Because we could all use some GOOD news today...
There's a community of feral cats in my neighborhood, many of whom live in a ruined shed on the property next door to me. One of the neighbors has been (with my permission) putting out food and water for them in the corner of my yard every evening. He wanted to do more, but didn't know what else he could do, and I didn't have an answer for him.
The other day, as I was coming home from the supermarket, a woman parked next to my house, hopped out of her car, and ran over to me. She introduced herself, and said that another neighbor had called her to say she'd seen a cat with a prolapsed rectum among the ferals in my yard, and the cat obviously needed immediate veterinary attention. I'd seen this one, and while the condition certainly looks alarming, I'd watched the cat, who didn't seem to be inconvenienced by the problem. In fact, that cat and a couple of the others were in my yard at the moment, probably waiting to be fed. This woman then told me that the town government has "partnered" with the SPCA to trap, neuter, and release as many cats as possible, and that she especially wanted to trap the one with the rectal prolapse and get it to a vet. She started to show me the information sheets provided by the town and the SPCA.
I told her that I didn't have that much involvement with the ferals, and that there was another person who "took care of" the cats, who might want to sign up for the program. And just then he arrived, a little later than usual, to put out food for the gang! I introduced them to each other, and soon they were chatting away, making plans for trapping the cats in my yard, and in other places around the neighborhood. They practically forgot I was there, until I excused myself to go into my house and put away my groceries.
I'm very glad this is happening. The cats will get to live out their lives - perhaps some of them will even be adopted - without there being a new litter of kittens every few months. And I'm happy to have been part of the serendipity that brought together the two people who needed to meet each other.
The other day, as I was coming home from the supermarket, a woman parked next to my house, hopped out of her car, and ran over to me. She introduced herself, and said that another neighbor had called her to say she'd seen a cat with a prolapsed rectum among the ferals in my yard, and the cat obviously needed immediate veterinary attention. I'd seen this one, and while the condition certainly looks alarming, I'd watched the cat, who didn't seem to be inconvenienced by the problem. In fact, that cat and a couple of the others were in my yard at the moment, probably waiting to be fed. This woman then told me that the town government has "partnered" with the SPCA to trap, neuter, and release as many cats as possible, and that she especially wanted to trap the one with the rectal prolapse and get it to a vet. She started to show me the information sheets provided by the town and the SPCA.
I told her that I didn't have that much involvement with the ferals, and that there was another person who "took care of" the cats, who might want to sign up for the program. And just then he arrived, a little later than usual, to put out food for the gang! I introduced them to each other, and soon they were chatting away, making plans for trapping the cats in my yard, and in other places around the neighborhood. They practically forgot I was there, until I excused myself to go into my house and put away my groceries.
I'm very glad this is happening. The cats will get to live out their lives - perhaps some of them will even be adopted - without there being a new litter of kittens every few months. And I'm happy to have been part of the serendipity that brought together the two people who needed to meet each other.