Could You Please Say a Prayer for Boots?

[Sue and Kids]

Hello, everyone. Could you please say a prayer for a very special kitty?

I volunteer two days a week at our local no-kill Humane Society in the Cat Room. Boots came to us in early 2010. She was a gorgeous Tuxedo kitty and came from the same place as my Tank kitty. I would have loved to adopt her too. She was so sweet and loving to people. But she had a strong personality and I knew she would not have gotten along with my Nikki kitty. Little did I know at the time that my Nikki would die before a year was over.

I really adored Boots. I so wanted her to get a good home. Boots was adopted out a month ago to an elderly woman. I found out four days ago that this woman was shaking rugs and left the door open. Boots escaped and hasn't been seen or heard from since. I didn't know about it till yesterday. I went out and tried to look for her, but Boots had been gone for too long. I knew I probably wouldn't find her but I had to do SOMETHING. Boots has always been a house cat, and she is declawed. I can't even imagine where she might have gone. It's been very cold at night and I know she's lonely, cold, afraid, hungry and thirsty.

It was devastating to me when I lost Nikki, but at least she died here safe at home. Could you please send a prayer for Boots? She didn't deserve this. I'm so angry at that woman. She shouldn't be trusted with the care of a house plant! I just hope, if Boots is going to die, that she won't suffer. Thank you for your kindness.

Sue (and Kids!)

[Traci]

Set a live humane trap for her (I strongly suggest the Tru Catch brand, as it is safer, quieter, has a gentle trap door that won't scare as bad as the havahearts and other traps) - if you don't have a trap, find someone who does or is willing to do so and is experienced. If it's only been 4 days, there is a good chance she is very nearby the woman's home, perhaps at a neighbors (shed, under porch, outbuilding, etc). Place canned tuna in front of the trap plate, I've had great luck using tuna to catch. Make sure their is a tarp covering the trap (except the entrance), to keep cold wind out. Whomever is doing the trapping MUST be there to check the trap every hour, ESPECIALLY in this cold weather, since the elements are too tough for a cat without proper shelter (the tarp isn't enough for long-term shelter), and to ensure someone else's cat isn't trapped.

It sounds hard, but it really isn't, when one sets their mind to catching a cat. Set the trap near the woman's home, by a sheltered area, place tuna in it, and make sure someone checks it hourly.

And of course, post flyers, put ads in the local paper's lost & found, call all vets in the area, call the shelters/rescue groups, inform the woman's neighbors, to inform them Boots is missing and give a proper description of her (preferably accompanied with a photo). Don't give up, 4 days isn't that long - while it's ideal to be agressive with searching within the first 48 hours, she could still be very close by, waiting, watching, waiting for quiet, dark or early morning hours when it is quietest to venture out...

My prayers are with Boots, that whomever is capable of trapping her will be successful and she will be found safe and sound!!

[Cleo]

This is why when people suggest I find homes for most of my 9, I tell them to stfu and myob!

Prayers Boots makes it home and safe soon!

[k9Karen]

What a pretty girl. Sending lots of hope and good wishes for her safe return.

[Tina B and crew]

Sending prayers that Boots finds her way home. And hugs to you Sue!

[Sue and Kids]

Thanks for all the kind wishes, everyone. I haven't written because I was hoping to post some good news about Boots. Sadly, I don't have any.

Traci, I wasn't able to set a trap for Boots. The woman who lost her lives in a large apartment complex for senior citizens. The building is in the middle of a residental neighborhood, where other peoples' pets are in the area. I don't live near there and can't sit and watch the trap. Our Humane Society director said that since Boots is not officially my cat, that I could get in trouble (such as accused of trespassing) if I put a trap there.

The woman said she was shaking rugs out, outside the building. But we don't know if she saw Boots get out or if she went back to the apartment and Boots was gone. (The apartments open into the hall with two doors to the outside. My good friend from the Humane Society has talked to the managers of the complex. They have searched all the storage rooms in the building in case Boots didn't get out but found nothing. The entire neighborhood has been on the alert and looking for her too. Boots has always been a house cat and it just doesn't make sense she wandered very far.

We found out some more information about the former "owner". I guess she is hardly capable of taking care of herself, much less a pet. Other people have told us that she appears to be senile. If we find Boots, she will be going back to the Humane Society (with our director's blessings) and not back to that woman!

I have driven the area numerous times, but as you would expect, haven't seen any sign of her. We can't figure out what's happened to her, unless someone else in the building might have taken her in. The residents have to pay a large deposit for a pet. Possibly, someone took her in but can't afford the deposit???

