A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME

A new arrival named Jasmine more than 3 yrs. ago

SADDEST UPDATE: Jasmine has passed on 9-17-05 in my arms ..a terrible loss i cant cope with...all you folks have been wonderful

Jasmine died from complications from an ER that turned us away when I noticed all the danger signs at that time. Jasmine was my child, and it took my husband 2 days to make me let her beautiful body go

Update 10/17/04: The Syracuse Post-Standard newspaper did an article on Jasmine:

Read the Post article here

A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME.......

Unless all it's members are there. And on June 5th, 2004, our lives and our homes changed to make that perfectly clear. Jasmine had been here since she was 3 weeks old. Learning to live with an 'exotic' cat like this is an learning experience that never ends.

Well, that dark day she was confiscated by the New York State DEC because I was supposed to have a permit allowing me to keep her first. I had applied for a permit when I first got her, but it didn't go through. Personally, I thought it would have been a 'no problem' kind of thing. From all the research that I did, I could find no law not allowing them. And frankly, I mistakenly believed that it was not a problem because bobcat hunting & trapping are allowed in New York. It seemed that if you can keep them to make coats out of 'em, what's the big deal? But I was dead wrong. Anyhow, I was denied 3 years ago, and since then kept my big mouth shut!

But the day she was taken out of here was as traumatic for me as it was for her. I will never, ever, forget the look in her face in the back of that state green truck as it drove away down our road. Let me put it this way...I think I know what Judas Iscariot felt when he kissed Jesus Christ. (I'm not a religious person and I have no affiliations with any churches, but I know the story well enough from Catholic School days!) I felt I had done her wrong. My daughter and I had to put her in her carrier and give her up, but at the time, I was told it was just a matter of time to get my permits and I would be helped through this procedure. (some of the people in the agency did indeed help me, kudos to Albany)

Trusting this and I figured it will 'all work out the right way'. Then we surrendered Jasmine, my friend.

Jasmine at 6 mos. and growing

I had been on a exotic feline list when Jasmine was a baby, and I had jumped off because I was frankly, I wanted no one to know anymore because I was afraid of losing her and I didn't know who might live around my corner, so to speak. That was 3 years ago. At that time, though I had been in telephone contact with just a couple of people. A close friend I met back then on the net, but never in person was lady who has 4 exotic cats and also lives in my state. Her name is Debbie. She was the only non-family member I called because we talked on the phone so many times, I figured I could tell her what happened. And I did. I had to get into compliance with the USDA standards for an exhibitor of wild animals, because NY state says it was required even before I could apply for the state permit. I knew that 3 years ago, with no experience in this world of wildcats, I could never have been issued it back then. Now, I don't think anyone can argue that at the least, I have 3 years experience with a live bobcat. I can see why experience is called for! I never thought that living with such an animal would be like living with domestic cats, but wow! Jasmine teaches me something new each day. I also learned that not everybody can come to mutual respect with an animal like this, and it is absolutely necessary to do so. If you think it's gonna be a master/doggie type thing, forget it! I believe even the smallest domestic feline isn't really 'domestic', because a cat does what a cat does and you accept it, or you don't. Endless Thunder is how I describe her. She doesn't damage things, has never hurt anyone, but you try and tell her she can't have that wet towel she just got out of the washing machine and is dragging between her legs, head held high, like dragging prey, cause I'm not gonna do it! And so, a mutual respect was slowly built on one thing. LOVE. Jasmine became my best friend. Jasmine became family.

