Uma vez por ano, na época do Natal, o gatil da VIVA abre as portas à comunidade. Esta é uma forma da angariar fundos e ao mesmo tempo mostrar o trabalho que por lá se faz durante o ano. Há bazar, rifas, leilão, comes e bebes e uma loja onde se podem comprar produtos de artesanato feitos por voluntários que doam os seus trabalhos para a associação. É um dia de muita animação, conversa e entra e sai, o que irónicamente deixa os gatitos um pouco confusos e desacomodados. Os dias que antecedem a Open House são sempre dias de muito trabalho o que nos faz, a nós que lá trabalhamos, chegar ao fim desta jornada mais mortos do que vivos. Mas o que importa é que no fim tudo vale, e o balanco é sempre muito positivo.
Hoje, Domingo, 5 de Dezembro, foi dito o dia... Amanhã todos nós, pessoas e gatos, voltamos às nossas rotinas habituais. Ufffffffffffffff...
Jo
The story starts as most cat adoptions stories start: I fall in love.
Mittens and Jojo are a pair of sisters who came to VIVA last February when they were, we think, about five months old. The first time I saw them, I instantly felt a special connection. Unfortunatley I couldn't adopt them, so my wish was that they soon would get a home and a family to love them, give them a happy life and keep them safe for many years to come.
Because they were such a cute pair of kittens, I started talking about them to my family back in Portugal. Every time we talked on the phone, I had something new to tell. And I think what happened was that on the other side of the world, my family also started to fall in love! Around that time, their cat passed away after living in the family for 18 happ years. Everbody was very sad, but because they are "cat people" like me, at some point they started thinking about adopting another cat. Although there were options in Portugal, the truth is that we were all already connected to these "little girls", still living at VIVA.
One day at work I received a call from my aunt and sister, saying that since I was going to visit in June, if I was willing to bring the cats with me, they were willing to adopt them. I was thrilled and immediatley started getting information about what would be required. I knew it was relatively easy because when I moved to the USA 5 years ago, I brought my cats with me: no problem. I contacted the Portuguese Consulate in San Francisco and the Portuguese Department of Food and Agriculture (Division of Animal Health) and with the information they gave me, I was able to start the process of getting the cats ready to travel with my husband and me. Pets travelling from the USA to Portugal (and to the majority of European countries) don't need to be quarantined; all they needed was rabies shots, microchips, a health certificate, and an Embassy-issue import permit.
On June 6th we left Lompoc (where we live), stayed in LA overnight, flew to Boston and then on to Portugal. The trip was smooth, "the girls" were always in the cabin with us and were wondreful travelers. They adjusted very well to their new home, new family and new life. And this story ends, as all adoptions should: Jojo (today Juju... the Portuguese version of Jojo) and Mittens (now Pink because of her cute pink nose) are loved, happy, and safe for the rest of their lives.
Jo
Este artigo foi publicado em Outubro 2010 na newsletter mensal (para ver ficheiro em PDF, clique aqui) da VIVA. Foi escrito por mim e conta a história das duas gatitas que em Junho último viajaram comigo e com o Husband, e que hoje vivem felizes com a minha família em Portugal.
Juju (esquerda) & Pink (direita)
Esta semana tive notícias do "meu" Cool Hand Luke (o gato que tinha mãos)!!!! (ler o "drama" aqui)Ele está bem, vive uma vidinha feliz, e agora dá pelo nome de Hemingway!
Jo
(ou, o gato que tinha mãos!)
(foto de Heather K.)
Cá está ele, o Cool Hand Luke todo na sua feição e ostentando as suas "mãozinhas", que o tornam (ainda mais) adorável e especial!!!
Esta foto foi-me enviada por mail, e gentilmente cedida pela Heather K. (sua autora), que foi a pessoa que trouxe o Luke para a VIVA. A Heather é uma dedicada voluntária da associação, lugar onde desenvolve um trabalho admirável. A sua dedicação e os seus conhecimentos são preciosos para os "nossos" gatinhos, assim também como para todos nós que com ela temos o prazer, e a sorte!, de privar e trabalhar.
Thanks Heather!
Jo
Here he is, Cool Hand Luke, showing off his little hands. They make him even more adorable and special than he already is!!
This photo was kindly sent to me by e-mail from Heather K. (its author) and the person who brought Luke to VIVA. Heather is a devoted VIVA volunteer, where she does an admirable work. Her knowledge and dedication are precious to "our cats, as well as to us who have the pleasure and luck to know her and work with her.
Thanks Heather!
Jo
Vôos Regulares
Academia do Bacalhau da Ilha Terceira
Escalas Obrigatórias (para ajudar, ou saber mais sobre as seguintes causas, clique nos links)
Gatos Abandonados (Monte Brasil)
VIVA - Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals
Refeições a Bordo