The Great Escape

I managed to get all three of the Spots crated up, in the truck and driven down a snowy mountain road this morning to the drop off place, a hair past 8am for the ride to Asheville to be neutered by HAWA. This was the first time I have actually driven on snowy roads in quite some time. They were plowed and sanded and in fine shape. The Spots were pretty good during the drive. I think it was more nerve wracking for me than them.

I was in town so I stopped at Lowes to pick up a few items I needed for putting the siding on the cozy cabin. The credit card I use solely for construction expenditures and pay in full every month was denied. Twice. What is going on? Has CitiBank declared bankruptcy? I know I didn't do anything wrong. Grumble, grumble.

Back home with a fresh pot of coffee brewing, there is a message on the phone. Spot has escaped. The door of her crate popped open. She is in a culvert under the railroad tracks and boxed in at both ends with traps. Could I please come down and coax her out. This is the first and only time they have ever had an animal escape. It has never ever happened before. Well isn't that special.

So I drive back down a snowy mountain road that is getting dryer and less scary to the culvert under the railroad tracks. It only takes a few minutes of me coaxing and Spot comes out of the culvert. Back in the crate she goes and the very kind volunteer of HAWA says she will drive Spot to Asheville herself. The big van of course with the spotlets and I would guess close to fifty cats and dogs left on schedule, minus one Spot.



An escaped Spot and a rejected credit card, that is two bad things. My experience with bad things is that they happen in clusters of three. Be careful driving.

Back home again, a call to Citibank reveals that a new replacement card they sent me was returned and that account was frozen. I guess putting a hold on your mail during an absence doesn't include holding everything. Credit card restored. New card being sent.

Oh good. One Spot caught and crated continues on her journey and this neutering process doesn't have to be turned into two capture and delivery procedures. Credit restored. Bad things fixed.

The phone rings. "This is HAWA in Asheville."

Yess?

"Collar has a mild heart murmur and we wanted to give you your options before we do surgery. You can take her to a vet to have this checked out first if you like. She could possibly grow out of it. The vet here will do the surgery because it is mild. It only slightly increases the risk of a bad outcome."

There's number three. My cat Greyman had a heart murmur and was sixteen and a half when we parted. Go ahead with the surgery. Taking her to another vet is not an option for me.

It was twelve degrees when I woke up this morning and the real cold isn't here yet. There is a smaller chance for more snow in the weather diagnosis for tonight.

I pick up the Spots tomorrow at noon. All should be well. The cluster of three has passed.