CUSTOM CAT CARE FROM SLEEP-EAS-ZZ…

In June , we learned about Ashes and how life changed for him and his family when pet allergies became a problem. Now, we will hear how Carlie and Keith responded.

With Ashes obviously struggling to adapt to the new circumstances of Grace’s pet allergies, we had to take action. We immediately took Ashes to his veterinarian. As we expected, Ashes was diagnosed with stress-induced colitis. We consulted with the veterinarian and with one of the volunteers at the Safe Haven (local no-kill shelter), regarding re-homing. They both agreed that Ashes was no longer happy in the environment that we were now providing him and that we really needed to make considering our options for his life a priority.

Keith and I made the very difficult decision to find Ashes a new loving home (we did not want to put him in a shelter or euthanize him). He was not happy in our home anymore and it was not fair to keep him there – we just wanted what was best for him. Grace still had not shown any significant improvements in her symptoms so we could not eliminate any of our new dander reducing rules for Ashes. Conversely, we could not continue to keep dosing our child with daily steroids and antihistamines, as we were not comfortable with this approach.

Our veterinarian and the Safe Haven volunteer both suggested that reaching out to friends and family would be the best option for re-homing Ashes. However, Ashes was a mature cat and we learned that successful re homing for a mature cat was near impossible. We first contacted Ashes’ wonderful pet sitters; Neil and Mardella Berg, owners of A-1-Pet Care from SleepEas…zZ. They loved Ashes dearly and we hoped that their networking contacts in the pet sitting world would potentially provide us additional re-homing assistance or a new loving home for Ashes. Our efforts also included all of our friends, family and coworkers, extending from the USA to Canada (we are from there originally). We asked everyone to forward to all potential animal/cat lovers.

We received many sympathetic replies AS we had expected. Within hours, we heard from Mardella and by the next day, she had potentially found a home for Ashes. I spoke at length with the possible cat mommy, Ellen. She came to our home to meet and interact with Ashes and I visited her home where Ashes would be living. I also spoke with Ellen’s pet sitter, Ron, which she was currently using. (Ellen was currently a cat mom to a mature female cat). We felt almost instantly that this was where Ashes was meant to live the rest of his life.

Ashes has been with his new cat mommy, Ellen, and sister, Bonnie, now for several months and has settled in quite well. Initially, I communicated on the phone and via email with Ellen daily until I felt he was going to be okay. She has encouraged me to contact her at any time (phone, email or visits) and has promised me that if she were to ever feel that Ashes was not working out in her home she would call me. I have also spoken with the Ashes’ new cat sitter who has had a chance to spend some time in the home with Ashes and Bonnie. I do continue to receive updates from Mardella when she hears from the new pet sitter – she and Neil dearly loved Ashes and took such great care of him.  In fact, the home Ashes was placed in was actually one of their competitor’s clients. Everyone has been so wonderfully supportive of my concerns and feelings and have made Ashes’ happiness their first concern.

Thankfully, Mardella & Neil were able to find a wonderful cat mom for Ashes. Our hearts are broken but we do find comfort and peace that Ashes will be living in a safe, loving and happy environment again. Sadly, Ashes will no longer have Mardella and Neil as petsitters; they loved and cared for Ashes as much as we did.  This is our story and one of the hardest moments that our family has experienced.”  Carlie, Ashes’ 1^st Mommy.

“Thanks Mardella and Neil for your constant assistance and support, we so appreciate you both more than you will ever know. We feel very blessed to have had you in our lives. “ Carlie, Keith & Grace

If you were wondering, Ashes’ new parent has given us an update…

“Hello Mardella,

I just wanted to make sure you and Neil know how blessed I am to have Ashes in my life, and I believe he and Bonnie love each other.  I told Ashes’ first Mom that he is smothered with love.  Ron has been very pleased at how well he and Bonnie have adjusted to each other.

Mardella, he really is very loving. At times, he will jump on my lap and just curl up. Ashes is very smart. He knows that Bonnie is fed in the utility room while he is fed in the family room.  I am gradually introducing them to a dry food I bought called Evo. The young man who sold it to me gives it to his feline children. It is grain free. It was meant to be for me to have Ashes is my life. —Ellen, Carlie, Ashes and Bonnie”

We hope you enjoyed this true story about a wonderful cat named Ashes and his loving family’s struggle with pet allergies, heartache, & eventual relief & joy.  This story is not unique to Ashes.  If you, or someone you know, is struggling with a new found, extremely potent, pet allergy and find yourself (and your pet) in a similar situation, please know that there are people in & around your community that truly care.  For example, Neil & Mardella Berg, owners/operators of A1 Pet Care by Sleep…EaszZ – pet sitters who care about their pets!

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