs.
I admit that my heart skipped a beat
the first time I watched three-legged cats limp by, cats with cuts resulting in
ugly bald spots on their lovely fur, or who now had to view the world with only
one eye. At one time, when I asked how
many cats were in residence, they admitted they had lost count but that they
were well over 100.
I’m happy to report that over a year
ago, the Poppy Foundation at the hospital was able to add more space. There is one large room now dedicated to
cages for seriously ill cats (sort of an ICU) and a play area for those kitties
that are able and willing.
I can think of no better way to
honor our beloved Zorro than by helping to bring attention to the well run,
making a difference, Poppy Foundation.
In addition to money, they are grateful for used cat care items and food
donations.
Even though Conny had never met
Zorro (it’s a long way from Toronto and Las Vegas), she came to know him almost
as well as one of her own furry gang.
It’s comforting to know that a memorial to him will remain a permanent
part of Conny’s “Under the Toronto Sun” blog site.
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