6/6 ***EUTHANIZE ROCKY??***

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tina & Rocky

Tina & Rocky

Member Since 2013
Hi everyone,

I have never put a cat to sleep before because I could not afford his care, and could not get him adopted, but I might have to consider it with Rocky...

Although Rocky is perfectly healthy in every other way, caring for him and 30 other cats is taking it's toll on me. In addition, the non-profit that I recently started in Elk Grove to help humanely reduce the overpopulation of cats here, plus Rocky's medical costs, are draining my retirement savings. Soon, I will have nothing left to help any cats, nor myself.

I have received no funding for Kitty Karma Refuge and everything has come out of my pocket to rescue abandoned tame strays, and to trap and tame feral kittens. There is no "source" funding KKR or Rocky. While KKR has applied for tax exempt status we have not received it yet and the IRS website says that they are 18 months behind at even examining a case, let alone actually granting tax exempt status. I mention this because it means that there is no grant money to apply for without federal tax exempt status.

The cat sanctuary that I am used to working with has not been accepting any of my cats (even though they vetted them) to put up for adoption lately, and it has left me in quiet a bind. In addition, I am getting no financial assistance from them for the care of these fosters, and now no food and no medicine for their care even though this sanctuary is growing exponentially. KKR, nor myself, have ever received any money for fostering these cats in my care and then giving them to the sanctuary to put up for adoption. They always called my cats and kittens ,"surrenders," even though they did all of the spay/neuter, shots, tests, micro-chip.

For help with Rocky, I had first contacted LLEF concerning his diabetic supply costs but was told that they typically only raise money for emergency situations and do not help with ongoing diabetic care. It was suggested that I contact DCIN, which I did right away.

Venita, (founder/director of DCIN,) and I then shared a few emails back and forth last week. It was decided that tomorrow morning Rocky would be evaluated by one DCIN's long time foster/adoptees, Lisa Davers. But then just yesterday Venita posted in her blog that DCIN was scaling back. This morning Venita emailed me to let me know that because there is no viable sponsoring rescue to support Rocky's costs or to promote his adoption, that the visit to evaluate Rocky is cancelled and he will receive no help whatsoever from DCIN.

While it's true that a diabetic cat can have a happy, healthy, long life, and as much as I love him, Rocky is not receiving this in my house.

Is there anyone here that would like to adopt Rocky? He deserves more of a life than I will ever be able to give him.
 
wow...I'm so sorry you are facing tough choices.

I empathize with your situation.....
our local shelter has 2 diabetic cats that they are just begging for someone to come adopt
and I think about volunteering to teach someone and get them on this website but I'm afraid of the guilt for not being able to be of more help than that.

I will pray that you find him a home.
 
Have you spoken to your vet about this? My personal vet has taken in 5 diabetics so far that she then was able to get into remission and find homes for. And, my brother's ex-girlfriend is a veterinary nurse who would do similar things. If they can't do it themselves, maybe they have connections of some sort.

Sending prayers for you and Rocky.
 
Perhaps look at what blind cat rescue has been able to do on facebook. They get tons of donations that way thru amazon. Also a friend of mine uses the status number of a rescue she volunteers at to get cheaper vet bills for her sick cats.

I would love to take him but I have two very sick ones and 2 diabetics and 10 homeless kitties. I don't have the resources for more. Please don't euthanize him.
 
Tina, this is so sad. I'm going to stop in at NKLA this weekend and see if they have any suggestions for you. You have been working so hard to regulate Rocky. I wish I knew someone that could take him.
 
I applaud you for your efforts to rescue abandoned, tame strays. Rescue work can be grueling and the costs extremely exorbitant. Even the best rescue organizations and shelters have to have significant funding and stay on top of aggressive fundraising. They also have to have strong agreements with vets (if they don't have their own on staff) to offer them reduced prices.

But, as a rescuer, your responsibility is to provide for these cats until they are in their forever homes or in a safe no-kill shelter where they have a good chance to be adopted. You willingly took on that responsibility. Surely you knew that you could potentially have some enormous expenses.

Rocky didn't ask to be abandoned by his first caregivers. He didn't ask to be diabetic. It is your responsibility to care for him completely as if he was one of your own until you find him a forever home that will give him the space and love and medical care he deserves. If you were fostering a child and it got sick, would you just give it up....send it back?

