My Difficult Journey aka The Trip from Hell

I received a call from our medical doctor wanting me to come to Baku for my medical since I will be extending and they need this done before fiscal year end (September). This will work out for me since I need to go to the Embassy and I am taking Mint in for spaying and the kittens to the shelter. The doctor wanted me Monday morning but when I told him that I need to take a train Sunday night and no marshrutka goes to either stations so I will need to take a taxi, he told me that Tuesday would be fine.  I went to buy the tickets (my site friend Kaylee was helping me taking the cats to Baku), and was told by the office they were sold out (darn Ramadan ended and everyone was going back home), so I bought the tickets for Tuesday night getting to Baku Wednesday morning.  I had to call medical, the Embassy and the vet and change the date.  I got a box and punched holes around the top and duct taped string to tie as a handle. I thought this would be a piece of cake (why did I think that, this is a feral cat!!!) I put Mint and the 2 boys (I left Bounty, I was worried for her) in the box and tape it.  We got on the Marsh and Mint was NOT having any of it, Kaylee went and bought tape a large roll I might add.  We tape the top and it was quiet for a awhile until we got on the train.  The train was the ride from HELL.  We were put with 2 young men who were drinking (good for us because they passed out and didn't hear the cats crying).  At one point Mint and the boys got out and it was pretty hard getting them back in. Mint was determine to scratch her way out. By the end of the train ride we had used up the whole roll of tape. We had to keep taping up holes she would make bigger.  If I wasn't so tired, it would have been pretty funny.  She is extremely smart, with the air holes, she would work it with her paws until she got her paw through the hole, then she would chew it until her head got through, if I didn't catch it and tape it up she and the little ones would escape again! I was up all night trying to calm her and tape holes!!  We decided that we would take a taxi to the clinic first and avoid the metro and the bus (good thing because that box would have not survived it).  We got to the clinic, I signed them in and then Kaylee and I decided to go to the bus station and buy our ticket for the next day because taking the train just didn't work (7 hours will be better than the 14 hours on the train). I received a call from the doctor asking me where I was "I'm on my way" and then the next call was from the vet at the clinic, she told me they can't keep the kittens as they have way too many now and after 6 months they release them. After feeding them regularly and they do not know how to hunt or fend for themselves and many of them will die.  She doesn't approve of this but she cannot do anything about it.  So they would be better off back here in Zaqatala but she will neuter them along with Mint. Okay I will picked them all up the next day.  Kaylee mission was to find a cat carrier (one that Mint could not shred to bits!!) and I went back to the PC office for medical, and then to the Embassy plus I had paperwork for security (my visa), I had to speak with my program manager, host coordinator, the program director, plus I had to print stuff off the computer (whew I am tired just writing this!).  My medical went well  (considering the lack of sleep and the stress!) but the doctor was concern about a lump he found in my breast, so we needed to go to the clinic for an ultra sound . Okay but you need to drop me off at the Embassy afterwards, I told the doctor. No problem he said. I got my paperwork done at the Embassy, walked back to the hotel and met Kaylee, and checked in. She got this awesome canvas carrier that was collapsible for 15 azn (about $22) that will easily accommodate Mint and the boys. We went back to PC office, I spoke with the Housing Coordinator and received approval for my new place and asked for host applications.  Then spoke with the Program Manager, and asked for TEFL, CD & YD (community and youth development) applications to give out in Zaqatala for schools and organizations (another goal is to get several volunteers up here next year). Printed material for the FLEX (foreign exchange) and conversation clubs and information for homeless animals.  I am still trying to get this program off the ground. After all of that, we met up with another volunteer and had dinner in the Old city  (Indian and Mexican food in the same restaurant), it was awesome and good. We went back to the hotel showered and crashed!! The next morning we were on the road again by 7:30.  The clinic was a good 30 minutes from the bus station and our bus for Zaqatala will leave at 10:30. We got to the clinic and I spoke with the vet, she is the Senior vet at the clinic and is from Scotland.  The clinic is funded by an Iranian family and the complex is incredible.  The web site is  www.aarc.az, please check it out. They have a mobile clinic and I really would like to work something out where they could come up to this finger (region) once a month and do basic sterilization and medical. And possibly educational videos for the schools and community.   I am excited about this and I am working on a proposal.  Because we our Peace Corps volunteers and the cats are feral, they do not charge us. I asked if I could have something for Mint in case she gets excited on the bus but the vet said it was just too dangerous after the surgery.  So I took my chances, the trip back was easy (I think the carrier helped) as they stayed on my lap the whole way and Mint slept most of the time. The boys are doing great, recovered rather quickly but Mint recovery is slow.  I still have to find homes for the boys but at least they are fixed (saved a few thousand cats from being born and unwanted!).  The trip was successful but the travel was HELL.  Next month I will bring Bounty in and hopefully it won't be so traumatic for her or ME!!!

Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts to get this project off the ground. My goal is to educate and to help stop the epidemic of overpopulation of dogs and cats.



Happy Feet



Life Challenge:  Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen... Conan O'Brien