I lost it on facebook yesterday. I came under fire for putting down Brave. I even got a courtesy phone call from someone who had been feeding him for a few years wondering why in the world didn’t I wait to put him down until another rescue could intervene so she could have been with him in his final moments? Are you kidding me? I was so angry and raw from losing both cats yesterday, I listened to her rant and rave and I think I did tell this person how the cat came to us and I had no idea another rescue had been contacted. I was just numb- then I find out later at the vet that this same person called my vet to check up on my story about why the cat died. Like I make this crap up? I just tell everyone that these cats die to what? Increase my non-profit income? WTH! It took a lot of self control for me to hold it together but then coming under fire on facebook about this decision just broke me. They contacted me through the private chat and let me have it- telling me that I should have waited the 30 days until the owner came and claimed him? Right, I am going to sit on a wounded- severely wounded cat for 30 days and pray he doesn’t die waiting for the “owner” to step up and claim a 9 year old-battle scarred, ear torn tomcat? Makes perfect sense to me. (sarcastic comment here)
Oddly enough when I took this private chat “public’ and vented no one has responded except to like my comment. I did say that if someone felt so strongly that I ended the life of “their” cat, they are more than welcome to send us the euthanasia fee of $210.00! Gee nobody stepped up to do that? (another sarcastic comment).
This weekend was pure nuts. Logged into our book are 18 calls about cats and kittens in distress. I had to pick and choose and figure out who really needed the help the most, We answered every call. Ignoring is not in my DNA.
I even had this one guy who tracked me down (after calling the house and finding out from Mike where in town I would be) I am backing out of the parking lot of the grocery store and someone behind me is honking and flashing their lights. I am thinking, did I hit someone? This man hotfoots if out of his car, runs up to my window (which was down) the dogs were in the truck. He says “Do you do cats?” I motion to my magnetic signs on my truck with our logo and nod my head.
“I need help,” he sputters. “My cat has gone from 8 pounds to 2 pounds in three m onths and I need $800.00 to get all her teeth pulled!”
Honest, I don’t make this stuff up!
I told him that isn’t what I do, and if I did have $800.00 it would go on our pre-existing vet bill. I told him a few other things, I am sure he didn’t want to hear. He’s had this cat for eight years and claims to love it- As I left he shouted “You are a bad person!” Hmm maybe in his eyes, I am.
I hear your frustration. I have had to put cats down for a lot less reasons than that. Sometimes we just have to do what we have to do. Thanks for making the right decisions.
Some people just don’t think. Thirty days for a cat with a torn throat and fatal infections? Idiots. I feel more for the man who accosted you in the parking lot. He is probably desperate to save his cat and doesn’t have the money. Other people probably would have just tried to give the cat away.
Animal-rescue is saving who you can when you can. The only way all animals can be saved is if all people try to save them. Some day the world will clue in. In the meantime, people such as yourself do what they can.
really to go up to someone and ask them for $800, I can see wanting to help your cat and I have a cat with dental issues and I take her in to see that vet on a regular basis, but she does fine with wet food. and to call someone out for helping a kitty that has tested positive and has a gaping hole in its throat, sorry but that is just mean to expect that cat to go through the surgeries to heal the neck when you know it has a limited life span. ggggggrrrrrrrrr