Thursday 30 October 2008

Doing the right thing is hard

On Tuesday we had to do something very sad.

As I think I've mentioned, the abusive neighbours had two cats that they seemed to look after, once upon a time. Then they kicked them both out the house. The poor animals were so confused. And the one was really sick. As in it couldn't breathe properly, was covered in scabs, had puss streaming out of its nose and eyes and was a walking bag of bones. The neighbour man told me that it had FIV (the feline version of HIV), which meant that not only would it not get better, but it might infect other cats.

So, as you've probably guessed by now, we took the poor thing to the SPCA and had it put down. It was the right thing to do, but it was really, really hard. I sat in the boot of my hatchback car, with the cat in an old laundry hamper. It struggled to breathe so much that every breath sounded like someone in the last stages of emphysema. And yet, even as it sat there, pitifully spewing mucous out of every orifice (sorry, that was graphic), it tried to cuddle up to my hand to get some love. My heart broke.

I bawled my eyes out the entire way there. Not because the cat was being put down, but because there are people in the world like my neighbours who can beat their child black and blue in the face and let the family pet get the point where it is needlessly enduring ongoing suffering.

Surely when you have children or you take on a pet you sign up for responsibility?

Anyway, by the time we got to the SPCA I had mascara smeared all over my face and could barely get the words out to explain to the SPCA staff what the situation was. All I could hear was that poor cat's laboured breathing. The lady told me that there was nothing we could do; it was too late for him. I knew that, but it was still really hard to know that the cat's last moments were spent in pain that could have been avoided.

Ok... waiting for tears to clear... sorry. I'm starting to think that this post was a bad idea.

But my point... Last night, the horrible man comes to our flat and asks if we've seen the cat. Why? Certainly not because he cares for it. He shouted at our other neighbours for trying to feed it once. He wants to know where it is because it's his. He wants to know where it is for the same reason he doesn't want his kid to be taken away - becuase he has power and control over it.

He disgusts me.

The kid's grandparents have arranged to fly out from the Ukraine to some and get him. I'm not sure what the legal process is, but I can't wait until that child is out of the sphere of his influence.

18 comments:

The Jackson Files said...

I despise and loathe that neighbour of yours. I just can't believe that one person is responsible for so much suffering.

Poor you T, but well done on doing the right thing.

phillygirl said...

What a terrible story. I don't know how someone could not love their children or animals ... :( Hope you feel at least a little better knowing you really did the right thing!

Cam said...

Fck...those people sound like oxygen thieves...where's a bolt of lightning or a bus when you need one!

MsBehavn said...

Wow, Tam. Your neighbour is such an asshole! Has the SPCA come around to remove the other cat?

It's so shocking that people like this exist. I hope that the kid's grandparents are able to come out soon!

*hugs*

Arkwife said...

Grrrr....I can't express my anger without a stream of very foul words running through my mind. I can't be held responsible for what I would do if I ever saw that man or one like him on the street.

po said...

Sad, so very sad. You are a brave lady Tamara, it is so hard to do the right thing!

Sass said...

You freed that poor innocent creature from that man. I am proud of you for that.

It takes so much paperwork to go buy a house, a car, sign up for a credit card, get a job...but to have a child or an animal, nothing.

That's a sad, sad fact.

Unknown said...

Some people should just not be parents or pet-owners. I cannot believe people like that even exist. That poor poor cat, and that poor child.

Anonymous said...

so sorry for what you had to endure, i love animals to no end, cats especially and that it had to suffer so long so needlessly just breaks my heart too. hard but the best thing you could have ever done.

Shania said...

I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm sure that poor kitty is grateful.

Miss Caught Up said...

I am angry and sad at the same time.

I think, as a penalty, the neighbor of your's should be treated the same way he treated his child and pets. It's a cruel punishment, but in this case I see it fit.

What a terrible, terrible person.

Caz said...

ah lady, it certainly sounds like you are placed there for a time such as this hey? Not easy at all, but imagine you and your man weren't there... you guys are a blessing

Gill said...

{[hugs}} Tamara. My heart breaks just hearing about the dreadful things that this "person" (I use the term loosely) inflicts on those around him, both human and feline; seeing it in reality must be so incredibly hard on you. Well done for doing what you can in the situation.

Moe Wanchuk said...

I'm not aggressive....but I feel like flying over there and taking a baseball bat to his knees!

I like how you bring reality to your writing.

Anonymous said...

What aweful horrible evil people!!!!

The kitty cat was lucky to have you there at the end though - to at least feel loved!

Slyde said...

you have a great big heart. i love ya. that was a good thing you did...

Dash said...

ewww gross

AngelConradie said...

oh tamara, i had a big lump in my throat when i read this.
thank you for taking care of him when his people wouldn't.