I'm also not sure how one reconciles being a Buddhist with intentionally taking a life......
 
Rhiannon thank you for your prayers. They are always welcome.

Amy, the vet he was seeing at the hospital where he was when he went DKA couldn't believe that I wanted to keep him alive. They thought that I should let him die and said I could help a lot more cats that way... :roll: My mind doesn't really think like that. Each cat is an individual to me and deserves a chance at a happy and healthy life. I knew that diabetes *might* be a manageable condition, but I had no idea how much work or expense that it was when I decided to do everything to help him live. I asked the vet hospital at the time that Rocky was in there if they would post on their Facebook page asking for help to cover his bills because he is a "rescue" cat. They said, "no," we don't do that sort of thing.. :roll: I don't believe anyone there would be very helpful. I think that they are more concerned with the amount of money that they can bring in for their "share holders."

Linda, I tried to get help with Rocky's medical bills by creating a YouCaring.com page for him. He did not even get one dollar in donations. I shared it will all of my friends on FB, I don't have that many, a little over 100, and nobody helped.
http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/r ... ort/118849

Elise, thank you for checking around for me to see if there is anyone that can help in this situation. I hope that nothing like this ever happens again in my rescue. It didn't happen at my house. If had seen Rocky not eating, had known that he was losing fur, going bald, I would have taken him the vet ASAP to get him diagnosed and treated. One thing is for sure, as sad as it is, I will never be able to help a diabetic cat again as long as I am the only one running the rescue.

The bottom line is that there are very few people in this world today who will volunteer to help others in need.
 
Tina & Rocky said:
The bottom line is that there are very few people in this world today who will volunteer to help others in need.
Click to expand...

surely you don't really mean this.

One of the things Venita said in her post was that there are a number of people who do automatic payments to help with diabetic cats. She was asking them to stop their payments. Is there any way Venita can connect you with one/some of those sponsors?
 
Marje, I did not know the ongoing expense nor the time involved with caring for a diabetic cat. I've never had a diabetic cat before. I took Rocky on because I thought he deserved a chance. I tried raising funds with YouCaring.com and received no help for Rocky. I received no help from the animal hospital where he was treated for DKA. I don't have a personal relationship with any vets. I moved here two years ago and the previous vet that I took my cats to was in Berkeley. I did not have a non-profit when I lived there. I just started rescuing cats on my own here in Elk Grove because the city does not have a shelter and was not dealing with the cat overpopulation problem. There are only 5 people that work for animal control here and they are busy with other extreme cases of animal abuse and neglect. In fact, the Elk Grove Police Department and Animal Control gave me (5) feral cat traps on a long term loan assignment, which means I don't have to return them, so that KKR can do a lot of T-N-R work. This is fantastic, expect that I do mostly "TRAP- NEUTER - ReHOME" work. The use of the traps doesn't help me pay for their food, medicine, bedding, toys, flea medicine, kitty litter, just anything you can think of that goes into caring for cats that are going up for adoption. People don't pay me anything. I don't have any donations. I am not making a living doing this--- I am doing it because I care about homeless animals.. This city was really hit hard during the housing crash. Many people dumped their animals, mostly cats, but some dogs too into the streets to fend for themselves. People are still doing it as foreclosures are still happening every day.... :roll:

You are right, I struggle with the idea of putting him to sleep as this is totally against my Buddhist vows. However, is it better to let him suffer if I do not have the time nor the money to deal with managing his diabetes? This is where the question gets trickier.. Compassion is not always what we think it is.

Julie, I do really mean what I wrote... According to Tibetan Buddhism, we are in the "Degenerate Times." It means that people are more selfish, egotistical, and self-centered, "what's in it for me?" than ever before... It doesn't mean this is the end of days, it means it's a long cyclical stretch of time where people are not very spiritually developed and they are not very much awakened to the kindness living in their own heart.

I didn't think to ask Venita if we could at least find a sponsor for Rocky. If Rocky had a sponsor, maybe then there would be a way for someone to adopt him and receive his love as well as get it in return.. I was under the impression that Venita did not want anyone to give any money to anyone as she could no longer run DCIN. I will email her and ask her though I am not hopeful. :cry:
 
I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. Sending prayers to you and hoping you can find someone to help with Rocky or give Rocky a home.
 
