| The Story ConcludesIt's been quite a while | | | | address went unanswered and after several |
| since Ginger's original story was posted. I | | | | aborted phone calls, I got a message saying |
| thought I'd let those of you who followed the | | | | that they'd moved and had a new phone number. |
| story know the conclusion.Ginger (a.k.a. | | | | I tried that only to get a message saying |
| "Redpuss") is a half-ginger, half white, | | | | they were unavailable for several days and to |
| 12-year-old tom who suffered some bad health | | | | leave a message. I did, but with less than |
| problems a year or so ago, including cat flu, | | | | ten days remaining before a final decision |
| 6 rotten teeth (with accompanying toothache) | | | | would have to be made as to whether to have |
| and associated chronic infection, a septic | | | | him put to sleep or not, time was running out |
| lip, ear mites, skin allergies and a heart | | | | for Ginger. (this was back in April |
| murmur. His story is documented at the Help | | | | 2005).Then, on the weekend prior to what |
| Save Ginger page on my Cat-oholics website if | | | | could become a fateful day, I received a call |
| you'd like some background information. You | | | | telling me that a home had been found for |
| may have already read my previous articles | | | | Ginger. It seems that a grand-niece of |
| about him and how a number of generous people | | | | Ginger's original owner had stepped in to |
| donated funds to cover his vet bills.While | | | | take care of him. So, with just one day to |
| his health problems were sorted out, finding | | | | spare, Ginger was whisked off to his new |
| a new home for him proved to be something of | | | | home.It was a relief knowing that the Sword |
| a problem. Neither friends nor family were in | | | | of Damocles no longer hung over him and that |
| a position to take him in for two reasons - | | | | the thought of having to have him put to |
| he's a cat-flu carrier (and my vet was | | | | sleep was no longer a consideration.He's made |
| insistent that Ginger should not go to a | | | | a great pet for his new owners as he's a very |
| house that already has a cat) and his age | | | | affectionate cat. With the exception of being |
| (people are too worried that an ageing cat | | | | a cat-flu carrier, his health is otherwise |
| just meant big medical bills down the road). | | | | good. Given what he went though that previous |
| Notices stuck up in supermarkets, libraries | | | | year, he deserved to have a few good, happy |
| and vet clinics didn't get a single reply. | | | | years ahead of him and now he has.Gary |
| Neither did putting appeals in classified ads | | | | Nugent, a software engineer by profession, |
| papers.I contacted a few catteries to see if | | | | has been a life-long animal lover, especially |
| they could offer any leads I could follow up | | | | of cats and is the webmaster of - a site |
| on. While they couldn't suggest anyone to | | | | that helps you make the best choices to keep |
| place the cat with, they suggested contacting | | | | your cat healthy, happy and long-lived. |
| an animal shelter who didn't euthanise | | | | Information about cats in general, health |
| unwanted animals. Unfortunately, when I | | | | issues that can affect them, some of their |
| contacted them, they told me they only now | | | | weird and wonderful behavior patterns, their |
| dealt exclusively with dogs (apparently | | | | history, and how to choose various products, |
| there'd been unholy war between the cats and | | | | supplies and toys for your feline furball. |
| dogs when they catered for both). They | | | | And, not to forget about you...there are a |
| advised me to contact the local Cat | | | | few things on the site to keep cat owners |
| Protection Association through their | | | | amused as well. |
| webpage.Emails to their advertised email | | | | |