A kitten-S.O.S at midnight

Yesterday evening, I was in Klang to give a public talk.  I do not have blackberries or internet facilities on my phone, so I have no access to emails whenever I am not in front of a computer. 

When I reached home at almost 11pm, I found three emails from a young lady named Jess. 

Jess was desperately in need of a fosterer for a kitten she had just rescued. 

Here’s her first email:

Dear Dr.Chan,

Just now (around 5.30pm) my car broke down & I had to take taxi to the car shop at Taman Bukit Teratai, Cheras. I heard a kitten crying, so I look under a car but it was no where to be seen, but I still hear it crying. I then found out that the kitten had hide inside the car’s bonnet. I search for the car’s owner to open the car bonnet & with the help of bystanders, we manage to get the kitten out. It was about 1 month old, but I wasn’t sure about his gender. The car’s owner is a malay lady, I ask her whether she would like to take the kitten, but she said NO & she doesn’t seem like a cat lover.

I really couldn’t foster the kitten, cos previously I foster a stray kitten & was scolded by my Mom. I had SEVEN cats under my care, and 2 of them are currently sick. My parents are on vacation & they will be back tomorrow (16/4/2011) morning! I’m desperate to help the kitten find a place to foster it. I really need your help! I HOPE I CAN SEND IT TO THE FOSTER PLACE BY TONIGHT! Pleaseeee…..if my Mom come back & see the kitten, she will send it to SPCA!!!

Anxiously waiting for your reply, thanks!

Jess

Poor Jess, she was so desperate, and there I was, in Klang, totally oblivious of the three emails sitting in my mailbox which needed immediate attention.

Luckily I checked my mailbox upon reaching home, and I responded immediately. 

Jess said she had already found someone in Semenyih (from a pet forum) who had agreed to help her foster the kitten and was waiting to take the kitten there as soon as the person gave the green light. Jess had her GPS all ready too.   

But Jess lives in Ampang and is a young lady.  It was almost midnight and I thought it would be really unsafe for a young lady to drive all alone from Ampang to Semenyih.

It was past midnight when I finally got to speak to Jess on the phone.  The lady from Semenyih still had not called.  I told Jess she should not drive all alone to Semenyih at that unearthly hour.  It is just not safe.  But Jess was terrified that her parents would scold her for bringing in a kitten.

Finally, I told Jess to send the kitten to me first thing this morning, even as early as 6am, since she had to fetch her parents from the station.  I would help her foster the kitten until the lady from Semenyih gives the green light.

Jess said she would see how things go.  I kept my phone on all night and told Jess she could call anytime should she need help. 

This morning, there was no sms from Jess.  That really made me worry.   

Finally, Jess replied. 

All seems to be well for now.

Jess sent the kitten over to a friend’s house last night and will arrange to drive the kitten to Semenyih later this morning.