Last night, two devoted volunteers responded to a plea for help from Sandra at 80th and Kedzie. Sandra and her eight-year-old daughter had found a cat apparently stuck under a fence and with something clearly wrong. Despite the rain and dark, our volunteers mobilized and coaxed this unfortunate animal into a cat carrier by petting and relaxing him. They then brought him to the emergency animal clinic on Clybourn. He was paralyzed and did not respond to light shone in his eyes (cause of problem undiagnosed, could have been anything from rabies to antifreeze poisoning). The decision was made to euthanize and he died peacefully. His last hours were in a dry, warm, quiet place with loving words and strokes. He was not left to die in the cold and rain.
Despite this sad result, we are inspired by the dedication of these volunteers. Theirs and her mother's actions showed a little girl that there is mercy and compassion in this world and that animals matter. Thank you Ruth and Che; thanks to Sandra for reaching out for help and for donating towards Spalding's care.
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Some Tips: When You've Found an Injured Animal
Be careful. You can't help if you get hurt. Injured cats may bite.
In Chicago you can try calling 311. Understand the limitations of animal care and control agencies -- and volunteer groups. Virtually all animal control facilities and humane societies have severe budgetary or space limitations and must make painful decisions about how best to allocate their inadequate resources. Most likely you will get advice over the phone and be asked to bring the cat somewhere for care.
The same is true for volunteer-run organizations. Hyde Park Cats was actually able to get two compassionate people out of their homes in the rain on a Saturday night, but no organization can mobilize all the time. We encourage you as the finder to reach out for help, but prepare to take action yourself.
Know that helping in some way is the right thing to do, even if the only thing you can do is figure out a shelter from the rain. And sometimes the best thing you can do is facilitiate a humane death. Thanks to everybody who does stop and help, who calls for help, who gears up and helps.
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Stray and feral cats and kittens in Hyde Park need our help.
Hyde Park Cats: helping stray, feral, and needy cats and kittens in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood: hydeparkcats@gmail.com
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7 comments:
Heart felt thanks to Sandra, her daughter, Ruth and Che. Your kindness sparked a small donation from me. I hope it catches on.
Sandra, as a grandma I know you had a choice - one choice would have shielded your daughter from unpleasantness, a choice too many take. I believe your choice of engagement was wise, has enriched her life and will help her make her own good choices going forward. Even with the sad end, you know you made things better.
I was so moved when I read this that my eyes filled up. Sandra's daughter is very lucky. When I was very young and growing up in a woodsy part of Massachusetts, we often came upon injured, often very young, wild animals. My parents never shielded us from the possibility of having to witness their deaths, but by permitting us to give these tiny creatures a warm, dry, safe place to die, they taught me a profound lesson whose value I realized only now, upon reading this. Thank you all so much for reminding us that this world need not be cruel and heartless.
The staff at the North Clyborne ER were fabulous - patient, efficient, compassionate. They must face painful situations and distressed animals like this all the time and they were very caring about Spalding and gracious and sympathetic. Just amazing.
This story is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Poor, poor kitty. :`(
My chidlren both spent a lot of their childhoods caring for sick, wounded kitties we found - some of whom still live at our house. My children are amongst the most compassionate adults I know. My son introduced me to HPC's blog. Sandra, I know you and your daughter will help more distressed animals, and your child will only grow in wisdom and love through all of these experiences.
Sandra, that was an amazing story. Thank you to you and your daughter for doing the right thing, despite the weather. May God Bless!
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