From Feral to Hero!!!

clixpix

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A quick synopsis for those of you who don't know Briar. He was one of three feral kittens that I trapped last October, socialized, and placed in new homes. They're actually the reason I came to this site. Anyway, Briar was the last kitten I placed. It was difficult for me to let him go, but my elderly cat wouldn't have been up to the task of dealing with a (large!) kitten. In December I placed him with one of the OB residents I work with...she and her husband had just had to put down their cat (elderly, and had mouth cancer). They adore Briar (now named Hercules, but he's always Briar to me!), and he seems to feel the same. He's about 6 or 7 months old now.

Today at work, Kim (Briar's meowmy) told me this story:

Because Briar's a handful at night, and they...well they like their sleep...they close their bedroom door, and he has the run of the house. Late last night (Thursday), Briar was scratching at their door, and literally throwing himself at it...thump!...thump! Finally Kim's husband gets up to see what's going on. When he opens the bedroom door, he discovers that the house is filled with smoke...their chimney was on fire! They called 911, and the firemen who responded put out the fire. They were told that it would not have taken long before they would have been overcome by carbon monoxide, and that chimney fires are the most dangerous...they can engulf an entire house in flames within 3 minutes! Briar quite literally saved their lives!

He was apparently rewarded with many, many treats, and has regained "bedroom rights".
When Kim left for work this morning, Briar was under the covers, sleeping with her husband.


I had always regretted having to give Briar up, have missed him terribly, and dream of him often. Although I'll still miss him, I no longer have any regrets. He was where he was supposed to be...where he was needed the most!
I could not be prouder of my smart, brave boy!


Here are a couple of pics of the newly minted hero, when he was still with me...isn't he beautiful, as well as brave?
:



 

esrgirl

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That is awesome! What a wonderful kitty. That is definately a neat story. I'm so glad they were able to get out ok. My dad and grandpa were both fire fighters and have said that some animals really have saved their 'parents'. You should send that story to the ASPCA, they have a nifty adoption success story thing that they do in their weekly emails.
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by esrgirl

That is awesome! What a wonderful kitty. That is definately a neat story. I'm so glad they were able to get out ok. My dad and grandpa were both fire fighters and have said that some animals really have saved their 'parents'. You should send that story to the ASPCA, they have a nifty adoption success story thing that they do in their weekly emails.
I kept telling her that she needed to call the news stations, or Animal Planet. Think of all the "good press" for ferals!
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by yayi

Briar aka Hercules deserves a medal!
Yes he does! What a big, brave boy!
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

How wonderful! What a clever boy. Doesn't Fate work in mysterious ways?
Mysterious ways indeed! I've thought about it all day.

What if my co-worker's neighbors hadn't decided to feed ferals (a different co-worker, not Briar's meowmy)? What if that co-worker hadn't approached me about the kittens, which led to me trapping & socializing them? What if they hadn't taken the kitten? What if I would have kept him, like I wanted to? Here's what would have happened:

Parents would have lost a daughter.
Parents would have lost a son.
Many would have lost a friend (or two)
Many would have lost a co-worker
Families would have lost a brother, sister, niece, nephew...you get the idea
The world would have lost an excellent doctor

The world would have been a poorer place indeed...all for the want of the right kitten at the right time. Fate, the Universe, God, or whoever, or whatever you believe, was definitely on the job on this one!
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by sandra

What a phenomenal little boy
!!
Indeed he is!

But then again, I've always thought so!
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by Negs

Thats is an amazing story and he is a beautiful kitten!!!
Thank you...he is quite a beauty!
 

berylayn

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awwwwwwww, that is such a great story! I followed your thread when you had Briar and the two other ferals with you. Sounds like Briar (Hercules) is growing up and doing great things!!