I have never been one to beat around the bush. I'm appalled.

When I adopted my first cat from a shelter/humane organization, they conducted an interview after I completed an extensive questionnaire. A large part of that process asked about what I thought it would cost to care for a cat annually. It's not cheap to care for any animal if you are going to be a responsible caregiver. I can appreciate starting to be involved in rescue and after the first 6 cats, realizing what the costs are. There is probably not a person here who would not fill their home with cats if they could -- and the could means understanding what it will cost, in sickness and in health. I am having an exceptionally difficult time reconciling how you can devote yourself to rescue and even contemplate killing Rocky.

You indicate you are Buddhist. I have come to have a much deeper appreciation of Buddhism as my sister has been a practicing Buddhist for many years. I have heard her struggle with the death of her beloved cat and how it was so fundamentally counter to her beliefs to think about euthanasia when her cat was in the final stages of kidney failure coupled with tumor syndrome related to cancer. She undoubtedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on his veterinary care out of love, devotion, recognition that she made a commitment that was for life, and because the taking of any life, was in direct opposition to her beliefs and that of her teachers. She could no sooner kill a spider let alone contemplate killing her cat. Seek council from your teachers. I can't imagine you will receive support for taking Rocky's life.

I work in a field where there are times that I hear about the worst that people do to each other. I also hear about the best that they do. I have met people and had co-workers that have no humanity. Thankfully, they are few in number. I also have people in my life who have a generosity of spirit that brings tears to my eyes. They outnumber those whose values I have no respect for. If you have not been able to garner donations for your organization then you are not effectively marketing your cause. There are too many people who have found an injured animal or one with birth defects and stepped up to give a home and care at enormous personal expense. They start a Facebook page and people open their hearts and wallets. (Look at Pretzel -- The Little Kitty that Could as an example.) If people aren't donating, you are doing something wrong. Don't make Rocky your victim.

There are times here when someone is struggling with the decision over euthanizing a cat that is ill. They are tearing their heart out. I have provided a published guideline to help them assess the quality of life of their cat as a means of helping them make a painful decision. They are not talking about murder out of the inconvenience of having a cat that has a manageable condition. You are wanting to kill your cat because diabetes costs more than what you expected. I can appreciate, as can we all, that this is not an inexpensive condition to treat. In my most blunt terms, suck it up or get off your butt and find a new home for Rocky. Find him a home where he doesn't have to live in a bathroom and where he will find someone that loves him in spite of or because of his FD. As challenging as this condition is, for most of us, it has created a very unique bond with our cats. It does not appear that has happened for you. I can respect the need to re-home Rocky because you were unaware of what you were getting into financially or otherwise. I cannot respect killing him because he has become inconvenient. That is not euthanasia, it's murder.

If you do rescue, then rescue Rocky. Ask on Health for help with re-homing. You're in California, contact the Cat House on the Kings. I suspect they may be able to take him in or offer some ideas. Contact Best Friends in Kanab,UT. They have special needs cats there. I also suspect any of these very successful organizations would have told you about the finances of doing rescue work. You got yourself into a situation without doing your homework. Don't make Rocky the victim of your lack of foresight.
 
Tina, I wish there were something I could say or do to make it all better, find you more money, and make this all go away for you and Rocky.

I understand where you are coming from. Really and truly I do. I do because I have been in the same place. Matt and I have had serious discussions about whether it was in Cobb's best interest to euthanize him. We agreed that if Cobb's acro test came back positive, we would discuss it further. Ultimately we both wanted to avoid that discussion, so we decided to not test him. We had the discussion when we got his FD diagnosis. We had the discussion about a month after Matty was born because we were overwhelmed (and seeing no progress). We had the discussion when we switched to Lantus, and the. A few weeks later after I quit my job and we were trying to figure out how to pay for $200 insulin once a month. We had the discussion when I joined FDMB and said, "if this doesn't work, I'm done." We had the discussion back in April when we took him to see this last vet because I trusted her judgment. We even discussed it with the vet. She said she wouldn't put down a cat like Cobb just because he wasn't regulated yet, but she acknowledged it would be difficult to find someone to care for a sick cat that requires 30u of insulin twice a day.

