This fund has been set up in memory of Kitty. Here is her story......
For weeks now emails had been flying backwards and forwards, telephones ringing off the hook. Finally the day had arrived and they gathered outside the puppy farm early one morning. Emotions were running high but everyone kept their feelings under control. The film crew arrived, sorted out their equipment and then filming began. Everything was happening as arranged and then suddenly the puppy farmer said “you can have some of the dogs if you want?”. It was a stupid question really - of course they wanted the dogs - but it also raised questions. Where can we take them when we get them out? How bad were they? The original plan suddenly became a little more complicated - but a good complication. They were getting three Bichons and a Shih Tzu. To make matters worse the puppy farmer then told them that one of the Bichons had puppies that were waiting to go to a pet superstore and they had to wait until the puppies had gone before they could have her. This Bichon was the most scared of the four dogs and was later to be known as Kitty. Through gritted teeth and painted smiles they told the puppy farmer that they would wait. Time ticked by and their patience was tested to the limit. Finally the puppies were gone and the dogs handed over. Calls were made to rescue centres and places were found for the dogs in foster homes. It was getting late now and they needed to get the dogs settled. They smelled awful, were absolutely terrified but they were safe and free from the horrors they had experienced for years on end.
Not a sound came from any of the dogs as they travelled to their foster homes they just shook with fear. Everything around them was new, it was big and it was scary. If only we could read their minds to see what they were thinking. Did they fear that their lives had come to an end? Did they not understand this journey was to a better place? Warm hands and large hearts couldn’t make them understand that all they were going to get now was love. Good food, a warm soft bed and lots and lots of love.
Kitty and the little Shih Tzu, who became known as Peggy, were stuck together like glue. Taking comfort from each other. They were both going to the same fosterer. Their fosterer had a Bichon who too had come from a puppy farm. She knew how fragile they would both be and that it would take a lot of time and patience for them to relax and realise that what had just happened to them was a good thing.
A month had now passed and Kitty was doing well. She was still very nervous but she enjoyed being with Peggy and the foster Mum’s dog. It was going to take a lot of time but Kitty would get there and then she could enjoy her new life.
Good news came that someone wanted to adopt Kitty. Meetings took place and everything seemed well. It was agreed the couple could adopt Kitty. Out of the blue they arrived to collect her. It hadn’t been arranged but her fosterer said they could take her so long as they bought her a harness as she was still so nervous. They said they would call and get one on the way home.
It was an ordinary day when the call came. Kitty had gone missing. It was only two days after her new parents had collected her. The adoption papers still not signed. She had been for a lovely walk with her new Dad in the park whilst they waited for her Mum to come out of the doctor’s surgery. She had been put in the car, her lead tied to the headrest whilst he got her a drink of water. But she wasn’t in a harness. She wriggled free of her collar and as soon as the car door had been opened she ran free. She ran and she ran. Emails began flying backwards and forwards, telephones ringing off the hook. People gathered to go searching for her. Day after day went by. She was seen but she was so frightened people couldn’t get near her. A week passed. More sightings. Still no way of getting nearer to her. She just ran in fear.
It was Tuesday 1st September and I had been sitting on my PC trying to do all I could to let people know Kitty needed help. By mistake we hadn’t been told when she first went missing. Our email only arrived late the night before. I felt pretty useless and I feared for Kitty. Then it came. The email that shook the lives of all those people who had been involved with Kitty or had known her story. A dog had been killed on the A2. Two volunteers bravely went onto the road to pick the little dog up. Was it Kitty? Sitting in front of the screen waiting for news was horrendous. Tick, tock the clock didn’t stop. It was an hour before I knew. She’d gone. The tears fell like rain, I felt numb except for my heart felt heavy. Poor sweet Kitty.
This little girl would not die in vain. She was so brave. She was so sweet. She’d lived a life of hell in that small, dirty space she called home for years only knowing a warm bed and what love felt like for a month.
A couple of donations arrived “in memory of Kitty” they said. It gave me an idea. Once again the emails went flying backwards and forwards. Then the idea was agreed. We were going to create a fund in her memory. And so Kitty’s Wish was formed with the objective that all money donated to it would only be used to help ex puppy farm dogs - whatever their needs might be. Why the name? If Kitty could have spoken I think she would have said “I wish I hadn’t had to live in that squalor”, “I wish I hadn’t been made to have so many puppies”, “I wish all my friends had been saved that day”, “I wish that all puppy farms were closed down” but above all I think she would have said “I wish I’d been loved and been allowed to love for longer. Love is nice. All dogs should know what love is”.
Kitty is now
running free. Her ashes were scattered near a beautiful Loch in Scotland by
one of the wonderful ladies connected with her rescued. Rest in peace sweet
Kitty.
Kitty in the puppy farm with her three pups In her fosterer's garden
ABOUT KITTY'S WISH
It is VITAL that we remember not just Kitty but all the Kitty’s stuck in the puppy farm hell holes and there are probably hundreds in the UK alone. We cannot let Kitty’s life be forgotten, what she suffered, what she went thought, all in silence with no one to hear her. We cannot let her life be wasted and forgotten about. There is value in Kitty’s short sad life.
So we are now officially launching Kitty’s Wish. All the money donated to Kitty’s new fund will only be used for dogs rescued from puppy farms. It will not be donated elsewhere nor will it be used for any other purpose other than helping these poor dogs. A separate bank account has been set up so no errors can be made. If an ex puppy farm Bichon is in need and we have the money available we will help. Payment for any treatment will be made directly to the vet treating the dog so again money cannot be used for any other purpose.
We know that times are hard. We understand that so many things and people/organisations are pulling at your purse strings but even if you give us an extra pound when you renew your membership or purchase goods from us it really will make a difference.
To make a donation to Kitty's Wish please click the PayPal link below:-
Whenever we make a donation using money from Kitty's Wish it will be published on our Donations page.
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REST IN PEACE SWEET KITTY 1st September 2009
Where are we going? Rising high in the sky
My past was
too painful too much to endure
All my love Kitty. |
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