25 Sep
2011
25 Sep
'11
6:20 p.m.
On 25 Sep 2011 at 19:27, Jules Richardson wrote:
Yeah. One of our three cats we rescued from a
wood-pile, and was
probably the only one of her litter to survive (we caught another who
didn't make it, and the other three took off and doubtless got
themselves shot, poisoned, or eaten, assuming they didn't starve).
My observation was based on reality, not trying to be funny. Cats
abandoned seem to end up as food out here. A neighbor captures
strays and has them spayed or neutered then releases them. I'm not
certain that she's doing them any favors. She leaves food out for
them, but the raccoons get it first.
Dogs, if not snatched by the slimier members of society for use as
dogfighting fodder, usually end up getting found if they're lost.
My wife and I have worked in dog rescue with a statewide group for
the last 20 years or so. We do try to do our part. All of our own
animals have been rescues.
Rabies is a big problem here as it's carried by bats--and we have a
lot of bats. It then makes its way through the raccoon and opossum
populations. I can only assume that stray cats are part of that ugly
picture, since their stupid owners rarely have them vaccinated.
One memory sticks in my mind about our last cat--she wasn't afraid of
anything--until she stalked a turkey. Thereafter, when a flock came
though our yard, she'd run for the safety of the house.
--Chuck