I cried on the phone 'they took her, they took her!' and for the next couple months, Debbie helped me keep what little sanity I had left. Of course, I talked to people and it was apparent I was in a deep depression. At first, I thought wrongly again, piece of cake. The first bad hit came when I was informed that 'the people who are watching Jasmine prefer no contact, so I will provide you with updates'. It was unbearable. This is one point where people should see something should change. It's one thing if they may think that I may go try to steal her or something. But I felt that why not at least give them my phone number and at least set up a phone call a week to let me know how she is doing. All kinds of horrible, terrible things ran through my mind. I know Jasmine loves me, I also know that if I have to go away for a few days, she doesn't eat well. Now it's summertime and Jasmine goes down to what I feel is a bit too thin in summer, so I worried off on that right away. I worried that she would bite or scratch someone and they would demand her head. Another 'issue' on vaccinations. I was told the day I got her that vaccinations for exotic cats, are not proven to work, and so even with shots, ...I can barely write this...Her brain would have to be tested. They can interbreed with domestic cats, I'm betting, and sure they know, they should work just as well on bobcats.

When I was told I would be kept informed, I believed it. All I can say to that is BULL@#$. I received two emails during the whole time where I was told she's 'doing fine'.
By this point, I no longer could believe what I heard, so I can tell you, that wasn't a whole lot of comfort.

"Animals are property, never mind that you cried more at your dog's grave than at your mother-in-law's wake"

Jasmine: winter '03

I had to go to court on the ticket I was issued, that is for possessing a bobcat without a valid permit'. I was there, the officer was not. I was asked by the judge 'how did I plead?' I stood there with my mouth open because I had been trying to look up related legal cases and the closest I could find were confiscations by the SPCA, or town police because of abuse or complaints. I could find nothing like this. I read in some cases a guilty plea could mean I forfeit ownership, so I stood there like an idiot. The Judge asked me, 'well, 'where is the officer who issued the ticket?' And I shrugged. 'Well, you tell him he's gotta be here 2 weeks from today'

Jasmine about 5 months old, playing her favorite game "Monster"

Two weeks later in court, I'm sitting there, the officer is not. The judge asked me again 'how do you plead?' I said 'not guilty'. He looked at me...'well' 'did you own a bobcat?' "yes, your honor". Then the judge said, 'the officer who issued this ticket called me, and I don't know if it's the truth or not, but he says "you're a pest" "you keep calling him to know when you're gonna get your cat back" And this time you could drive a truck into my mouth it dropped that far. "I don't know if it's true or not, but stay away from the DEC!" "Don't call him anymore". I had already made a boo-boo when I tried to show him my paperwork and, a petition I had townspeople sign, and made the mistake of setting it down on whatever that great wooden thing the judges big desk is called! I did that twice and he blared something at me.

Now I was an open-mouthed idiot, tears streaming, he handed me a traffic form and told me to try and 'plea bargain' with the D.A. So Big plans to tell him my story shot down, I turned and cried and walked out. I think his wife might've felt sorry for me because when she came to the back to get me a copy of the ticket, I handed her a copy of an email, where the officer says to call or write anytime with any questions. Truth is, I haven't spoke at all to him since that day until after I had the permits. I had emailed him and left messages to find out anything about Jasmine, since I was in darkness about her completely. I couldn't stand the 'not knowing'!

I'm trying not to get into much detail, but fact is, a large part of it was simply not being told anything by anyone. This wasn't an old sofa. This was a being with feelings, and a right to be alive. A right to be with who she loves most.

As the days turned to weeks, I sank even deeper into my own world, which at some points, I wasn't sure I wanted to a part of anymore.

Anyone who has children knows there are incidents in their lives where you can't focus on anything but their safety. We had been through the death of an infant son, my mom and my dad all in a month's time in 1984. So I know I can find determination in me to win Jasmine back.

When you cannot control a situation...well.....there's that AA saying that says "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." You know what? BULL#@$ again. I am going to try and take control here, cause I couldn't accept MYSELF if I didn't!

A wide-eyed baby Jasmine wonders at the camera

During these times, before anyone knew, a special thanks to Debbie, cause at some points her stern but caring advice made all the difference when I was about to give up. She's heard me cry like a baby, curse like a trucker and helped me find myself through this horrible time. She was moral support even when, and I understand this, others were getting a bit fed up with my depression/obsession, throughout it all.

