The very next day I got
a phone call about a cat that had been hit by a car the previous
week. I knew the cat, I had taken him in for surgery not long ago. I
had seen him the night he got hit. I was on my way home from the
library when I saw him too close to the side of the road. I had
stopped the car and told him to get out of the road. I guess he
didn't listen to me, most cats don't. Evidently there was a squirrel
in the road that had been hit, that was more interesting than his
fear of the road. He is a very handsome fellow, solid gray with a bit
of white on his chest. Beautiful golden eyes, and friendly. A
stranger to none, he has that innocence that some animals have whom
have never been treated unkindly. The folks that claimed him had said
that they would take him to the vet to get him looked at. A week had
passed and the poor cat was still dragging around a broken leg. I had
been hearing about this poor kitty off and on for a week, it seemed
that a few people were concerned about him but nobody was willing to
take action. I was fed up! I called the vet and explained the cats
condition and made an appointment that very day. I didn't wait to get
approval for payment from the Cat Coalition, I didn't want to wait
any longer the cat needed help, Now! Then I stopped at Lew's
apartment and told him I had a cat situation, that the cat had been
hit by a car and I didn't know what the outcome would be, that it
could be a broken pelvis or he may need to have his leg amputated or
even may need to be euthanized. Bless his heart he said “Bring him
here”.
I went over to the
house of the people that had claimed the cat, they brought the cat
out from inside, his back leg was just dangling. I asked if it was
their cat. They said no, I told them that I had heard that they were
going to take him to the vet, they said that they had hoped he would
get better on his own. I told them I would like to take the cat and
do what needed to be done, they gave permission. I took the cat to
Lew's, we had cleaned out the crate that Sally had been in. On this
day I was the one that had a Dr.'s appointment, so Pi took Lew and
the cat to the vet. The leg was broken near the hip and had to be
amputated. I visited Lew and Guy Gray (Guy because he is such a
pretty cat that we need reminding that he is a boy) the next day and
it was remarkable how well Guy was doing. I guess after dragging
around a broken leg for a week it was a relief to have it cut off.
The pain he must have been in, can you imagine? Something I have
learned from animals is that they are not emotionally attached to
their body, if they lose a limb or an eye, they just compensate. They
don't mourn the loss like we do. They live in their bodies, they are
not as attached to them as we are. Something for further
contemplation.
Guy was still not sure
about the dog, but it didn't take him long to figure out Fate was
harmless and in a short time they have become friends. It is a wonder
to see the three of them together. Lew needed something to keep him
going, Guy needed a loving home and Fate just needs to have someone
to please and someone to play with.
We all still remember
Sally, but the pain is fading. Guy cannot take her place, but he is
here now and she is gone. I can only hope that as more people
practice TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) there will be less suffering in the
world. There are many untold stories like Sally's, many that are much
worse. Sally's end was peaceful, she wasn't hungry or cold, she
didn't suffer cruelly.
I find it remarkable
that Lew was willing to open his heart and home to Guy so soon after
the heartbreak of Sally. I have had the honor of working with several
veterans that have witnessed starvation and suffering overseas, it is
these folks that are willing to sacrifice a bit themselves in order
to alleviate the suffering of others. Thank you all that by your
small and great acts of love you make the world a better place!
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