Friday, August 24, 2012

i can't save the (cat) world


My neighborhood is overrun with feral cats.  After seeing the number grow, several people began humanely trapping.  Over the last couple of weeks, around 18 were caught.  That’s the problem.  These cats are hungry, get hit by cars, get sick with contagious infections, other illnesses, get injured, infected with worms, and so much more.
I have to remind myself that I can’t save the world.

It was a very, very hard decision for me, but I also began trapping.  My first one had some intestinal sickness and looked pitiful.  Today I caught a ten-week-old grey tabby that was very sick.  The animal control officer is very understanding that some of us can’t hold back a few tears.  It’s something about handing them over, knowing they are headed to the shelter and will be put to sleep.
I have to remind myself that I can’t save the world.

Earlier this week, a couple of neighbors caught a baby kitten from between our fences.  I was able to catch two others.  (Even though one scratched and bit me, he was still cute.)  There were five kittens, but I never found the other two.  My neighbors are allergic, so I had a box of three precious kittens about five weeks old.  The SPCA was at capacity, nothing at The Humane Society or The Feral Cat Assistance program.  I really tried, but the last option was the Animal Shelter.  I took the box and asked what would happen to them.  I was told they may never be put up for adoption.  They have 600 dogs and cats, and they do the best they can.
I have to remind myself that I can’t save the world.

A neighbor just called.  The house beside me has baby kittens in the crawl space.  And so we begin again Monday.
I have to remind myself that I can’t save the world.

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