This is the second newsletter in a row that is late. It’s my fault and I am sorry.
This is possibly the hardest kitten season I have ever experienced, both in terms of how many cats and kittens we have, and how many we are asked to take. I’m really glad that I have learned how to say “No,” even though it hurts every time.
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Lots and lots of Fancy Feast Classic Pate, any flavor. Thanks!
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Ruckus settling into his new home.
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Another Ruckus Update
Ruckus went home last Sunday to his family in Johnson City. His new dad, Chris, was amazed at the change in his appearance. His mom reported the next day that he insisted on sleeping on top of her all night. Their 15-month-old son is learning about petting the kitty gently, and Ruckus doesn’t mind at all. I often think that cats and dogs understand about babies. If the animal has been treated right, they are gentle with little humans.
Chris’s sister is a veterinarian. She came to Ruckus's new home Sunday night and showed her sister-in-law how to administer Ruckus’ insulin and test his blood sugar. Then I found out that she works at one of our main vets’ offices! I went to Dripping Springs Animal Hospital on Monday and Dr. Rush came out to meet me. We talked about the wonders of getting a geriatric, diabetic kitty adopted to a great home. 
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Thundering Paws Is a Community
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Our staff and volunteers remain very conscientious. When necessary, everyone goes through rounds and rounds of testing. We all wore, and continue to wear, our masks for many months It’s amazing to see a person sip from her coffee cup, “Oh yes, that’s what you look like. I forgot.”
We haven’t been large enough to offer our employees sick or vacation leave. Yet, what do you do when a person can’t come to work as she’s being quarantined because she’s had contact with someone with COVID, or because there’s a winter storm? People are suffering from the pandemic all over the world, and here from the Texas winter storm.
Our people are loyal to us, and to these animals. I cannot let them suffer financially. This is what communities do.
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CAUTION: This story may make you cry.
Dash’s Tribute
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Dash never tamed. He had no territory to which to return, so he stayed with us. Throughout the years he has lived here, Dash has warmed up to a few staff members and volunteers.
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Dash was born in a field at Camp Mabry in Austin on approximately April 9, 2009. His mother and sister were with him. One of our volunteers found the family there in early June and brought the mom, who is tame, and Luna, the sister, who tamed quickly for us. Luna, a seal point Siamese pattern kitten, was vetted and adopted soon afterward. Mabry, the mom cat, lives with a Thundering Paws donor.
Our volunteer trapper was determined to get Dash, but he was reluctant to go into a trap. He finally succumbed and was brought to us perhaps two weeks after Luna came. Eight weeks of age is about the cut-off point for being able to tame a kitten. Dash never tamed. He had no territory to which to return, so he stayed with us. Throughout the years he has lived here, Dash has warmed up to a few staff members and volunteers.
He has had multiple medical issues, the worst of which was IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. We talk a lot about poop here. Staff and volunteers were all aware of Dash’s IBD and have been willing to clean up after him. A mostly feral kitty, Dash was impossible to medicate unless he was willing to take his medicine in food. Over the years, we have done our best to keep him as clean and healthy as possible.
 As I stated above, we’re a community. We care about these animals, and we care about each other. Decisions about severe treatments are made in a group. The determination to cage Dash to monitor and dose him was agreed upon. After it was clear that a certain treatment was not helping, we let him out into his room and his catio with his three cat friends.
In the past few months, his decline rapidly exacerbated, however, he was still eating. We could do nothing but feed him, clean up after him, let him be with his friends, and tell him we loved him.
IBD often develops into intestinal cancer of one form or another. The consequences can be sudden and dire. We didn’t want Dash to get to that point. When he was letting pretty much all of us pet him, we asked our vet to let him go. He went peacefully with his best human friend in attendance.
I’m telling you this story to demonstrate one of the ways Thundering Paws operates. Municipal shelters and large groups such as Austin Pets Alive do a TREMENDOUS job of saving as many animals as they can. Helping a kitty like Dash takes a lot of time and space.
I don’t know if we should have euthanized a feral, black, short-haired cat with IBD long ago and used the energy and money for a kitty else who could be easily vetted and adopted. But we can’t operate like that. Whoever comes to us is part of our community.
From staff member, Ally Carlisle: “Love you always Dash! May you please haunt my memories and appear in beautiful glimpses as I mourn and celebrate your sweet presence that blessed this sanctuary.”
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Did you know your Amazon purchases can turn into donations to Thundering Paws?
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What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support Thundering Paws every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Thundering Paws. When you sign up, simply select our organization from the list of charitable organizations.
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Thank you for everything you do for us, and for animals.
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