3 de Noviembre de 2006

Foreword...The following story actually happened during the Summer and somehow we failed to report it.  Shame on us as it is really heart warming what children can do.  The story and pictures were sent to us by Fredrika.  The pictures of the kittens are a little fuzzy, but they are the only ones that we have.  Hope you all enjoy it as we did...

It seems that a  black, female cat moved into Finca Argayall in Valle Gran Rey and decided that it was a good place to have her young, three little kittens (two black and one tiger).  However, it seems that the Finca already had it's full allowed quota of cats and the Finca management was not too pleased with this new development.  The youngsters staying at the Finca, of course, loved it and wanted to keep them all.  However, management decided that the cats should be removed, left somewhere else or somehow otherwise eliminated.  The youngsters had heard of PAG and since I was connected with the organization, I was approached by one of the women from the Finca.  The kittens at this time were already over two months old.  I told the lady that PAG would love to help but that the funds were limited.  The first priority, of course, was that the female cat (Mama) should be spayed to avoid further kittens.

The children also agreed that the mother cat should be spayed and then she and the kittens could (?) be adopted out.  I stated that adopting out three black cats would not necessarily be easy, but we would try.  (The next step...How to raise the required funds to get the mother cat spayed?).  The very next day the children started selling Mangos to passing tourists, along with post cards I had brought over from the "Pan y Fun" bakery.  They also collected donations from the guests staying at the Finca.  Then they collected clothes and other items to sell in special Flea Market.  They built stands and placed signs all over the area to make it easier for interested persons to find the Market.  They used plenty of colors and imagination in order to attract their "customers".   I was very impressed by the amount of effort that went into this project.  I was further impressed when, after a couple of days, they had gathered close to 200 Euro.  Incredible!!  It seems that nobody could resist their sweet little faces and their hugs.  For those folks who gave 10 Euro or more, the children had printed up special certificates proclaiming a BIG Thank You, and signed by the entire group.  They enjoyed their little venture.  With their smiles beaming like little suns, they counted the money over and over then proudly turned it over in two plastic bags.  These children were amazing!

The kids first Flea Market at the Finca. This is the day after! Imagine all the things they had already sold!

They collected so much stuff.

One of the signs the children made up.

Here are the children with Cacao (the dog) in the middle.

Anyway, the operation to have the mother spayed was accomplished and she was released where she was caught.  The kittens were too shy to be captured, let alone even touched.  As far as I know they are still at the Finca and PAG is still willing to help. 

I am not ready to have children of my own, but during these days, I really felt like I wanted to keep all of them.  The sweetest group ever... 

Fredrika