Everykitty has a friend in Robin, the woman behind the blog Covered in Cat Hair, and who runs a rescue called Kitten Associates. She is responsible for saving many kitties from dying at Georgia kill shelters. With her network of friends and fosters in the area (one of them being Bobbie of Cats~Goats~Quotes), she pulls the kitties, makes sure they are cared for and gets them transported up north to a better life. Robin also has eight of her own cats, not counting the kittens and mom she is currently fostering (several of whom are currently battling URIs), plus gorgeous orange boy MacGruber. Oh yeah, and there’s also her fiancé Sam, who is as big a sucker for kitties as Robin is (he is already smitten by MacGruber). So Robin has a very complicated household at any given time; throw in a cat with a serious illness and things threaten to spiral out of control. Especially when that cat is very special.
Bob Dole is a handsome orange mancat of indeterminate age. He showed up at Robin’s mother’s doorstep sometime in 1998, already full grown and with a front leg injury (not unlike his namesake). Eight years later, Robin took in Bob after her mother died. Bob had not had the best care for most of his life — he went unneutered for years until Robin insisted he be fixed, and he had spent his life eating less-than-nutritious kibble and cheap canned food. By the time he landed at Robin’s, he was FIV+ and not in the best of health. With Robin’s care and a better diet, Bob’s health improved. But after so many years of outdoor living and his FIV+ status, medical issues were bound to show up. The latest problems have Bob fighting for his life.
In December, a cancerous mass was removed from Bob’s liver and he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and it looks like it is helping him. What it is not helping is Robin’s pocketbook. Before she knew it, the bills had added up to thousands of dollars — money she did not have after several rough years of few jobs and slow-paying clients. Not that this mattered — Bob needed help and Robin was not going to give up on him. But it has left her and Sam in a bind.
What I love about the cat blogging community is that we look out for our own, and as Robin has helped so many cats, now she needs some help from us. Reluctantly, and only at the urging of friends, she has added a ChipIn widget to her blog. Since I don’t have anyone I am raising funds for this month, I’ve added Robin’s widget to my righthand sidebar too. This is not a tax-deductable donation — it’s a personal one, to help out one who has helped many. If you are visiting my blog and have a few dollars to spare, do help Robin — and Bob — out. It’s the least we can do. Thanks!
See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
You are a very sweet kitty to offer help to so many, Sparkle.
That’s a real decent act of solidarity, Sparkle.
Wait, help us unnerstand this. We thought if ya got a kitty from a shelter ya wern’t allow to give it elsewhere…
There are rescues that save cats from these animal control facilities, usually city or country run, and then adopt them out. In fact, a great number of rescues get their adoptable kitties from ACCs that would otherwise kill them.
We’re sending lots of purrs to Bob and Mom Robin; we understand about thousands of dollars in vet bills. It’s wonderful of you to add the chipin widget, Sparkle!
We are sending big rumbly healing purrs for Bob and his mom.
We love how Robin helps all the kitties! We are sending big purrs to her and to Bob.
Did you know that we got Sister Dolly due to a tweet we saw from Robin? Yep, it was a re-tweet of Robin’s tweet by Kat5Rescue. Robin does amazing things.
Robin sounds like a real true friend to kitties – we are sending purrs and kisses to her and of course to Bob.
What a very kind thing to do pal. We know all about big vet bills and how tough it is to pay for them. I’ll go over now and give a few dollars anyway. Every little bit helps.
Robin is a wonderful person helping so many kitties that need homes. We have already donated and we just put the same chip in widget on our sidebar. But this is a terrific post about Robin and Bob. We are so glad you did this. Have a super week.
Thanks for letting us know, Sparkle.
By the way, a blogging friend of ours in Singapore had an elderly kitty who developed lymphoma and her vet recommended using LINGZHI which is an Asiatic mushroom. The cat is now cured of lymphoma.
Purring for Bob and his humans. You are a good friend Sparkle.
We are purraying for Bob. Thanks for letting us know about him, sweet Sparkle.
xxxxxx
You are a very nice cat Sparkle
We have been following Bob’s story and we are purraying that he pulls through this.
Oh Sparkle (and Ms Janiss), you are so kind to tell everyone about Bob! We really appreciate all the help we can get since Bob has only just gotten his first dose of Chemo-I know there will be too many more Vet bills to come. And you’re right, it’s been tough for us, but we’re doing the best we can.
I spent the better part of the weekend crying, not because I was sad, but because I was SO STUNNED at how many people have stepped forward to help us in our darkest hours. I feel unworthy and grateful and blessed and loved. I am much better at helping others than getting help. This is not a natural position for me, but I’d do anything for Bob.
Thank you very much for your support, kind words & help.
All my best to everyone,
Robin Olson
http://www.coveredincathair.com
That is wonderful about Robin! We are purring hard for Bob.
Best of luck to sweet Bob; we will go right over and donate asap…Thanks for telling us about Bob=we will purr for his complete recovery…kisses, sweet friends…Calle, Halle, Sukki
“Pawing it forward” is the way to go………kudos!
Purring for Bob, and I’m on my way to tweet straight away, Sparkle
Thank you for these : )
xxx
Puddy
Robin is an angel…thank you for helping, Sparkle.
Robin is a ANGEL and we were so moved Sparkle by Bob Dole, we did our own chipin…we hope that Robin can reach her goal with Bob and more than anything we hope things improve and thank you for letting us know.
purrin’
xoxox
We’re sorry to hear what Robin and Bob are going through and we’re sending lots of purrs that Bob gets well soon. Thanks for letting us know about them and we hope they lots of help!
You sure are special Sparkle. Thanks for all you do to help other kitties.