It is with overwhelming sadness that we report to all of you that our sweet Wally passed over the rainbow bridge early Monday morning. We saw a 20 year old, precious cat at MADACC last Wednesday, November 12. He extended his neck out for head-pets (and wanted more and more!) and stole our hearts. He arrived at MADACC on November 8th, and we knew time was of the essence to try to get him out as soon as possible before he contracted an upper respiratory infection (URI) - what almost every cat will develop if theyve been in the stressful, crowded shelter environment for a week. Most cats can weather the storm of a URI, but for an elderly, frail cat like this guy, a URI could mean serious trouble. As with all of our adored rescues, the perfect name had to be selected. A wise name-of-old was only fitting. Wally it would be, and it seemed perfect. Wally was eating, drinking, and soliciting petting on Wednesday at MADACC. One of our current fosters sprung into action and rescued him on Thursday. We brought him to our veterinarian for a checkup and blood work and amazingly, at 20 years old, Wallys bloodwork was perfect except for electrolyte imbalances from being dehydrated. Wally weighed only 5 1/2 lbs. Wally was found stray, and based on the condition of his coat and weight, he may have been outside for some time trying to fend for himself. With low vision, and little to no hearing, its amazing Wally survived out in the big cold world all alone at all. Wally was brought to his foster home and given food immediately (which he was sitting in front of in the photo we shared Thursday night). Wally would take 2 bites of that food and would not again initiate eating on his own. We began syringe feeding Wally and providing supportive care and fluids and noted the first sneezes. It was our fear - that any amount of time in the shelter environment surrounded by dozens of cats, some sick, was too much for this 20 year old boy - and because of it, hed now come down with a cold, too. Wally began to fight the syringe feedings and his energy level decreased dramatically. One of his eyes began to develop discharge and nasal drainage dripped from his nose. By Sunday evening he became weak and lethargic. Our promise to Wally was that he would be loved here, for as long as he wanted to be in this world. He would be warm, safe, and cherished. But when his quality of life was no longer there, we would help him cross the bridge - loved, cared for, and by his side. Late Sunday evening/early Monday morning that time had come. We brought Wally to the emergency vet and wrapped him in love, kisses, and pets. We fell in love with him the moment we saw him, and we let him know that. A beautiful, unique, special boy. We told him, it was okay, and we love him so much. We told him, when he gets there, to find our Madelyn, Gemma, Tina Turner, and Sally the rat - theyre so young, and needed their Grandpa Wally to look after them. He would never be alone - ever again. The vet staff wrapped Wally in a blanket, and we held him in our arms, kissed him, and blanketed him in our love. Wallys foster mom asked that he have a sedative before we let him go, so he would fall asleep first, and wouldnt feel any pain, struggle, or discomfort. We held him as he passed, not alone, but respected with dignity and care, as any cat who has walked through this often tough and cruel world for 20 years deserves. Now hes an angel. His remains will stay with us, and his spirit, life, and memory will forever be honored and talked about here. He mattered to us. We are heartbroken. In speaking with Wallys loving foster mom we discussed its amazing how deeply you can fall in love in just a few days. She said so perfectly, It doesnt take long. No it doesnt. As aforementioned, he had us at hello. Wally was a character all his own, and his personality revealed itself in the short time we knew him. Wally was drawn to hard surfaces. Although foster mom covered the room he was staying in with a multitude of soft beds and blankets, he always chose to lay on the hard wood floor (it breaks our hearts more, not knowing how long he was out in the world on his own, but his choice of hard resting surfaces made us think that it was for some time, and that laying on the hard ground is what he had grown accustom to). He eventually took a liking to a heat-reflecting and soft purr pad, but before that, he really enjoyed jumping in and hanging out in the bathtub - it was the best! He also liked to jump on to the bottom perch of a little cat tree and look out the window. Wally made little grunts and gremlin noises, coupled with his unique little face, was enough to make you melt. But possibly the most endearing thing about Wally was that he was so interested in the other cats in the home. Wally was kept in a bright, sunny room of his own. When foster mom would go in his room to be with him and care for him, the other kitties wanted to help and would make a break for it (especially little Anthony, who you all know) so she put up a baby gate to give the humans time to get in without a flood of kitties following. When that door opened, Wally would get up from wherever he was and go to the baby gate. He would sit on one side facing a row of kitties on the other side. We dont know how well he could see them, but we knew he knew they were there as he always came to the door to see them when it opened. And there was always a line of cats on the other side of the gate for him to look at. All of them being respectful and just looking back at Wally. And if you sat real close to Wally as he sat and looked at the other cats, you could hear a soft little purr. He liked them so much. For everyone that met Wally, he taught us an amazing amount of lessons, even in the short time we had together. The one we want to share with you is one he reminded us of that we have shared before, but bears repeating again and again. MADACC (or any animal control where you may live) is packed to the rafters with animals - mostly cats. Most have had homes. Many will die alone there, and not one of them deserve to. Every life is important, and every one matters. We dream of a day when it is not full of pets. We are but a small rescue and our dream cannot come true without all of you and the rest of our community working toward that end. Will you foster? Will you donate? Will you volunteer? What if everyone reading this took it upon themselves to adopt their place of employment, or the neighborhood where they reside, or the block where they live and became the champion for all the animals we share our world with in that area? To provide education to the people who inhabit or work in that area, and resources, and care. To teach others, adopting an animal is a lifetime commitment - through thick and thin, through ups and downs, through sickness and health. A life is a life, and if we are lucky enough to have a precious animal be a part of our families, we must care for them even when it may not always be easy (just as we would any other member of the family. A life is a life). If an animal is found in your area, you contact everyone in it to get that animal back home fast. You ban together for that innocent life, totally dependent on us humans. If you see a neighbors cat is being allowed outdoors, you educate them on why it is so important to keep them inside where they can receive the love and attention and care they deserve, safe from harm (the majority of cats that wind up at animal control were allowed outside or got outside somehow). You hear a coworker has an unaltered pet and you help provide them resources on low cost spay/neuter or start a collection to help pay for that surgery to help them do the right thing. A friend is having trouble affording food for their pet, so you initiate a donation drive among all your other friends to supply that food, and keep that pet in their home where they belong. If there was ever an inspiration for doing more, being there, and carrying the most innocent of beings in our community, its Wally. Let his memorable face and his life motivate you to help our Milwaukee pets - no action is too small. Rest in peace, our beloved Wally. Forever and ever in our hearts and minds.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:47:41 +0000
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