 

catsknowme

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WOW!!
Clixpix, the good you started when you rescued Briar/Hercules really grew!! That is an awesome story, I can scarcely wait to share it with my family & friends. Yes, I hope that it makes the media - it will be great PR for ferals, and oh, boy, the goodness could keep on growin' & goin". Bless you, your cats & friends & keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by clixpix

A quick synopsis for those of you who don't know Briar. He was one of three feral kittens that I trapped last October, socialized, and placed in new homes. They're actually the reason I came to this site. Anyway, Briar was the last kitten I placed. It was difficult for me to let him go, but my elderly cat wouldn't have been up to the task of dealing with a (large!) kitten. In December I placed him with one of the OB residents I work with...she and her husband had just had to put down their cat (elderly, and had mouth cancer). They adore Briar (now named Hercules, but he's always Briar to me!), and he seems to feel the same. He's about 6 or 7 months old now.

Today at work, Kim (Briar's meowmy) told me this story:

Because Briar's a handful at night, and they...well they like their sleep...they close their bedroom door, and he has the run of the house. Late last night (Thursday), Briar was scratching at their door, and literally throwing himself at it...thump!...thump! Finally Kim's husband gets up to see what's going on. When he opens the bedroom door, he discovers that the house is filled with smoke...their chimney was on fire! They called 911, and the firemen who responded put out the fire. They were told that it would not have taken long before they would have been overcome by carbon monoxide, and that chimney fires are the most dangerous...they can engulf an entire house in flames within 3 minutes! Briar quite literally saved their lives!

He was apparently rewarded with many, many treats, and has regained "bedroom rights".
When Kim left for work this morning, Briar was under the covers, sleeping with her husband.


I had always regretted having to give Briar up, have missed him terribly, and dream of him often. Although I'll still miss him, I no longer have any regrets. He was where he was supposed to be...where he was needed the most!
I could not be prouder of my smart, brave boy!


Here are a couple of pics of the newly minted hero, when he was still with me...isn't he beautiful, as well as brave?
:



 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by babygirl

Wow, I'm so proud of him...what an amazing story.

btw, where's your siggy?
Tina, I'm so, so proud of him too! I've told that story to anyone who'll listen.


I was having siggy problems...I made it the correct size, but I swear to God it kept growing! I'd resize it, and the same thing would happen. I kept getting "reported" by someone who apparently goes around checking siggies. I finally just took the whole thing off. At some point I'll make a new one that is well under the legal limit.
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

He is beautiful and what an amazing story!!
Thanks Sam. Even before this, he was the cat who held my heart...you know...the one you just have that special connection with? But apparently he was needed elsewhere! I'm so glad he was where he was supposed to be! They love him to bits anyway, and he's a happy kitty, so I try not to miss him too much.
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by berylayn

awwwwwwww, that is such a great story! I followed your thread when you had Briar and the two other ferals with you. Sounds like Briar (Hercules) is growing up and doing great things!!


Hah! Someone finally found a use for the fireman smilie!


Yeah, Beryl, he really is turning out to be quite a wonderful cat! He would have been worth all the effort if he had settled for being merely decorative! Apparently he's quite the social butterfly as well...they had a big party a few weeks ago, and he barrelled right out & joined in the fun! That would have been a happy enough ending for me...but this latest thing just exceeds anything I could have expected from him!
 
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clixpix

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Originally Posted by catsknowme

WOW!!
Clixpix, the good you started when you rescued Briar/Hercules really grew!! That is an awesome story, I can scarcely wait to share it with my family & friends. Yes, I hope that it makes the media - it will be great PR for ferals, and oh, boy, the goodness could keep on growin' & goin". Bless you, your cats & friends & keep up the good work.
Thanks so much! Honestly, I really was happy and satisfied enough that they all turned out so healthy & well adjusted! This just sends it over the top for me...I could not feel more rewarded! To see the face of my co-worker every day, when it could have ended so differently...what more could I ask for? I also get almost daily updates on all three (all were placed with co-workers...lucky me!), and they exceed my expectations!

Can you tell I'm just bursting with pride?
 
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