Dakota's Story Dakota and his three siblings were born to terrible conditions. He was 'stockpiled' into an already existing litter of four. He and his siblings were only seven days old. The rest were five weeks old. The mother was an emaciated yearling who was now nursing eight kittens in total. When I picked them up from the shelter, I was appalled. It wasn't long before we knew something was terribly wrong. Three of Dakota's siblings were already suffering from massive upper-respitory infections and did not respond to medication. Mom's children were undernourished and sickly looking. We found out that the mother cat had the feline equivelent of AIDS (FIV) and had passed it onto all eight of the kittens. We had to pull all of the kittens off of the mother and feed them by hand. It was an arduous task, but we had to do it. We lost the kittens one by one to this horrible infection. It was a moment in my life that I will mourn for the rest of my life. This was truly despite our efforts--I put everything I had into trying to save these kittens. Six of the kittens had spent at least one night in a clinic or hospital, and two of them had been tube fed. Dakota was the last kitten to pass. I felt he was my last hope of redeeming what had happened. For a long time we thought he would make it, but the FIV would not allow his lungs to heal. Out of eight, two (Dylan and Gordon) went to permanent homes and mom went to a sanctuary. Gordon, renamed Vader, passed about four months later in his home. Dylan, our strongest trooper ever to have walked into this home, is alive and well with his family. I set up this fund in memory of those beautiful kittens. Everything aquired through A Paws-itive Cause and The Dakota Fund goes towards the care and medical bills for future kittens that come through our doors; so we can test early for disease and afford to keep them in a hospital's care overnight if needed, as well as afford the medications that go with it. Nothing makes a greater differance than being able to say 'I Can'.

God touched me on the shoulder
as I was going up the stair
I had one kitten in my arms
and seven that weren't there

He touched me on the shoulder
to whisper its okay
Okay to cry
okay to die
All things must pass his way
-Talitha-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper don't be sad
A life was touched
and loved so much
More than they would ever had
-Panya-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper I'm so proud
For giving life
For battling strife
For breaking through the clouds
-Ethan-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper 'Not Alone'
Not without a guide
To see them to that side
It is I who called them home
-Layla-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper no more sorrow
No more tears
No more fears
Thier spirits are of tomorrow
-James-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper you've done well
Done all you could
Done all you should
You were there for them, they could tell
-Dakota-

He touched me on the shoulder
To whisper they are free
Free from pain
From earthy bane
With each other is where they'll be
-Gordon-

God touched me on the shoulder
as I was going up the stair
I had one kitten in my arms
and seven that would always be there.

Dedicated to those whose lives were too bright for this earth Talitha: 1-24-06
Panya: 1-27-06
Ethan: 2-1-06
Layla: 2-2-06
James: 2-4-06
Dakota: 2- -06
Gordon/Vader:
And, merely by being born, they earned their place to heaven.