An Open Letter from Our CEO and President

Greetings In-Sync Exotics Friends:

Recent events have led me to write this posting due to our losses of Keenan, Jasi, and Okemo. 

One of the greatest joys is to wake up each day, get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, and then go out and meet and greet each In-Sync Exotics’ cats (and Nugget) by name.  To see their beautiful faces each day, knowing that they are truly gifts from God, inspires me to work that much harder to provide them the best home ever.

Whenever we learn of a special animal needing a new home, we don’t look at him and say “hmmm, you are too old, too sick, or too aggressive to live here—I think we’ll just pass on taking you in.”   Instead, if we have room for a new animal, we look deep into the animal’s eyes and tell him that he can live out his life in peace, knowing that when it is time, he will leave this earth knowing he was loved at In-Sync Exotics.

Many of the exotic cats that calls In-Sync Exotics home are considered senior or geriatric, some are in good health and some have a few health issues.  Keenan and Okemo were both considered geriatric cats with serious health issues.  We knew that at some point we were going to have to make a tough, but loving decision, to let them go.  We are able to mentally prepare ourselves for the loss of these two beautiful animals and say our final good-byes before they passed away.

We miss our playful Jasi very much

Jasi’s story is a different because his passing was so unexpected and so sudden that not everyone from In-Sync had a chance to say good-bye to our sweet boy. 

We knew at the time of Jasi’s arrival that he had a heart condition requiring medication and close observations to make sure he was not in any distress.  Because of the personal attention he received from us all, Jasi accepted us and looked forward to our daily rounds.

So when our lead keeper Mak noticed Jasi was having trouble breathing last Wednesday, we knew our little serval required emergency medical treatment.  Jasi’s heart was racing so fast which caused him to pant quite heavily.  I was able to exam Jasi and he didn’t appear to have an obstruction that would keep him from breathing normally, so I rushed him to our vet. 

Our vet listened to Jasi’ heart for quite a while and then made the announcement, “we have to get him to a cardiologist specialist—right away.” 

Our sweet Jasi

We tried to get Texas A&M to accept our Jasi, but they declined because they cannot keep exotic cats in their intensive care unit—only domestic animals.  So our vet and I made several frantic phone calls trying to find a  veterinarian who specialized in cardiology willing to see Jasi.  Finally we found a cardiologist  willing to see him, so our veterinarian canceled his remaining appointments and rushed us to the veterinarian's office located about an hour or so away from Wylie.

The specialist ran several tests and administered medication that corrected the rhythm of Jasi’s heart, but sadly the medicine only worked for a very short time.   

The tests revealed that Jasi had a hole in his heart and his heart values were not opening and closing properly.  We had him on a medicinal drip that helped slow his heart down a little, but it did not correct his heart rhythm. 

I was completely unprepared to lose Jasi.  I begged the vets to find some type of treatment we could administer to Jasi so he could live a long happy life with us.  Sadly, there was no treatment available.  If we removed Jasi from the medicinal drip and tried to make the long trip home during rush hour traffic, the cardiac specialist predicted Jasi would probably die in the car from a massive heart attack.  The cardiac specialist informed us that most cats do not live as long as Jasi did with his type of heart problems and that there was no treatment to fix his damaged heart.

I couldn’t believe that I was going to lose Jasi that day…that hour.  A thousand questions ran through my mind, the most prevailing question being, “Did I miss any symptoms that I should have caught sooner?  “No,” said the cardiac specialist, “there was no way you could have foreseen this type of heart problem.”  The specialist told us that by the time cat owners realize their cats are in cardiac distress, it is already too late to save the animals.

So on Wednesday, July 25^th, little Jasi passed away quietly in my arms at the veterinarian’s office. 

I didn’t want you to think that Jasi wasn’t as important as Keenan and Okemo, seeing how we were able to have memorial services and publish special blog dedications to both our wonderful cats. 

Jasi’s passing was such a shock to me, the staff and the volunteers.  We simply were not mentally prepared to lose our boy.  It is still very hard for me to make my rounds and see little Neffie sitting or playing all by herself.  Neffie is doing okay—she continues to search the enclosure for the Jasi and sometimes she looks a little lost without him.  I think we are all a little lost without our curious little boy.

I would give just about anything to have just one more moment with Keenan, Jasi, and Okemo—one more hug, one more kiss on the nose and one more chance to hear their chuffs or chirps.  I am just so grateful that I was given an opportunity to know these three cats, even though I wish I had lots more time with them all.

God bless you Jasi...we miss you....

Speaking for all of us at In-Sync Exotics, I’d like to thank you all for your words of condolences and comfort.  Your outpouring of love for Keenan, Jasi, and Okemo via e-mail, Facebook, and the blog truly means a lot to all of us as we face another day of mourning.  Yet despite our feelings of loss, all of us at In-Sync Exotics continue to wake up each day, get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, and then go out and meet and greet each cats (and Nugget) by name.  We love seeing their beautiful faces, knowing that they are truly gifts from God, inspiring us all to work a little bit harder to make sure our animals have the best home ever called In-Sync Exotics.

Vicky Keahey

CEO & President

In-Sync Exotics

I can't believe you're gone, my Jasi, I can’t believe you are gone.

Why did you have to leave me, so suddenly without a sound?

I will miss everything about you, especially your sweet personality,
You were fun, you were playful, you were so amazing to me.

Now I have nothing but pictures and memories to remember you by,
As I sit here and think about how much I really miss you now,
You were such a beautiful boy, always ready to greet me with a smile,
I can't believe how much I miss you, forever and right now.

I love you with all of my heart and will remember our good times together,
I may cry and be sad, but for knowing you, my heart will sing forever.

I know we’ll meet again, at another time and place,
Until that time, I will always feel your presence and see your sweet handsome little face.

I will see you again in Heaven, my friend, for that you can be sure,

I love you with all my heart,

So be wild, be free, my little Jasi friend.

Lord, you have embraced a good friend and loving animal named Jasi.  While we mourn what we have lost, we do celebrate what we had... and in saying goodbye, we renew our pledge to love and care for any creature you entrust to us for its time of life. Thank you, Lord, for the joy this loved one gave us and for making it possible for us to have made this friend's life a good one.


Amen.

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