Anyway, my friend Debbie, who used to herself work for the USDA , helped me understand some of the forms I had to fill out, and much more, I just couldn't seem to understand exactly what 'specs' were needed to comply for a living enclosure. I saw specs for monkeys to hamsters, but couldn't quite the hang of exactly what I needed to do. She told me about perimeter fences, locks, flooring so you don't slide away on and such. And my husband, having been diagnosed with cancer two years before, began to work around Jasmine's existing enclosure. He had time, of course, but energy was needed. Since he had determination also, he found the energy to make it happen.

A one year old Jasmine parks it wherever she likes!

It was another matter of time and to get within USDA specs, with advice from our inspector and Debbie, a couple uh... .improvisations were done. I needed to put up a large perimeter fence and I repaired computers in exchange for 3 rolls of chain link a neighbor had in their yard. Another example was fill dirt we needed because Jasmine's primary enclosure in on a hillside. So as long as Don promised another lady that she could be first to see Jasmine when she is on exhibit, he was able to use his Blazer to go back and forth to shovel dirt into trash cans & buckets and fill enough land in so the perimeter fence would be far enough away. We needed to change the flooring because wooden floors are not 'impervious' to water. We were told we could lay linoleum down over it, but we looked in our yard and spotted our kid's old swimming pool rolled up. What is more impervious to water than the outside of a pool? He measured it, cut it and laid it down. It turned out a far better floor than anything I could buy I think! It was non-slip, tough, thick and certainly easily washable with a hose! So when you're in a bind, it's amazing how a little imagination could pay off! The inspector was very pleased and in fact, with extra boards, Don even put up a 'viewing deck' that folks can view Jasmine from without having to get right up on her.

Jasmine's Corner

Another part of what I felt is that it seemed no one had a heart so far. He worked all his life, and now with a terminal cancer, his SSD check didn't even allow medical coverage other than Medicare, so he hasn't been to a doctor in over a year and half. You see, in the case of his particular cancer and where it was, how deep it was, the average life span is just about 2 years. So he's already beaten those odds on his own.

So up it all went around her existing outside enclosure. I was out of my mind each time I heard something and the inspection date for the USDA was set. We sent in the application and they gave us a date within a couple of weeks. The second time the inspector came out, he was very happy with it all. We found him to be a 'to the point' person, polite and a fair man.

Don did a great job and went above and beyond thanks to advice from both our U.S.D.A inspector and Deborah M.

As we were now approved, I now applied for NY's permit. the folks at the Albany office were helpful and understanding, and actually expedited my application because they knew I was trying to re-acquire our Jasmine.

Getting down to the wire now, we presented all permits to the DEC local office, but we had been getting some last minute unknown hassles, like it would have been nice to be informed that you had to 'resolve' your court case before you can get her. If I had known that had to be done first, I would have. I also didn't know, and apparently the judge didn't realize at the time, that the DA doesn't handle DEC cases, they 'prosecute themselves'. I learned this when I went to take a chance and pay a visit to the DA myself.

He actually saw me that day I just showed up! He's a nice man, a cat lover to boot, and explained some of the law to me. (remember, this is the Prosecutor, not the defense)

He found a nice lawyer (pro-bono) who called the judge while on vacation, to explain what happened to him, and allow me to plead 'guilty!" whoa!

Jasmine and Company

As fate would have it, my daughter and I met the local judge on the street outside the post office, where he was about to send me out my 'fine'. He handed it to me in person, and while still on vacation, invited us to his house to take care of it so I could prove everything was 'resolved'. He himself thought I might already have had her back, because he also thought all I needed were the permits. He is also a very nice man, I think perhaps the lawyer got in a few facts I could not. And he gave me a very low fine. And a much needed receipt. I would've had to wait all this out on regular court nights, but words were passed, and his honor understood.

That done, and a bit more quibbling, and back and forth visits to the DEC, we were finally informed of her whereabouts! But then...(and here's the best part - where you all come in!)

