I did my first transport this morning. Five hours up and back, 231 miles round trip, two states, half a tank of gas, a few tolls, and one beautiful, sweet, sleeping kitty named Khingee on her way to a new life… priceless.
When I opened her carrier door, this beautiful fuzzy head popped out.
I became aware of the idea of transport a couple years ago when I was involved in helping to organize a rather large one. For a while after that, I’d watch the transports happening in different groups through posts on Facebook. And often, I’d cry. Not because they are a sad thing, but because they’re so unbelievably wonderful. A group puts together a route with appropriate length legs often through multiple states. Then people along the route sign up to drive their vehicles and transport a cat home… as if through an assembly line.
At the beginning you have a cat that needs rescue. At the other end, there is a home. And in between, these amazing people who make it all possible. I wanted to be one of those people. So I signed up with two different groups to drive. And then, I waited. The transports always seemed to be in another part of the country, or on a day when I wasn’t available. Then, earlier this week, an email came from Teresa at Imagine Home. “We have a transport in your area! Khingee is scheduled to go to a new foster on Saturday, March 30th. I was wondering if you would be interested in driving a leg to get this sweetie to a safe place?”
“Yes,” I replied. Then I looked at the map. Uh oh. The entire trip encompassed three legs from Derwood, MD to Middletown, NY. I would be the first leg, driving her as far as Newport, DE. It was a route I had taken last weekend to attend a rescue event in Pennsylvania. I knew the drive was long, almost two hours, and I knew there were three or four tolls along the way, depending which roads I traveled. I panicked. A change in my job situation last December has forced me to be much more cautious with my funds. Could I afford this? I wasn’t sure. I went so far as to have Teresa and Kelly, the coordinator for this transport, look for a back-up.
Khingee peeked her head up every once in a while to check out the sights.
The Imagine Home description of Khingee explained she was the product of a broken home. Mike and Jennifer saw her on a visit to that home, and found her enduring a horrible skin irritation from a terrible case of fleas. They took her to the vet, and then into their home. The fleas are long since gone, her skin is healthy, and her fur is as beautiful as it was meant to be. She is a sweet, happy and playful kitty, but had consigned herself to the basement due to the territorial male Bengal cat that already lived in the house. Mike and Jennifer cared for her well being and happiness, and in the end, they felt this very affectionate beauty would be happier and more content in a home where she did not have to fight the reigning male. They cared enough to give her up, so she would have a chance at a home better suited to her needs. The transport would deliver Khingee to a foster home of the Helping Animals Rescue Team (HART).
When I re-read this, and had time to think, I realized the cost to me didn’t matter. I wanted to help this cat. I needed to do this transport. Tears come to my eyes every time I read the posts about them for a reason. Maybe transport is where my heart lies? I needed to know the answer to that question because of a promise I made. As we sat in the vet’s office September 1, 2012, holding Shelby for the last time, I promised her I would do something to help others in her name. It is a promise I intend to keep, although I’m still figuring out the form it will take.
So Friday mid-day, I emailed Kelly and Teresa and told them I wanted to do the transport. I had already communicated with Ed, who would be the next leg of the trip north, and set up a meeting place, so that was done. Next I spoke with Mike, who had Khingee, and set up the perfect place for me to pick her up. I was nervous. Nervous about getting to the right place at the right time (I’m not great with directions). And nervous about how I might react to the whole process.
Carrier all buckled up safely and ready to go.
When Mike opened his car door this morning just before 9am and Khingee stuck her gorgeous little head up to the door of her crate and slowly blinked to say hi to me, I knew it was all going to be OK. I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. I talked to Mike for a few minutes regarding the supplies he was sending, when she had eaten breakfast, and how she had been while in their care. And then, it was time to go. I buckled her carrier to the front passenger seat of my car, texted Dionne at Imagine Home to say I had picked up the precious cargo and we were on our way. I also was able to snap a quick picture of the darling girl before she put her fuzzy head down on her pink bed… and drifted off to sleep.