Anyway, the woman supposedly put in an ad in the local paper. Being a small town, it is only published once a week. So we'll check on Wednesday if she did put in an ad or not. It's such a sad situation. We want Boots to be found but we don't want her returned to an incompetent owner. I just hope she's safe somewhere. I don't want her to be in pain or suffering.

I'd sure appreciate any prayers you could continue sending for Boots. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Sue (And Kids!)

[Traci]

Did anyone actually ask the landlord if a trap could be placed on the property? Most experienced rescuers do ask permission if on private or business property.

Also, if the lady didn't post a lost and found ad, can you? I'd also post a flyer with Boot's photo and description, and place it in the lobby(s) of the complex (with permission). I'm sure they have a lot of visitors who could see the flyer and keep watch (those visitors might even alert the manager if they know one of the residents took Boots in - not that they would necessarily get in trouble, but for the purpose of finding her)

I don't know about your local HS but ours require proof that if owners rent/have landlords, they have permission from their landlords to have pets. If they don't, then they don't get to adopt a pet without working that out with the landlord. This is to prevent multiple relinquishments, which sadly, happen all too often.

My prayers continue for Boot's safe return, don't give up the search!

[Sue and Kids]

Thanks for replying, Traci. Actually, my friend who visited with the apartment manager called me later. She said she should have asked if they have a bulletin board there. So we're going to do that. I have a picture of Boots on my computer and I can make up a flyer.

Your Humane Society's policy is a good one. Unfortunately, we've had kitties returned to us for that very reason. This apartment complex does allow pets. In fact, the tenants are required to bring documentation to the management from the vet and/or Humane Society that the pet is neutered/spayed and has all of his/her shots. Boots' former owner forgot that our Humane Society director had even given her the paperwork.

We are watching to see if the woman actually placed the ad. If she didn't, we will. It's a sensitive situation. We don't want to look like we're barging in and being too possessive and pushy. But it seems everyone who knows this woman is well aware of her incompetence. My friend and I will put our personal phone numbers in the ad, so we don't make it look like the Humane Society is officially involved. (There are some "anti-animal" people in this small town who think we are too involved already, not euthanizing, and we don't want to cause our director even more grief.)

It's a darn shame our Humane Society director doesn't read minds and could have known about this woman too. She does her best to get good homes for our animals and thought a home in an apartment with an older lady would be a good place for Boots. She said will definitely take Boots back if we find her and will NOT give the woman another of our kitties. Our director feels bad about what happened too, but she is so busy with all the animals, she doesn't have time to pursue trying to find Boots herself. (I think I've posted earlier that it is a "no kill" shelter. I couldn't volunteer at a "kill shelter".)

So we are trying to keep our spirits up. I would love it if someone took Boots in and gave her a good home. Maybe if someone sees the poster or the ad, we'll find out if she was taken in. Thanks for the encouragement. It's the "not knowing" that's so upsetting.

Sue (And Kids!)

[Traci]

Depending on the area, how many residential homes are nearby, it's very likely that Boots is nearby the complex, (already having found a place with warmth and shelter), or that someone took her in. I'm assuming from Boot's personality, (laid back, calm, scared, used to being indoors maybe), that she wouldn't venture far and is most likely at the complex or a nearby home.

Again, all those residents in the complex have family and friends visiting on a constant basis, the exposure of Boot's flyer could help tremendously. If possible, choose a few major intersecitions in the residential area to post Boot's flyer on phone poles if allowed. (Use orange or reflective paper, and cover the flyer in a plastic sheet protector so it doesn't get damaged by rain/snow, etc.)

Good idea on your own phone numbers, I was going to suggest that.

If you have a lost and found section in the paper or other media that allows posting of photos of pets, that would also be ideal. This might be a good idea to bring up with your HS director - if they already have an online website showing/showcasing their pets for adoption, a second site with a form to allow owners to post info/photos of their lost and found pets would be great. Ours does, and although I hate them for not making it known to a large majority of people here in the beginning, it's taking off, finally and more people are aware of it. (I finally convinced them to post notices every single month in our local paper's lost and found section - sigh, as you can probably tell, I am never too impressed with our local shelter)

Don't give up, Sue, I get the feeling Boots is the type of kitty who wouldn't venture too far. Even if someone took her in, that's a good thing in terms of how things might have played out again with the older lady. It's sad really, because many seniors are capable of having a pet, and they provide them happiness and help with their health, but with age also comes diminished capabilities, forgetfullness, health issues that prevent caring for another, and not to mention finances available to care for a pet.

[k9Karen]

I was really hoping she would have been found by now. All of what's been said sounds great. I do hope Boots has found a safe, warm place and you're able to find out what happened to her. Your winters are really awful (which is why I stay in Florida - it got up to 80 today - which is too warm for this time of year, but a helluva lot better than what you have to deal with).