Homeless Hostages
I have never felt such despair, and I have been working with abused cats for over twenty years. But in the last few weeks, I have run across a situation that tears open my heart. There is a new transiet in town. He rides a bicycle and that isn’t a big deal. What is the deal lies in what he has on this bike. Two cat carriers, one with five adult cats inside, and one with one big female (unspayed) inside.
I have attempted to help him. Offered him food for him and his cats which he promptly discarded. Asked him if I could please keep his cats for him until he get help, for which he advanced on me and might have hit me had not the police arrived. I see him around town and my heart breaks. I can’t imagine what those cats are going through being forced to live in such confined spaces, leaning off to one side or another when he parks his bike against a fence post. Huddled together for comfort during our many rain storms.
The authorities won’t help. They state they see no abuse. The cats have shelter, food and water, therefore there is no evidence of abuse. I wonder how they get past the 6 inches of excrement inside the one carrier, mixed with the meager portion of food he throws them. And this is not abuse?
The irony of this situation is if the man was established, had a home, property or articles of value, the health department and animal control would go in, do an inspection and sieze the cats. But because he is homeless, he falls under no one’s jurisdiction. Looks like the plan of action being prepared against him is one of quiet intimidation to make him leave town.
As I sit here and type this, the tears fall. I hear the wind howling outside. Earlier, while feeding the horses, the wind had a bite to it. Coming down from Alaska it nips through my warm clothing.
I wonder where he is now? Has he found adequate shelter from this inclement weather for his cats? After my recent encounters with him, I know I can no longer try to assist him. His world is fueled by madness, whether brought on naturally or chemically, who is to know?
I wrote an article today about my experience with him. I will be sending it off tomorrow and I hope, if it is accepted, that it will make a difference, in some heart, somewhere.
A good friend once told me, “You can’t save them all.” I sure couldn’t save this group. I hope to be able to save the next.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Hang in there. Keep up your courage and your will to help. Keep trying to save as many as you can. Nothing lasts forever, including deplorable situations. I do think that writing coherently and lucidly and getting the word out is one of the most productive things we can do for animals.
Much respect and love to you. You’ve helped me a lot just by being here. Let me know if I can help somehow.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Maybe you can go to your next City Council meeting and try to speak about the problem. It’s a thankless job, but if you speak respectfully and lucidly, maybe you can get someone to pay attention to this particular problem and/or raise awareness. In doing this kind of work, I’ve run into so much heartbreak that I have just had to learn to kind of detach myself from the outcome. I tell myself the best thing I can do is to be steadfast in my advocacy and to deal with each situation on its own terms. Sometimes that means reaching out to others, sometimes that means looking on the internet for solutions I haven’t thought of. It always means having to “out fox” the problem (like, I thought it was very clever of you to give the cats chicken broth in winter, for extra fat, and it’s helped me with my own cats and now I feel just a little more confident that they can fend off the cold). Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that you do as much as you can and keep pushing forward. I am rooting for you.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Thank you for your concern. After speaking with a few people and realizing that I am not dealing with a rational human being. In fact, after yesterday’s encounter, I feel he is downright dangerous. I have backed off this crusade. I will try another route in a bit after the furor dies down. You have to pick your fights, and you have to do so wisely. I am still heartsick, but I wrote out my feelings in what can only be described as a “dark” article. There is no easy resolution to this and it almost looks like I am dealing with someone who has seen the worst side of humanity in the vietnam war.
If I continue to persue him, he may end up harming his cats just to keep me away. I don’t want to look like the crazy cat lady here. So with tears in my heart, I back away from this battle.