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OUR FELINES |
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For nearly 9 years, we had a beautiful Calico cat, named Tasha. She was playful when she was young, but as the years went by, she became the equivalent of a miserable old lady. Her attitude didn't improve any when the new puppy came home. She and Tessa developed a sort of love/hate relationship. Tasha couldn't stand to be smothered by Tessa. Occasionally, the cat would take a swat at the dog if they came to close to each other. Ironically, they slept on the same bed, and often greeted each other at the door, after an outing.
It was a Saturday, on May 27, 2006, the day my son discovered his cat unresponsive and bleeding, on the sidewalk, in front of the neighbor's house. I rushed out the door to investigate the situation. As my son and his friend stood there, in shock, observing the horrible scene before us, I scrambled for words to explain to them that our cat had passed away. My mind was full of suspicion and innuendo, but I had no solid explanation for what happened to our beloved cat. I was aware that there were certain people, in our neighborhood, who expressed a personal disdain for cats. And the at-large dogs that ran rampant on our city streets was no secret. (I had been menaced a half dozen times by pitbulls, during my dog walks.) A call to my vet's office proved to be unsuccessful, as it was a holiday weekend, and the office was closed. I personally buried our cat that evening, amongst the souls of other childhood pets we've lost throughout the years. It was especially difficult for Alex and I, as Tasha was our first pet that we had lost, within our family. Alex has missed her so, and was looking for a new friend to replace the one he lost. I was reluctant, and so, that void in him remained unfilled.
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In early October, after much pleading from Alex, I decided to begin the search for a new kitten or cat to adopt. I visited the local animal shelter, filled out an adoption application, and looked over the poor felines who were yearning for homes. Unsure of a selection, I agreed to return another day, when Alex could be with me to make his own selection. There were so many cats, and it would be difficult to make a choice. A week or so later, Alex and I returned to the shelter. I spoke with the shelter attendant, who also happened to be my parents' neighbor. The look on her face confused me, but I knew she had something on her mind. She asked me if I thought Alex had learned to be "kinder" to animals. Of course, I gave her a look of astonishment, as I was puzzled by her question and had no idea what she was about to tell me. The shelter attendant made unwarranted accusations about my child mistreating animals. Knowing that my son has always been kind to our family pets, I came to his defense and disputed the shelter attendant's claims. Needless to say, she expressed her reluctance to allow us to adopt a shelter cat, and showed us the exit. I was devastated to learn that a neighbor of my parents' had formed such an opinion about my child. As a parent, and a licensed healthcare provider, I believe that I would be aware, if my child exhibited such a dangerous personality trait. I am not at all sure what lead the shelter attendant to comprise her opinion; it was hurtful just the same. |
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Ironically, members of our family have made many contributions to our local animal shelters. Through monetary donations, school fund drives, or personal donations of food or blankets, we have always tried to assist the shelters in any way we were able. |
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* A Special Note * (When Alex and I visited the shelter that day, we saw a group of older kittens who had been brought in after being abandoned. One of the kittens had deformed front paws that were permanently bent under. Alex felt so bad for the disabled kitten, that he had chosen that one for us to adopt. Unfortunately, our good will wasnt good enough.) |
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Enter Princess Mocha. Mocha is a 2-month-old Pastel Calico kitten. As you can guess by her-royal ness, she is a female, and was already (altered) when we adopted her. A friend of mine, who is also an animal lover, was irrate over the experience we had with our local animal shelter. We are truely indebted to my friend, for bringing Mocha into our lives. Mocha is very much at home, in our house. |
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Please, be kind to your pets. With the proper love and attention, they provide us with unconditional companionship. To help control the number of animals left abandoned and homeless, have your pet spayed or neutered. And provide good veterinary care, just as you would provide medical care to your children. |
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Background music is "Dust In The Wind" by Kansas |
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