I say all of that to illustrate: I really do know where you are coming from. All those discussions and Matt and I have always come to the same conclusion. Not yet. (And please know...Matt is not an animal person. He wasn't thrilled that Cobb was my "baggage" that I brought into the marriage. He doesn't ever want another pet. Ever. It was a deal breaker for him. Which yes, I agreed to, but he's a softy when it comes to me so it will just take a little finagling.)

So I say all of that to share with you why the answer has been "not yet." I had NO idea I was ultimately taking on a sick cat when I took Cobb from my sister about 10 years ago. If I had, I probably wouldn't have taken him. We had no idea the expense and commitment we would be incurring by treating his diabetes. In fact, I found FDMB right after his diagnosis last April. I read through people's condos, looked at spreadsheets and said, "nope. I can't do it. I can't test him that much, we'll never be able to afford that many strips." The strips were my main concern. And we sucked at getting blood out of his ears back then. Doing a curve every 3 weeks was tortorous for all 3 of us.

I know this idea of putting Rocky down is coming from a place of desperation. You aren't seeing the results you wanted or expected. And the time it takes to test and treat takes away from your other responsibilities. I can hear your frustration in your condos. I don't know what to say to ease that feeling.

Matt and I have reached our financial limit. Cobb gets a syringe full of insulin twice a day. We go through a pen every 4.5 days. I'm not giving him any more Lantus than I am now. I'm going to have to rely on the R I use to manage swings and high numbers. We just can't afford to go any higher. I'm headed back to work full time so Cobb won't be tested nearly as much as he has been. (I'm sure he won't complain.) I don't know what we will do if he pops up and sticks in high numbers again. We won't increase his Lantus dose.

If it is the expense of the insulin, look around on Craigslist. A lot of people buy it from there. Look into Canadian pharmacies that ship to the U.S. Those are the only recommendations I can pass along. See if you can find someone who is willing to rehab a sick cat.

Please don't euthanize Rocky though. It isn't his fault that he has this disease. On another condo you wrote that he acts like he feels well. A cat is more than his BG numbers. So while the numbers aren't great for him, he's not miserable. And you ARE seeing much better numbers. Caring for a pet should mean caring for them through their illnesses, within reason of course. Rescuing cats doesn't mean just rescuing healthy ones.

It saddens me to see your view of the world. Are people more selfish than they used to be? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe we are just more aware of it. I think many of us have found people to be compassionate and willing to help, especially when it comes to animals. I've found people are more willing to help pets and children than adults.

I pray you find a way to continue helping Rocky through this tough time, and make a choice that you can be at peace with. Given the time, energy and love you've put into Rocky's care, I'm not sure taking his life because of the time commitment and expense of treating him will give you that peace.
 
I really hope that you change your mind and continue to help Rocky. He needs you more than anything as you're his caregiver. Euthanizing isn't an option in my books. Look on Craigslist for insulin. Get your syringes at Walmart. Walmart also carries cheap monitors and strips. I use the Relion Prime monitor and pay only $9.00 for a bottle of 50 strips.

I urge you to continue to care for Rocky.
 
Tina, I wish I had advice to offer or help to give. I have four elderly cats, all with their own health problems, and my hands are full. I do have one suggestion, though. My vet, Dr. Justina Codde of Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital in Antelope, does a lot of work with animal rescue. She works mostly with dog rescue (specifically Homeward Bound, a Golden Retriever rescue organization), but she might know of an organization or person in the Sacramento area that could help you. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask. Everyone at that hospital is an animal lover and kind and compassionate. Let them know you are not asking them to help you directly (they are always inundated with such requests), but that you are looking for advice and direction. Dr. Codde also has a good knowledge of FD, having interned with Dr. Richard Nelson at UC Davis. He is an expert on diabetes mellitus. Their number is 916-349-2755.

I will pray that you find the help you need for Rocky.
 
