Our Narrow Escape from New York City

Paprika July 1, 2012 in NYC Shelter

PEACHES & PAPRIKA FOUND ON INTERNET SEARCH!

This past week  I thought I’d indulge my never ending curiosity for “where did my cats live before I met them?

 I had checked online before but now I remembered that Paprika was named "Tigger" in her "other life."

Peaches at NYC Shelter

So I typed Peaches & TIGGER into Google, waited, and  
then….suddenly Peaches’ face flashed across my IPAD, taking up the whole screen. 

I was shocked & gasped. Then Paprika’s face, her eyes huge with fright showed up next on my screen.. 

Pets on Death Row - Urgent Death Row Cats ...
https://esla.facebook.com/PetsOnDeathRow/photos/a.../465505273461310/

Paprika, terrified in NYC

The photos were excerpted from Facebook's "Pets on Death Row" page a page I had not knew existed.  

The posts took place between July 1 and July 7, 2012 They were written (& SHARED 177 times!) by 50+ volunteers at a NYC  kill shelter all about MY CATS!  

This brought chills to my heart but I could not stop reading.    Here is the first post I read: 

Somebody.. PLEASE SAVE PEACHES AND TIGGER Together!!! Need Safe, Loving Home!! 2 de julio de 2012 a la(s) 23:11 · 1 .

EBC: Peaches is just beautiful!! Please don't let her die. Please, someone in the NY area, give her a second chance!!!  7/1/12  8:43 PM           

LKC: Please welcome Peaches into your heart tonight & share her widely so she can find someone to welcome her into their home.  7/2/12   1:35AM

Peaches at the animal shelter

TO BE DESTROYED 7/2/12

JR: “Peaches was so starving for attention it was very sad to see. It could of been because she was missing her housemate Tigger."  7/1/12 6:30PM

MLV: PEACHES IS SCHEDULED to be KILLED TOMORROW MORNING!! There are 31 cats on death row!

MT: Please, someone help these beautiful girls. It can be hard to find 2 cats who love each other and these girls are the full package. Don't let her die.  7/2/12   2:46AM

Paprika looking terrified at the animal shelter

PMS: TIGGER is a real little beauty who is playful and friendly - quite a little stunner!  Adopt/Foster?  7/6/12 9:10pm

July 9, 2012 at 10:43pm

PA: Yay!!! Tigger is SAFE!!!! :):):)  PEACHES IS SAFE!

MY CATS... SAFE AT LAST

Peaches on top window at Marys Kitty Korner

Finally, they were both SAFE!   A wonderful angel-lady named Joann who performs last minute miracles rescued my kitties, fostered them till they recovered from COLDS they'd gotten at the shelter, then found them a home in Marys Kitty Korner, a large white house & no kill shelter in Granby CT. That is where I met them. 

But before going to that big white house I saw Peaches’ picture in Petfinder and fell in love.  And I went there to Granby to the white house and took them both home.

When I saw the poignant posts about them both 3 years later (!) I wrote to a few of the more fervent posters to tell them their energy was not wasted: Peaches and Tigger/Paprika were safe and sound.

Many wrote me back, delighted!   Thank you again you wonderful dedicated volunteers!

I don’t think much about my kitties' past (although I couldn't help but be curious)  but often I see a far away look in Paprika’s eyes and I wonder if she is remembering the cold cement floor, the cage, the fright. 

I will never know these things. But I gather my kitties tight about me, just the same.  And I savor their purrs, their whiskers, their sweet dispositions all the more.