Marley Had To Go Back To The Pound
Cheryl and I really wanted to keep both Cimbi and Marley, the orange marmalade tabby we adopted less than two weeks ago that she was insanely allergic to, until we could find a proper home for them. However, Marley had to go back to the pound he came from this weekend. Cheryl made the decision not so much because of her own insane allergies, but because the cat was deathly allergic to something in our apartment.
Marley had a reaction to something we could never pinpoint. A few days after coming into our apartment, his trachea swelled so much it nearly closed.
We tried changing the litter and the food. We constantly dusted (using dry pads sans cleaning chemicals) and vacuumed. We gave the cat his medicine as best we could (cats really do not like using an inhaler). Nothing worked.
If it was not for Marley's allergies, Cheryl probably would have tried to keep him, as he reminded her of an orange cat she used to have. However, his condition was bad and, due to vet bills, was easy to quantify.
· First vet visit (with 5 day dosage of liquid antibiotics): $385
· Second vet visit (with Aerocat inhaler chamber and prednisolone): $145
· Albuterol inhaler: $25.99
· Flovent inhaler: $187.99 (yes, that is the real price)
Anyway, you get where this was going.
So this weekend, with both Cheryl and Cimbi looking heartbroken, I brought him back to the 110th Street animal shelter. I had called around trying to find a different place to take him, fearing what his fate might be at 110th Street, but everyone I spoke said their place was full. We even tried friends and neighbors.
Much to our relief, the person working intake at 110th Street was impressed with how much effort we had put into Marley's allergies. As a result, they said they would take extra consideration of Marley, and watch to see how he was doing. Whew.
We are still looking for the right home for Cimbi. After we saw how much she enjoyed Marley's company, we now want to make sure she will be with a friend where she goes.
Comments
Glad Marley will be okay. Still very sad about Cimbi :-(
Posted by: Berry | October 3, 2006 04:56 PM
Wow, I am so sorry that Marley had to return to the shelter, and even sadder that you are still looking for a good home for Cimbi. I will keep my eye out for a good home for the little one. I wish I could take him, but my roommate won't let me have a second cat and Paikea isn't so friendly with other kitties.
I feel so bad for you guys. Good luck to all of you!
Posted by: Elderta | October 4, 2006 12:15 PM
Since the new kitty became allergic in your apt., you might consider that there is something other than just cats causing/exacerbating allergic reactions there: have you tested the space for mold?
Posted by: amy | October 6, 2006 07:47 AM
You know Marley's dead, right?
Posted by: Waytogo | October 6, 2006 09:50 AM
Just wondering why you would adopt a second cat after all the allergy problems you were already aware of... I hope you brought him to a no-kill shelter.
Posted by: Slinky J | October 6, 2006 09:50 AM
If you can't find a home for Cimbi, let me know before you go the shelter route.
Posted by: Nat | October 6, 2006 10:18 AM
Waytogo, what kind of comment is that?
Posted by: Nat | October 6, 2006 10:20 AM
How could you take a cat to the shelter where it will be destroyed? In one post you say you "got rid" of your first cat and now you return Marley to the pound. You do not deserve to have pets. They are not expendable beings for your pleasure. Can you imagine the suffering that these animals must have gone through when you abondoned them? that is, before they were put to death at the shelter. DON'T GET ANY MORE PETS!
Posted by: Kate | October 6, 2006 11:17 AM
I agree with Waytogo and Kate. I have been in that "Shelter" many times and the odds are that Marley is no longer with us. You seem to treat your pets like items rather than animals. You stress that you spent a lot of money on him, good, that is called pet ownership. Maybe you missed the part of the adoption papers that said that "you pledge to provide care for the life of your animal" I guess that only counted until he was an inconvenience. DON'T GET MORE PETS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Pissed | October 6, 2006 07:30 PM
I think that you are being very harsh to these people, who are obviously animal lovers. It's not like they kicked Marley out on the street, and didn't TRY to find him a good home. Don't be so judgemental and critical. There are enough truly evil people (thinking of the Amish psycho killer) in the world to criticize, that we needn't waste our anger on this nice couple.
Posted by: Kristina | October 6, 2006 08:52 PM
Some people are really mean, aren't they!! I can't beleive all this crap that Evil AMY and Krappy KATE are saying about you. You are obviously very caring and loving people. You tried to give these sweet cats a home, and look what they do. I am glad they don't live anywhere near me!
Posted by: Bobbi | October 7, 2006 01:27 AM
Have you considered that your home might be a reason for/ contribute to your wife's allergies as well if this cat had an allergic reaction.
Posted by: Bruce Dickinson | October 8, 2006 05:36 PM
OK - this smacks of 'look how good we are' on the surface - but the actions say 'i'm an idiot' - you just sent a cat back to a shelter to get destroyed - so now it won't have the allergic reaction, but it'll be dead. there fixed, way to go.
and now you have to get rid of your other cat - something tells me if you have such aggressive reactions this is something you had to have known about - before you decide to adopt a pet, get to know yourselves a little better, and then, may I suggest a golfish.
Posted by: rachwl | October 8, 2006 06:14 PM