Khingee was the perfect passenger… she slept most of the time. Every once in a while picking her head up to look at the trees going by. I talked to her often, just in case she wasn’t really asleep. I told her about my kitties and how I’d sing to them on the way to vet. I also admitted I’m not a very good singer, so she might prefer I just skip that all together. I let her know this was my first time on the new Inter County Connector in Maryland, so it was special that she was with me. When we passed Baltimore, I gave her my take on the city. I told her about years gone by when my family would drive this exact route north to New Jersey to visit family. However, she was going even farther then that… she was going to New York, where I have visited twice. When we came to the first toll booth there was a huge semi truck in the lane next to me and I worried it might scare her. As I put the window down, I looked over and she had raised her head in a bit of a panic. She looked at me. I said, “It’s OK, you’re safe.” I turned to give the money to the teller, and when I looked back, she was already on her way to dream land. Guess she believed me. And that made me feel good.
Khingee rested her head and paw near me as I talked to her while we waited.
Before I knew it, we were in Delaware and at our meeting place. I found a nice quiet spot away from everyone else to park so we could wait for Ed. He had texted to say he was in a bit of traffic and would be another 15 minutes or so. I’m sorry he had the traffic. But I’m so glad I had those minutes with Khingee. I unbuckled her carrier and turned it to face me. When I opened the metal door, the most beautiful little fuzzy head popped out. She reached her small paw out to me and then rested it on the console between us. I scratched behind her ears, rubbed her head and her nose, and pet the gorgeous fur on her back. And of course, we talked some more. Well, I did most of the talking as she’s a quiet kitty.
I told her how special she was because she’s my first transport. I assured her I would save her pictures and remember her always. I told her about my promise to Shelby and that she was now a part of it. I showed her the pocket stone containing fur from Shelby and her sister Molly, which I had brought with me. It all just felt right and I promised Khingee there would be many more after her. I think she was pleased… or maybe she just liked all the petting? Either way, I will remember that conversation for many years to come.
Me with Khingee right before I handed her over to Ed for the next leg of her journey.
When Ed arrived, I asked him to take my picture with Khingee. Next I passed over all the supplies and explained everything Mike had told me. And then I handed over Khingee. He remarked how beautiful she was, and I of course agreed, as he placed her gently in the back seat of his SUV. I got back into my car and texted Dionne my final update. But really, I just wanted to wait until Khingee pulled away on the next leg of her journey to meet Stacey, who would take her the rest of the way home. Unfortunately, that extra time in the car made me desperate to find a bathroom and I had to walk inside. When I returned, she was gone.
And that was probably for the best. There were no tears on my part, which surprised me. Well… no tears until now. And I think that means I was supposed to be on that journey with her. I am many things. But now I am also a transporter. And Khingee was my first.
“To the world you are just one more rescue person. To a rescued pet, you are the world.” – Author Unknown
Their foster mom Noni has this to say: I helped trap (not my thing) and have fostered since Aug (not my thing) plus paid for all vetting. Here is their story: Mother Chloe was abandoned outdoors by a family when they moved, she was not spayed which resulted in a litter. THREE of the litter have been successfully adopted and I have the last 2. Addy & Ginger are bonded sisters and we would love to see that they remain together. Ginger is extremely protective of her sister. In fact, had she not alerted people, Addy would be dead instead of being rushed to an ER Vet, which is when I stepped in. Health and temperament: No special needs other than continued patience. Fully vetted: FeLV/FIV NEG, spayed, micro-chipped & UTD all shots. Litter-box trained too. NEVER have they been aggressive…no hissing, no biting, no growling, no swatting…just still learning to trust people. They ignore my senior cat (who wants to attck them) and like my Choc Lab. Ginger is a Gorgeous Calico with Green Eyes & she will gladly sleep next to me . Addy is a Beautiful Tabby (perhaps Mackerel) and LOVES to have you pet her belly. Neither can be held…yet! You can pick-up and set onto the sofa or bed next to you and they will stay for loving but then jump down. New noises still scare them and momentarily they will hide under the bed but come back out quickly.
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