Dear Becca, Marylyn, Gloria, Clarissa, Wendy Terri, Janine, Thanks so much, these e's from you are great, I've fwded them all to my work (just got home from work and it's laaaate) so I can properly read them all first thing tomorrow. Fingers crossed. I aim to get letter off to Paula Fasseas by Thursday so if anyone else would like to send similar reports I would hugely appreciate it. The more the merrier. take care, Kerry
----- Original Message ----- From: "Becca DuBose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 1:10 AM Subject: Re: I need your help > Kerry, > > Angel Paassht tested FeLV+ when she was just over a year old. We had > her another 7 years and 7 months. She was so full of life...an "eternal > kitten" right up to the end. We wouldn't trade our time with her for > anything in the world. We have 7 others and they are all healthy except > our early stage CRF kitty, Corky, but even her health is relatively > good. She will be 17 this year! > > Becca > > > Kerry MacKenzie wrote: > > > Dear all > > I'll try to make this as brief/concise as possible. > > Because of what happened with Pookie, Paula Fasseas, the founder/owner > > of the shelter, PAWS, called me. I would never normally have had a > > chance to speak to her---she's a society high-flier who owns banks > > (yup, you read that right) and started up PAWS just a few years ago > > when her small daughter suggested doing something for animals. > > Pookie wasn't positive, but at some point in our conversation she > > mentioned leukemia in passing. > > Now, PAWS is building a 7-million dollar state of the art shelter in > > Chicago, with adoption suites (and much more space I've heard given to > > dogs than cats). I had also heard from 2 reliable sources that this > > shelter was NOT going to have space for FeLV cats which saddened and > > sickened me. All this money and effort, and no support for FeLV kitties. > > I kept thinking I should write to Paula Fasseas. > > So when *leukemia* came up in the phone call, this was a > > never-to-be-repeated chance. > > I asked her if there was to be an annex for FeLV cats in the new > > facility letting her know that I had had 6 FeLV cats at one point and > > they have a special place in my heart. I was expecting her to say no. > > But, she said that there was an 8x16 room they could probably use for > > that... ! > > And we then got talking a bit about FeLV and I explained why they > > *should* be included in the new shelter. > > She got quite animated and enthused about the idea, and I said I'd > > send her this wonderful website address (which i already did). > > However, yesterday it occurred to me that i should send a PS with some > > brief case histories from you wonderful people, to illustrate in a > > very real way why FeLV cats should be given a chance the same as other > > cats. > > As an example, my statement will prob say something like: > > "I took in a colony of 6 cats, 5 of whom tested positive. Four of > > them, Caramel, Levi, Flavia and Snowball, kittens when I got them, > > enjoyed quality lives for between 1-2 years, playing and roughhousing > > and grooming and cuddling and enjoying their food and treats like all > > kittens do.They loved to play ping pong in the middle of the night--I > > was frequently wakened by the thud-thud against the door! Mickey is > > still going strong, and cuddles and plays with Momcat, who > > incidentally is and retested negative. Kerry M" > > If any of you--particularly those of you whose cats have lived longer, > > could email me a brief description with their names, ages, and also > > whether you mix too--I'll compile them and send them on. Please note I > > may edit for space so she can read them quickly. > > I got the impression Paula Fasseas didn't know a whole lot about FeLV > > but that she was very very open to knowing more, and in educating the > > public--she talked enthusiastically about doing that at the shelter. I > > said that if I could help in any way I would. > > This is SUCH a great opportunity, and I'd like to make the most of it, > > and I feel it would really really help if I can send her brief > > real-life examples, from my FeLV-list friends, of FeLV kitties living > > quality lives! > > Thanks in advance!!!!! Kerry M. > >