Now, on Monday we learned that before we could actually get her, a $650. boarding fee has to be paid off to the people watching her. Have you ever seen that movie 'Vertigo'? Where everything is spinning around as Jimmy Stewart goes up the stairs? Well, that was my head.

no caption needed

You fine, beautiful people came to the aid of a stranger. that's not quite right is it? Let me say, we don't know each other, cause we obviously share traits many can't just get. I always loved animals, and I felt a relationship with them I didn't get from people. Until now. I was born & raised in a rather tough Brooklyn neighborhood, and although the family was as tight as it gets, strangers were just that ...strangers. I am having a difficult time coming together with my own feelings because I was so used to 'look the other way'. I was a bad kid, made bad choices and dealt with people who don't dare get close. That's the way I wanted it. So asking for help was an act of a desperate 'mom', and receiving it was and is a blast of a feeling I never knew existed! You ALL made it happen for me. All of you. And I am a person now who has to step back and take a look and realize that there are people who are for REAL.

You guys pulled together like a 'good' hurricane, rallying around and WITHIN A WEEK made what was seeming to be a distant dream now, come entirely true!

During the week I went to see Jasmine myself, and posted those pictures. The pictures are taken by the woman who lives there, amazed such interactions between 'wild' animals and humans can and do occur. Her sweet face trying to lick me thru the fence and her cries of frustration as I walked to the car will never be forgotten either. I swear, Jasmine, I won't ever betray you again, I wanted to say.

Meeting Jasmine: After knowing nothing for over 2 months, the local DEC office finally informs me of her whereabouts and a huge 'boarding fee' accumulating since day one.

August, Friday the 13th...

which is also my birthday....

Working with an incredible loan from Lynn Culver which arrived Friday morning , a wonderful caring person, I began to see a possibility of making this happen today!

We made phone calls, saw a possibility of making it and we met Debbie off the NY Thruway, she had her caracal, Tesha, with her, I got in her car while Don, my husband followed, and off we went. She also made up the rest of the bulk of the loans and we drove out on a wing and a prayer.

Tesha: a mellow mew that breaks the ice

We got there very late, but still my Birthday, and while my husband took care of the 'business end' of things, Debbie showed his wife her beautiful cat, which she was stunned such an animal could be so loving and cool about being rubbed and pet. Tesha is a great ice-breaker, a loving animal who will quickly show affection to anyone who wants to show it to her. Never mind that once you've done that, her rather heavy butt will be on your lap, and if she wants to sit on you, oh well, she damn straight will.

It took all of us to try and coax Jasmine in her carrier, but she would have none of it. Finally a push with a 'get in there Jasmine!' from Deb, and in she went. Jasmine met her match, I guess.

There are unsung heroes here...You all know who you are. Great ladies and Great men with greater hearts.

Your donations and loans are from your hearts. Perhaps I can show a few out there that owning such animals, for certain people, is a Life Saver. You see my husband's changed today. He's never been able to play with Jasmine like I do, but he loves her dearly, and I can see the difference in his face. And when he talks. And in his strength.

If you are considering owning such a wonderful animal, whether bobcat, serval, cougar, etc....Please....take care to do it so this doesn't happen to you. I will let you know that probably not everyone should. You must be prepared fully to let the animal be itself. And you must have respect for it. This is no dog that will follow, tail wagging to your every command! If such an animal doesn't share mutual love and respect, then what you have is probably less than a public zoo. I can remember when Jasmine was just about 9 weeks old, we had to a vet. And she gave me the phone number of a lady she said has experience with them for advice. The woman on the phone had literally told me, "you might as well give her to me now, because when she is six months old, you will be looking to get rid of her". She claimed no amount of love will change things because she raised baby bobs for a local zoo, and they were completely vicious and wild no matter what she tried. I politely declined her offer. I knew even then the proof would be in the pudding down the road. More than 3 years later, I know she did something wrong.

You saw the pictures of her home I hope. If you haven't use the link below, you can see a very grateful kitty and a very grateful mom!

We are getting easily adjusted to life as a family again. Jasmine knows that she was rescued by everyone. I swear, she knows it. No a little bird didn't tell me. From knowing her so well, she told me. --Cece