Dear, Dear Tina, I read your post and I have to say that really disturb me in several way. First because I know / feel 100% of your pain and frustration as emotionally as financially. I usually not post much, because I do not have enough experience and knowledge and because my English not the best, especially when I becoming emotional so I don’t want frustrate someone else with it. Your post did make me cry, brought up feeling what I try to push away and not think about them.
10 years ago when we / I started to rescue mostly kitties and then 4 years later when we were mostly rescue and give forever home for those who were special needs and no one wants them, I had a dream to found and establish a big sanctuary for special needs kitties. At that point I was naive and I could say in very good finance situation with a business running well in my native country and all the money from there went directly to support to the animals. There we sold our home and bought a bigger one to satisfy the comfort and the growing space need. Then 1 year later everything crashed. My business went bankrupt and I was standing there with really empty handed. What now? Giving up the kitties was not an option that was a time when I had to find part time jobs top of my full time. Since that I work 12 – 15 hours a day beside the care for the kitties. (This is not the complain, just a cold fact)
I founded our sanctuary and was hopping people will donate since we are doing a great thinks. Didn't happened, I started to hate people and the world, I had fight with god and didn't understand why I running to the wall all the time. Then I sit down and thought over everything, talked this over with my one and only with one friend and her husband. He said “you have to give up your pride and go out and ask, or you are in the wrong business” I never in my life asked and had to ask for anything anybody, so this was a big cross to lift and carry and I still struggle with it., but getting better not for me but the sake of my animals. (I run to walls every day and yes I do have days when I hate the world but never ever for one moment I was thinking to give up the kitties. I know some of my relatives, friends think I am crazy, lost my mind to sacrifice so much, they could be, and maybe right, but I can’t picture myself to doing anything else.
Yesterday -Friday - late afternoon I was driving in to my part time job and since I live in the cottage country area a long car line was coming out, people were driving to the cottage with their boats to relax and enjoy themselves. That made me thinking as did before several time, “what a heck I am doing, going to work why?” Then I get home later on and when I opened the door the answer were there and always priceless, my “babies” were running, skipping, to me with hope I will pat, feed and love them, What else I could ask!!
I struggle every day with emotional and financial pain, I went to face book, opened a page, then a web site on my own, for publicity, awareness, marketing, with not much luck, I was arguing with my god, why he not help if he put me in this sue to wear, then I apologize and ask direction and I try everyday something and I just can’t give up.

Please, I know how easy to say that” please do not give up” you can’t give up for your kitties life, you have to find a way, look, ask, search, for options!!
Finally I have to apologize for my emotional outburst to the rest of you.
 
You want help raising funds, and probably marketing the rescue and possible adoptions.

How about some of these ideas:
Check local Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops or church youth groups for volunteers to come help with chores and free up your time, or to make posters and flyers to market any adoptable cats.
Check with your local High School guidance counselor for students wanting volunteer experience in marketing and advertising, or fund raising.
Likewise, check with any colleges near you that offer those kinds of classes; there may be students looking for field experience, practicums, or internships in marketing, non-profit management, fundraising, etc.
See if you can set up donation jars at any local business, or if a business would like to sponsor a cat for a monthly amount.
Maddies Fund has online free training on things like Fund Raising. Scope them out and see what you can learn.

And take a moment to meditate. It sometimes helps.
 
Tina & Rocky said:
While it's true that a diabetic cat can have a happy, healthy, long life, and as much as I love him, Rocky is not receiving this in my house.

Is there anyone here that would like to adopt Rocky? He deserves more of a life than I will ever be able to give him.
Click to expand...

i'd like to make a few comments...

as a long-time member of this forum:

tina came to the very community she has come to all along for help with rocky and his diabetes. tina has made it very clear she doesn't want to "get rid" of rocky because he's an inconvenience. i dare anyone to look at rocky's spreadsheet and tell me tina has not been committed to his care:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AtlXmJBqzOAHdGtVdk1BNFRiSkxYNVlEOWwxNUlvdEE&output=html!

tina's in a financial bind and feels like he deserves better than she's able to give. what better place to ask than in LL if there is anyone here who would have room in their heart and pocketbook to adopt him? i am personally appalled at the lack of compassion and judgmental attitude in a couple of posts in this thread. simply appalled. by the same thinking teenage mothers who put a child up for adoption in hopes the child would have a better life with someone else should be condemned???

what is that saying about walking a mile in someone else's shoes?

