Kitten Crates Were Left Outside A Pet Store With A Heartbreaking Note
On a recent Sunday morning, Kristi Idnurm arrived at work to find a message waiting for her.
When Idnurm isn’t operating the rescue group Kristi’s Kats, Inc., three ripped pages of notebook paper were put on the front door of Pet Valu in Georgetown, Delaware.
She realized she needed to run out to the rear of the store after reading the message.
There she found several boxes and crates covered in blankets, waiting. There were 22 cats and kittens inside.
Idnurm told The Dodo, “It was quite a surprise to find that there were cats remaining outside the store.”
Unlike previous accounts of abandoned animals, these cats were obviously properly cared about. They were all healthy and litter box trained.
The message, along with the cats, was placed somewhere between Saturday, January 5, and early Sunday, January 6, and included some explanation.
“I’ve always loved cats and have rescued them for as long as I can remember,” the message said, “but this year has absolutely broken me.” Outback is all the infants I haven’t been able to place and for which I have run out of time.”
The cats were unmistakably a part of a broader, tragic narrative. “Please comprehend and read this before passing judgment,” the message said.
This guy, who had spent so much time rescuing stray animals, had just experienced an unexpected family tragedy. His or her son was involved in an automobile accident and required extensive medical attention.
An aunt was diagnosed with liver cancer and died as a result. The aunt’s funeral cost the nameless cat caregiver all of his or her funds.
The person was then given notice that he or she would be evicted from the place where they had been residing. Instead of packing, I spent the last few weeks before moving out trying to find homes for the cats.
The culprit also left the remaining $30 he or she had, along with the cats in the boxes and crates. The message stated, “I lost everything.”
Idnurm had to hustle to locate suitable locations for the cats. Kristi’s Kats was able to coordinate fosters for all of the kitties after numerous urgent texts to volunteers.
Idnurm added, “My volunteers arrived in force to wash carriers, fill litter bins, write lists, and answer inquiries.”
Town Cats of Ocean City in Maryland took some of the cats, while Coastal Cat Rescue in Bethany, Delaware took the others. While waiting to be adopted, some cats were placed in the homes of employees.
While leaving animals is never a good thing, perhaps the collective effort that brought these kitties’ joyful ending will send a ray of hope to the person who so badly abandoned them.
“It took a team effort to make sure they were safe.”