Karma

This morning Laura tried to trap Neck Wound Kitty from Parsells, after I had written her yesterday asking for her help.  She is an expert drop trapper, and if anyone could get him, she could.  I’ve been feeding NWK for many years, starting out on Hayward, me moved to Garson, one street over, and he has since taken up residence on Parsells.  Back on Garson, I had seen his neck and thought he got into a bad fight with a raccoon or something, there was a big gouge taken out of his neck.  I felt terrible, but continued to feed the poor animal.  At some point after that, a year and half ago, Laura trapped him, medicated him, had him neutered, and returned him back to the street, I think.  Fast forward a year and half later, he is still scratching away at his constant infected neck every minute of the day, and yesterday morning when I pulled up to this spot to feed him and the other kitties, I heard a horrible sound and it was NWK - each time he scratched, he howled.    Laura is going to try again tomorrow.  Please say a prayer she succeeds.   She also tried to find the pregnant red female on Fourth and Pennsylvania, but to no avail.  There were several other kitties there, but no pregnant momma.  I’ve seen her every morning for a week now, bursting at the sides, but she was not there for Laura this morning.  Another prayer please.

I also want to comment on the house with all the cats on the corner at Central that I’ve been feeding recently – we had two spayed from there, and there are several more females and males that need to be done.  There is a group of people that live in this house, mostly black, and mostly poor.  (I like to describe the people I encounter, it does not make me racist - I am sure if they were telling someone about me, they would be describing me as a white girl).  If you look at this house, it’s pretty sad, you see things strewn all over the porch, windows and shades ripped and half open/closed with no screens, no grass on the lawn, broken boards and siding falling off the house.  There are children that live there, and there are cats, tons of them – all with fleas too.  Remember when I rescued the four week old kitten that was laying there half dead on the porch.  These people had no problem with me taking it away and treating it and then the next day bringing food and milk replacement for its siblings inside, but when I told them I had saved the kitten, had it adopted out, and wanted to take the others – at least five other 3-4 week old kittens from two different mothers – they were aghast that I would keep the kitten.  The next day was when I saw a NO TRESPASSING sign put up, and they did not return my call to them after leaving them a note on the porch to call me.  SEVEN cats run to me each morning there, half have the cheap plastic flea collars on, half don’t.  Two are spayed, the rest need to be.  I had two huts set down to protect the food I leave them in case of rain, and those were destroyed.  I am not sure if it’s the same people, but someone doesn’t like me.  Its as if these people are saying to me, stay away – these are our cats, and we will let them multiply if we want to.  There HAS to be a law against this.  In the meantime, I will continue to try to get these cats fixed, when I am able to financially.  But what about those four or five baby kittens inside?  What will become of them?

The new clinic on Bay is not allowing me to get the cats I RESCUE spayed or neutered there for low cost.  I am rather disappointed by this, after all, I am taking care of the cats, and helping to stop the overpopulation of them in their neighborhood.  Here is what I wrote to them, and was rejected.  I cannot afford a regular vet service for a cat spay or neuter, but am still trying to do good for these animals. 

Dear RCAC: 

Unlike the rescue orgs, I don't make a penny when someone adopts the cats I rescue from the street.   I pay for the spay/neutering out of my own pocket because most people won't adopt without that being done anyways.  When I do make a needed rescue of a cat in the Beachwood section, and TRY to get them adopted out,  I adopt them out to people of all income levels, including very low income folks, and wind up taking care of those vet bills (emergency, spay/neuter) in addition to helping with food, because I am just trying to get them off the streets.

I have one income in my home (of 12 cats), and spend every extra dime I make on saving these cats, getting them fixed, and fed and sheltered.  I put my own (home) cats wellness aside to get the cats I rescue the very best chance to be adopted out and can only do so with low cost veterinary services.  I would ask Dr. (name omitted) to consider me in a different category than just anyone, as I am trying to clean up the streets in OUR neighborhood.

Here is a comment someone e-mailed me about yesterday’s post – again, I couldn’t have said it better.  Thanks to the few of you who comment on my posts, they mean a lot to me, knowing that someone is paying attention.  J

Janine,

Your article is so true…..rescuing animals is not a career choice….It is something in the blood, in your very soul that drives rescuers to what they do.  It is  just a fact, I do believe it is in the genes.  Your heart says it must be done so therefore you do it. there is no way to turn away from the eyes begging for help and love, 'no' is not in your vocabulary when  it comes to these poor creatures. We understand their pain, perhaps we were animals in our last life, who knows.   The reward is knowing that we did the best we could, and your sleep is the sleep of the just.   Karma?  I believe it exists.      Sharon