and as a moderator of the FDMB:
on a board like this, a line is crossed when bringing religion into discussions. leave religion out of this. i realize not everyone has been here long enough to know, but Rebecca, our webmaster, has made it abundantly clear that discussion about one's religion is not welcome on the FDMB... especially when the intent is to chastise or judge.



i'd personally like to thank everyone who has offered constructive comments as well as shared ideas for tina.
let's keep it positive, people. tina's looking for help. she's obviously under a lot of stress and it couldn't have been easy for her to ask.

and tina... please continue posting for help. don't let this thread keep you away. there are a lot of positive ideas... some of which might help/work.
don't give up!
 
Had another thought...

I know there are members of this board who receive help from other members in the way of insulin and/or supplies. this goes on all the time on the FDMB. one member helping another... even when the one being helped continues to take in more cats or dogs.

now that we know tina needs help, perhaps tina and rocky could also become the recipient of some of the generosity shown by other members?



just a thought...
 
I agree with Jill. While some people have offered helpful advice or support, I was shocked to read a few of the posts here. This is supposed to be a support group.

I doubt there are many of us who have unlimited funds. When Lucy was first diagnosed, I thought I was going to have to return her to Siamese Rescue because I could not find a way to make my budget work. I seriously considered that because I love her. She deserved the care, and I didn't see a way I could give it to her. Thankfully Lucy did have that safety net and I could have returned her and known that she would be well cared for. Most cats don't have that. I'm also thankful that this board helped me find ways I could reduce some expenses without seriously compromising her care.

For what it's worth, I have both sent and received insulin pens from people here at various times. Jazzy was helped immensely when someone whose cat went OTJ sold me a bunch of pens very cheaply. I have also sent insulin to people when I could afford to. If you can't afford to give a pen to someone, offer to sell it below cost. It feels great to help others and you don't have to be rich to do it.

I also agree that if I could no longer care for my diabetic cat, LL would be the first place I would look for an adopter. Let's try to help instead of judge.
 
Tina,
What do you need RIGHT NOW for Rocky? Give us a list and maybe many 'someone's' can help fill at least part of it...

and a BIG LOOOOOOOONG HUG,
 
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion as long as it is relayed respectfully.

Really, what kind of reaction did Tina believe she would get from a group of people so intently focused and devoted to their diabetic cats when she entitles the post "Euthanize Rocky"? There are many, many people in this group doing this alone, on a shoestring budget, and many with disabilities or disabled family members.

If Tina had really wanted support or help, she could have entitled the condo "Need Help for Rocky" and not mentioned euthanasia. She could also discontinue the rescue work (sad but without money, she has no choice), find homes for the adoptable cats she has, let Rocky out of the bathroom and allow him to be a family member where he might feel more loved and accepted. And perhaps then she would have some more funds to continue his treatment until she can find a forever home for him. Life is full of tough choices and I stand by my opinion that she has a responsibility as a rescuer to care for the animals she has rescued or to find good homes for them.

Insofar as the religion aspect, Tina is the one who brought her religion into LL and opened the door in one of Cobb's condos:

Tina & Rocky said:
I am a practicing Buddhist. We believe that are animals are sentient beings- that means that they FEEL pain. If there is a situation that could even *possibly* be painful for one of my cats I will ask for the pain meds first thing.
Click to expand...

by the same thinking teenage mothers who put a child up for adoption in hopes the child would have a better life with someone else should be condemned???
Click to expand...

Apples and oranges.

And many of the people that are accused by innuendo in this condo to be judgmental and without compassion have shown repeatedly their compassion and caring for members and cats in this group. They have repeatedly opened their pocketbooks to help other members financially and with supplies as well as moral and emotional support. They don't advertise it and they don't ask for recognition. They do it out of the compassion in their hearts for people who are doing all they can to care for their kitty.
 
I think it was Jill who said "appalled"? And I also saw "shocked", from Libby?

Neither word comes close to how I feel.

People are talking about Tina like she isn't even in the room. This has to be the saddest condo I've read here in two years.

Tina, please keep posting and don't give up.

It's probably already too late but as a mod I am lockng this thread before it gets to the point where someone (myself included) says something that they can't take back.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top