so so upset about kitty :(

[Cehrabehra]

We were told a year ago we could bring one small pet to china... we have planned and arranged and spent money and even just today I drove to the USDA to get an endorsed certificate... and now we are told we may not even be able to bring the cat in because of swine flu and we won''t find out until after we''re out of Oregon so what are we supposed to do?? I''m sure the rules will change again and we''ll be able to bring the cat at some later time but this is the cat that sleeps at my daughter''s head every night and whines for her to go to bed when he''s tired. Their bond is so strong and I don''t know what to do - after carefully arranging for homes for our other 3 pets (who are important but less important) I may now have to put the most important one in the pound - and the california pounds SUCK and the oregon one ROCKS but we won''t be in oregon when we find out - I don''t know what to do?!

 

[Haven]

Sara, I am so sorry. I really hope you can bring the kitty with you to China.
Can you start trying to find a friend to take him in just in case?

Did you adopt this kitty from a shelter? Most shelters accept owner surrenders only if they adopted the animal out in the first place, so you could potentially bring kitty back to the shelter from which you adopted him, in the worst case scenario.

 

[y2kitty]

This is so sad, my deepest sympathies. I was that little girl with the kitty sleeping at her head once, so I know how hard it will be for her.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I''ve tapped my ''will-take-a-pet'' friends out. I sent a dog and cat to GA last year and 2 cats to SF but the SF arrangement wasn''t working so my friend in GA took 1 more cat. Right now she has 3 dogs (one mine) and 3 cats (2 mine) - nobody wants to help and it''s sad.

The 3 cats were strays on our property. Mama cat moved in after she had them and we took 2 to the pound (adopted that day - yay!) and kept two of them... we didn''t set out to have 3 cats and honestly I never will again

I am so not the type to give away pets and the only way we could take this gig is if we had homes for them but now it''s like way too late to turn it down without ruining my husband''s career.

Just wish us luck something will turn up.

 

[packrat]

Aw I hope something gets figured out soon! Can someone you know in Oregon keep your kitty until you know for sure at least?

 

[Callisto]

Oh no! How terrible. Crazy idea, but what about an ad in the paper or something? That says you''re willing to pay for food and supplies for the cat until you can get approved to bring it to China. As an animal lover myself I read the pets classified section occasionally(though I would never buy a pet from the paper) and maybe someone will be able to help you. Are you part of a church? Maybe they could put something in the bulletin. Or what about your daughter''s class, any of her friends willing to convince sappy parents to take the cat in, especially since it''s just temporary?

 

[Circe]

Oh, Cehrabehra, I''m so sorry! If I''d had to leave my last cat behind, even being ambitious, I honestly don''t think I would have been able to take the job: that kitty was just too close to me. With my current cat, whom I love and feel responsible for but I don''t feel as "bonded" with ... I could maybe justify leaving her with a friend, but it would damn near kill me to have to do it. What an AWFUL situation.

I think Callisto''s idea is genius, in terms of looking for a temp person: I have a few hipster friends who petsit for spare cash and adventures who would definitely take a random kitty in for good karma and pocket change. If you were in NY I would make recommendations - where in CA will you be when this goes down?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I''m so sorry. I hope you find a way to work things out.

 

[yssie]

I''m so sorry, what a horrible situation

I really hope something works out.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I hate asking for favors - especially this big - and my first reaction whenever someone offers to help is to say no because it''s just too big of a favor. Ugh!!!

Keep the glows coming - we''re working on an alternative that would have me arrive 5 days before the rest of the family - but the hotels there don''t accept cats and now we hear there may be a 30 day quarantine where previously it was in-house.

I am so much more stressed now... and I already was. 8 days and the movers come!!!

 

[CJ2008]

I''m so sorry

Sara, if you''re on FB, how about announcing there? Word can spread fast.

I hope you find a solution.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Thanks, I did post it on FB but my friends come in two types - one has allergies in the family and thus keeps all pets out of the house - the others are all big animal lovers who are themselves overflowing. Except for my other BF who had them for 7 mos while we were in Ireland and she and I both lost our minds over it - she may be my age and a phd but she is not equipped to care for little things in her life.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Cehra, what about any family? Parents or siblings who could care for the cat for a few days? I''m so sorry. I will keep my fingers crossed that some solution is found.

 

[princesss]

Cehra, I''m so sorry to hear this. They really make you jump through hoops on this stuff.

If it is a 30 day quarrantine, that''s not that bad. See if you can find a quarrantine that allows visitors - when we moved to Singapore our dogs had to be in quarrantine for 30 days but we were allowed to visit. Is there somebody in HR in China that''s helping you out? Your DH''s office has probably dealt with these issues before - have him get those people on the phone. HR departments in companies that deal with expats usually have this stuff on file.

 

[daydreamer]

Oh, this is horrible. Where in CA will you be? In the bay area there are a number of no kill private rescue groups that take surrendered pets. If your job is temporary, you may even be able to get them to help you find a foster home for a couple years. You can find their names if you search craigslist, where they advertise adoptable cats.

http://www.homelesscatnetwork.com/
http://www.ninelivesfoundation.org/
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA1021.html
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/tcrescue.html

I hope you can take him with you.

 

[Cehrabehra]

DH is trying to get us into China 5 days earlier... that will work for that cat - but cross your fingers that his work will approve it!

 

[princesss]

Date: 12/8/2009 5:48:20 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
DH is trying to get us into China 5 days earlier... that will work for that cat - but cross your fingers that his work will approve it!

*crossing my fingers*

Int''l moves with pets are not easy, but it will make such a difference to your daughter. I got to take my dog with me when we moved to Thailand, and it made things so much easier for me. As an expat kid/TCK and an animal lover, I''m glad you''re fighting this battle as hard as you are.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Date: 12/8/2009 5:52:12 PM
Author: princesss

Date: 12/8/2009 5:48:20 PM

Author: Cehrabehra

DH is trying to get us into China 5 days earlier... that will work for that cat - but cross your fingers that his work will approve it!

*crossing my fingers*


Int''l moves with pets are not easy, but it will make such a difference to your daughter. I got to take my dog with me when we moved to Thailand, and it made things so much easier for me. As an expat kid/TCK and an animal lover, I''m glad you''re fighting this battle as hard as you are.

well it''s for me too - I love all of my pets and I miss the ones that are not here really bad! The thought of having NONE for 2 years royally blows!!! I need my fuzzy fix!! Its funny because I''m actually allergic to cats. Some more than others - and as much as I wish I could cuddle on the bed wtih them, my bedroom is totally off limits! But I think Joey will get a real kick out of having that huge townhouse to lord over.

Just taking him to the pound really isn''t an option. I would stay behind or *something* I don''t know what - but my adamant stance is hard on my husband as this is his career and so much is at stake taking this assignment.