We made a very hard decision today. :(

Bear went back to the Humane Society where we got him today. I am so sad, but they can care for him better there than I was here. They have on staff medical care and cages in isolation. I have children, other cats, and a dog and I had to think of them too. Blue and Rex were reinfected and my dog is having runny poos too. My older son has been having tummy issues for a few days now too. I called the Humane Society (it is a no kill shelter) and they apologized for all we had gone through and asked me to bring him back. Their goal is to make him well again (since he was obviously sick when I got him) and then contact me for re-adoption.

When they saw him and evaluated him, the tech told me that I needed to be prepared because he may not ever get better - and they will euthanize an animal who can not recover.

I am used to having less than "perfect" animals - Blue is hyperthyroid and Rosco has been on allergy shots and meds all his life. When Sissy ate a lily stem, we pulled out all the stops and did what it took to save her life (she lived another 5 years! ) It is not the "dealing with giardia" that made this decision for us - it was how sick Bear is and how he is not getting better and I can't seem to keep everyone going at one time and everyone uninfected and homeschool my kids and continue to pay $1100 in two weeks to care for him (and the awful way it almost killed Blue). I am truly terrified for Bear - he has gone through this so hard and for so long now that I am worried the vet tech may end up being right.

My is broken. I have cried all day. I just wanted to share this news with you all since you were all so kind to help me when I needed it most.

I'm so sorry. So sorry.


I hope they can make him well. You did the best you could for him. And it sounds like he'll get good care there. Sometimes, it just doesn't work out, no matter how much we try and want it to.


Robin

I am so sorry that you faced this decision - but you clearly loved Bear and are giving him the best possible chance - and release from pain if healing can't be found. Prayers for you all.

Thank you both for the support. I was terrified to post about this because I just feel like a terrible cat owner now! I feel like I should have done more, sacrificed more, waited longer...but it had been almost 3 weeks on treatment with absolutely NO improvement...if anything, worsening symptoms. My other animals recovered and then relapsed. My kids are in danger of getting this parasite too! My husband was supportive of getting the cats (Rex and Bear). He has had animals that were his before and we have spared no expense to treat them. When Sissy got sick and later died, we spared no expense. When Rosco spent two years being treated for staph and later diagnosed with allergies and started allergy shots...we spared no expense. But we just can't do it like this - for a kitten right off the bat that we didn't even get to have and love first. I couldnt' bear it if Blue died because of something *I* brought in with Bear. No matter how many times I rationalize it, I just can't stop feeling like a heel.

I'm so sorry. But he is really sick, and they have vets there that can work with him. Now that he's there with them, hopefully they'll be able to get him better again.

Very difficult decision you had to make and I am so sorry for that. You love Bear and they WILL get him better. You did everything right, and Bear knows that too. Hopefully they will get him feeling better soon.

There are so many different bacterial loads that kittens can get- some they just don't recover from. You gave him the best chance, you put him back into someone's capable hands to see if they could find out what is wrong with him and if they could make him better. Don't beat yourself up- others wouldn't have been so thoughtful about what to do with him.

You did what was best for Bear, your kids and your other animals; it was a selfless thing you did, putting your pain aside like this. Don't beat yourself up.

The right choices are the hardest to make. I'm so sorry, I can imagine it was a really difficult decision - but what is probably best for Bear. I hope that it won't be long before you're letting us know he's healthy and he'll be coming home!

for Bear, and for all of you.

I'm so sorry to read this, but you made a selfless decision. Praying they'll be able to help him.

What a great group you are here. Thank you so much for all the support and kind words at such a hard time. I am thankful to have found you all. Today was my and dh's 8 year anniversary and he spent the evening hugging me while I sobbed.

I hope Bear will get well and be coming home soon...but I am afraid to hope too much because of how sick he was and what the vet tech said. I am scared to get my hopes up (but I am hoping and praying!)

Just sending hugs and vibes for all of you, including Bear.

Aww, poor Bear and poor YOU. As you and everyone else said, it wasn't an easy decision. Now, if you said it WERE an easy decision to bring him back, than I would wonder.... But we all know that you tried everything you could to get Bear well again, at the expense of getting your other pets sick along the way. I know you're afraid to get your hopes up, but I will keep you and Bear in my thoughts and hope for the best.

Thank you all! I am humbled.

You went above and beyond what you really owed Bear, and we can hope it still works out OK.

But one thing I had to learn at the shelter is that you can't save them all. Even "no kill" shelters euthanize animals on a daily basis, and it's because there is not always a viable solution.

Still sending up prayers for Bear and you all!

God bless you for doing so much for this little one.

One of the toughest decisions to make is when we realise that thier best chance might not be with us anymore. I can't imagine how much it must have hurt, but you went above and beyond for Bear and when you knew he would have a better chance in another's care, you made that call for him.

I'll keep both of you in my thoughts.

So sorry! Our prayers are with you and bear!