My predecessor Sparkle was very much involved in cat rescue. She felt that as a pedigreed cat, she had an even bigger responsibility than most to support shelter cats and adoption. She spread the word often about cats who were desperate. During the early years she was active in online cat rescue, it was important to spread the word about these cats. Rescues didn’t have the resources and weren’t as social media savvy back then, so it was up to cat bloggers to step in and fill the gap. Here is one story of a black cat in Georgia, back in June of 2010, who might have died if the blogging kitties hadn’t stepped in and spread the word about her.
How could you turn away from this face? Sparkle heard about her from a friend of my human’s, Robin from Covered in Cat Hair. Even though she lives in Connecticut, she helps kitties in Georgia (yes, still to this day), and she first posted about her. This young black cat was a lactating mom, but whoever brought her to the Henry County Animal Care and Control in McDonough, GA said they could find no kittens.
This kitty was such a sweetheart, she was making happy paws, not realizing she was on death row. Robin couldn’t help this girl, but she begged somebody to step in and do something. Sparkle knew she had to help, so she shared her on Facebook and blogged about her. The date on the blog post was June 29. This cat was scheduled to be euthanized at the end of the day on June 30. The internet had less than 48 hours to save her.
The word spread about the black kitty like things only can on social media. But for quite a few hours, no one actually stepped up for her. Someone from a blog some of you longtimers remember called Cats Goats and Quotes offered to pick her up — but she couldn’t keep her. (She already had 10 cats.) Just when it started looking hopeless, someone at a Little Rock, AR rescue, Feline Rescue and Rehome, found out about her. The kitty looked just like a cat that had belonged one of their volunteers, and had recently died. So the rescue started coordinating to get the cat to their volunteer. The Cats Goats and Quotes human picked up the kitty and held her while the arrangements were being finalized to bring her to Arkansas.
Renamed Freya, the kitty had a happy ending that was nothing less than a miracle rescue. But the story didn’t end there. Another rescue that had been interested in Freya wound up rescuing a white kitty that was also on death row. And one of the workers at the Georgia ACC offered to help Robin pull some kittens. Back in the early days of social media, there were many dramatic rescue stories. It’s a lot different now. More rescues know how to work social media, and more adopters look on the internet for their next cat. Rescue transports have become more sophisticated. We still have lots of work to do to become a no-kill nation, but we have made lots of progress.
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We love hearing about happy endings and this certainly was just that! Social media can truly be a powerful tool for helping animals in need . . . good job, Angel Sparkle 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
You know how much we love a good rescue story! And this one did not disappoint! Sparkle was one special kitty, that’s for sure.
Stories like this always give Mum hope. They made her realise a long time ago that sharing matters! It matters a lot!
That was a moving tale with such a happy ending! Rescues of any kind are always such miracles.
What a wonderful story!
We hope all the homeless kitties find forever homes.
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
We miss Cats. Goats and Quotes blog, but ate still connected with Moss Bobbi through Facebook. She is a very kind loving lady!
We love stories with happy ending concerning rescues.
We remember this story, Summer. And everything Sparkle did to help sweet Freya.
We are so glad progress has been made in many parts of our nation. Unfortunately that isn’t true in Mississippi. We are so glad Freya was saved, we actually remember that. And of course Freya looks like our sweet Yinny.
Great story, Sparkle helped so many have their happy endings.
A wonderful way to remember Sparkle and her legacy.
Oh, I do remember that sweetie and that was quite the teamwork going on. I don’t know if your human remembers, but it was because of Robin blogging about Dolly that Dolly became my Sister, otherwise we would have never known about her and she was right here in our city.
Thats a great story!
Great story, Summer!
Such an amazing story. We’ve come so far in rescuing animals via social media yet we still have so much further to go.
Always a good reminder to help out the shelter kitties and bring the news about needed rescues to everyone. Where there’s a will there’s a way! Purrs!
That was a great flashback story. It is so heartwarming to hear of a happy ending.
What a pawsome story and rescue! Humans complain about all the bad things in social media but when it’s working for our cat furrends, it’s pawsome.
what a pawsome rescue story and happy ending!
pip, smidgen, minnie, hollie, sharpie, ditto, TL
We liked that story and love happy endings.
We are happy that this resulted in the rescue of 2 cats 🙂
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
Clapping and purring with glee at this story’s ending
Hugs madi your bfff
A good story is always worth retelling, Summer!
Sparkle you are wonderful! xoxo
,Thank you so much for this story with a happy ending. Freya was a beauty and it pleases us that she and others were saved. That is also a gorgeous portrait of Sparkle. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy
I love the work sparkle accomplished…
We kind of remember that! Thank you so much for sharing this story of how Sparkle was an activist, and an amazing force for good. We sure do miss her.
That was a great story. Sparkle was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
What a beautiful touching story thankfully with a happy ending. Mom just got into fostering 5 months ago. There are already 5 of us permanent residents but mom and dad have big hearts and thankfully are able to take a few fosters ever so often. Thank you to all the pawsome folks that make a difference. Purrs, Mr. Chivers, Tabitha, Sir Morton, Lilly, and me of course Olivia Flurry (we are all rescues)
What a great story. The internet and social media have changed so many things. Sparkle did a good job helping to save Freya!
Sparkle. The thought of you made mom smile just now. Miss you sweet little girl. Thanks to her for her work to help. I recall some of it as Admiral started blogging just before that.
Sparkle was good at helping to rescue kitties. That is such a great story.
That is a great story. Sparkle must have felt so good about saving those kitties.
What a wonderful happy ending story – and we love those!
Hugs, Teddy