Yesterday, as I drove to Portland to see Mike at the hospital, I went through the small town of Stayton. If you blink, you would miss this quaint town on the road, which would be a shame because of the Victorian houses that dot the town. As I drove past their vet clinic, I saw a sign on their billboard on the lawn. “Stay Calm, Just Love Your Animals.” That’s it- that’s all it said but it spoke volumes to me after witnessing for so long what someone’s rage can do to an animal. Someone who can’t get it together enough to pass on compassion and understanding to the innocent animal or human in their path. Someone so caught up in their own misery, self-pity-self loathing, whatever demons they battle- instead of seeking professional help they whale on their animals (or their children or spouse). A simple message, but quite profound brought about perhaps because the local paper recently carried a story about a 53 year old man who “lost it” when his brother’s pit bull who was eating out of his bowl nipped his dog who tried to steal the food. So enraged, this man lifted this pit high in the air and smashed it against the wall breaking the hips and the neck in one blow. And for what? Because the dogs were following the pack order and defending their territory and food? The saddest part is the other dog didn’t even bleed from the nip. It was a warning.
This morning, when I stepped outside at 5:00 a.m. and the cats came running to greet me, I made it a special point to greet each one in turn (generally I am petting two to three at a time). Those who tolerate it were picked up and given a big hug and I told each one in turn how grateful I am to be blessed by their presence. Stalker, a big gray and white male has decided I must be okay because now he will lay in front of my path and roll over and over in the dirt until I pet him. He is the one we hauled out of a hoarder’s home in a bedroom where a hazmat suit would have been necessary to have just to live in it. I remember tipping over the mattress (that was sitting on bricks on the floor) and seeing this terrified cat staring at me wondering what was going to happen next. Before he could even react, Kim and I swooped in, scruffed him gently and placed him in a carrier to take him out of hell. Now, he is a strapping, beautiful boy who is shy from people except for myself and one of my other volunteers Kyle. He takes his refuge in the blackberry bushes when he feels threatened. They are all so beautiful and I worry about each and every one of them in turn. Every day brings a new challenge of how to meet their needs on all levels.
At the hospital yesterday one of the volunteers was asking me how come I rescue cats? Apparently she only loves dogs. She said she just didn’t understand how I could “waste my time not have a career” over something as “common as a cat.” I just smiled and told her with this type of attitude, she is losing out on a relationship with a wonderful animal who is resilient, forgiving and accepting of all our faults no matter what. She just looked at me as if I came from another planet. She’s young though and hopefully one day will meet a cat who will change her mind.
The house seems so empty today. I have so much to do and all I want to do is have a Mary Anne Day and sleep and relax and do nothing at all. Guess it’s not in my DNA or something, because I’ve already mentally been rearranging the back patio so the cats will be more comfortable come wintertime.
I got tough with Girlcat’s owner the other day. The deal was I was only to board her for 30 days and 30 days is long past. GC has resorted to once tearing her fur out of her tail so I have put her back on Shriener’s to help heal the wounds. She just wants to go home. Her owner tells me now that it will be 2-3 weeks more before she can come and pick her up. She has contributed nothing towards the care of this beautiful cross-eyed mackerel tabby and when I mentioned that, she promised a big donation. Right- color me skeptical. Been there done this to many times to take people’s words to heart anymore. I would rather accept the gentle hug of Girlcat around my neck and her purring in my ear as a show of gratitude. Animals carry no pretense, that’s why I love them so much.
Anger seems to be so wide-spread these days. It’s one of the many reasons why I prefer the old days to now.
I didn’t read farther down in your article.
You should check to see how long a cat can stay with you before it is considered legally abandoned. The rescue-group I work with has only 72 hours, which is the same as our local animal shelter. (The difference is that we don’t kill the animal after that time.) If you can’t get either support or responsibility from Girl Cat’s owner, then you may as well have the freedom to find someone who will take care of her.
Oh, and I love how people think that not working for pay is not having a life or a career. My mum spent a lifetime raising five children. That was a career. You have one, too. You just don’t get paid for giving love and care.
I love a Me time, too. Not much, just enough to give myself permission to let go of my responsibilities for a few hours. I swear it’s a mental health thing for me. And careless talk, just throw that stuff away. Owner surrender, seems always to be a hot mess. Oh well, good thoughts!
Re: hospital volunteer
She is unable to understand having compassion for and wanting to help suffering animals? Makes me sad to know there are people like that in the world.
* Speaking of animal abuse, did you ever file a report with the police regarding the cat you found? Or did the vet file a report? Any follow-up?
* I cannot understand a volunteer in a hospital who questions animal rescue. What is she doing working in a hospital if she has no compassion… is she just someone who plans to pursue a medical career because of job security/money? That’s like people taking up teaching so they can have the summer off — they make lousy teachers — and she’ll make a lousy health professional.
* How is Mike doing? Do take some time off for yourself, otherwise you may break down at a crucial time. I worry about you!
Yes as stated before, I did file a report with the police. There has been no update on the status of this report. Last I heard they couldn’t locate the parties in question.
The volunteer was just that, a volunteer. At the hospital they only hire the elite and it is hard to find positions even for the most qualified. I doubt she will be there long due to her lack of understanding compassion for all animals
Mike is getting a shot a day of a blood thinning drug. he will have those shots for 6-10 days then be weaned into taking Warfarin. He takes these shots in the abdomen same as the insulin and they are monitoring his diet because there is a large list of foods you can’t eat when you are on blood thinning drugs.
I spent the morning redoing the back patio so the cats can move around a bit more easily. We have accumulated so much clutter and stuff. I hauled a lot of stuff out to our shed. I wish I had some extra money stowed away because there are some things that need to get done while Mike is out of the home to make his life here better. But bills come first and as he is fond of saying, he just wishes there was more month left after the paycheck comes in. But he is in good spirits and for the first time in a long time, he now weighs under 300 pounds.
Let me tell you a story. Once, a long time ago, I told a friend I wasn’t a “cat” person but a dog person.. WELL, I couldn’t have been more wrong!! After that comment, my oldest daughter was given a backyard bred (UGH!) male Siamese cat. A year later my husband was working for the city and this one day he was working at the local shelter. He called home and told me how bad he felt seeing all the animals in cages. I told him to find a black, male kitten (knowing how hard the black ones are to place) and bring it home. Naturally I fell in love with both my feline boys! How could I not? They were both affection, sweet and playful! Later on, I found out we had a feral cat problem..So I started to befriend them and then went online to see how I could help them. I called in Feral Rescue and we fixed over a dozen cats! My husband and I decided to open our old shed up for them. While researching ferals online, I found out how to make the tupperware shelters for the cats. We made several and placed them in the shed. The cats loved them! Eventually, my neighbor adopted several of the cats, I took in four and now we are down to just one cat outside. I came to realize that I am not just a dog person, but an animal lover in general!! It’s amusing to think that I even uttered those words considering my love for my feline babies. Give the girl some slack, she may well eat her words one day like I l did! 😉