I was outraged this week over a story a friend at my law office told me. She lives in an apartment complex where the onsite management is... difficult. (I’d say something nastier but I don’t want to burden this blog.)
She told me that one of her neighbors, whom she knew well, went out one evening to get a group of fellow tenants some dinner and was hit by a car and killed. That’s awful enough.
She also said the victim lived alone, and his family was from out of state. They came to claim his body and the apartment manager promised to gather up his belongings and donate them to charity. Instead, they apparently took what they wanted and trashed the rest, including some nice artwork. My friend was able to retrieve a little of that, at least.
But my friend said the neighbors started asking each other who had taken in the victim’s rescue cats. No one had--and they discovered that the managers swooped them up and took them to a city shelter to euthanize. Since the shelter employees believed the cats were the managers’ and whatever additional tale they told, the poor, already traumatized kitties were killed. For no reason. There were those around who would willingly have adopted them.
I found this so sad from many perspectives, including all of the poor victims, human and feline. It’s at times like this that I wish my super-litigator character Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter, attorney and murder magnet, was really my alter ego--although I’m not sure that attempting to prosecute people like those managers for animal cruelty would teach them a lesson.
Can anyone reading this cheer me up with a story of something nice that’s happened to a pet this week?
--Linda
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6 comments:
Well, it didn't happen this week, but at the ranch where I keep my horses, we've managed to save 3 stray dogs and 5 abandoned kittens. They are all leading very happy, comfy lives, and we can't imagine life without them.
That is so great, Gayle. It helps to soothe the sadness from a situation like the one I described. Hugs to all your babies!
--Linda
This didn't just happen either, but a friend of mine who lives in some kind of retirement housing always steps in when one of her neighbors has a health emergency and takes care of their pets.
She did email me today to tell me about one of her neighbors who she had to call 911 for. She stayed with him until they took him to the hospital. He didn't leave a pet behind. He left a wife with alzheimers in a wheelchair. My friend stayed with her and arranged care for her.
So, as awful as that manager was, there are many golden hearted people who step up for those around them.
Hi,
I don't have any story that has happened recently, but several times this past year my daughter has found wandering dogs and taken them back to their owners.
Thanks, too, Betty and Janie. It's so nice to hear about people who do the right thing to help pets--and other people, too!
--Linda
Another story that didn't happen recently - our youngest cat Gimli - had been found by animal control and was taken to our vet's office to be euthanized. He had a broken rear leg form being hit by a car - and he had probably been abandoned some time before. Our vet doesn't believe in euthanising animals if it's not absolutely necessary - and fixed up the broken leg. We were asked if we would foster him - and you know how that goes... We now have a loving, goofy cat - who took a LONG time to become socialized - and still has some facial paralysis (we figure he speaks "cat" with an accent) - but he brightens our days and is constantly asking for me to play chase with him.
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