Recently, I was talking to a fellow cat owner who asked how my two were doing. When I mentioned that the one had died, two days after his 12th birthday, a friend and coworker of mine overheard and went into a tantrum about, "You KNOW HIS BIRTHDAY? That's just about the most riduculous thing I've ever heard! Its an animal...who the hell remembers an animal's birthday...." (This is a man who has volunteered THOUSANDS of hours for an artist organization that had recently given his notice of departure because the artists had renigged on the one thing he had asked them to do...support a community event, at no expense to themselves, in order for him to give his time...and he had done this for 7 years.) I was hurt at first...then gathered myself and shot back, "Yes, I remember his birthday. Its not like we celebrated with hats or anything, but I did celebrate the day he was born with a new toy for him....There is nothing wrong with marking the event
of birth for something that gives you unconditional love for its entire life and asks only food in return.....Its not like I forfitted thousands of hours of my time for a bunch of ungrateful people who refuse to help themselves...."
His reply. "Point taken." Sometimes, with people who don't understand...you just have to put it in perspective.
Meanwhile, the powers that be in the town where I work, recently evicted dozens of people from the project neighborhood to raise the houses and build luxury town houses. Unfortunately, since the residents only had a few weeks notice, when they left, they left their animals...(mostly because many had to move into motels and such, where animals are not allowed). So for the rest of the summer, I will be trying to feed, catch, vet and place as many of these animals as I can, mostly cats. If anyone is in the MD, DE, PA area, and would like to make an addition to their family...or even foster, please let me know...Right now I have no idea of the health condition of these animals...I have pulled both healthy cats and a Felv+ cat from these streets in the past year. (I have no idea where the $$$ will come to do all this...but it has been my experience that homes, food and help will come. Meanwhile I'm going to contact the owner of the land and see if I can
get him to put out some money on the grounds that the strays running around will be emotionally trying for any new residents that will be buying his high priced homes. But I'm not holding my breath on that one....perhaps a letter to the newspaper?...or do you think this might draw too many nerdowells? Dog fighting is big around here....I don't want to supply fresh bait if you get my meaning.)
Thanks,
T
"Gloria B. Lane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
MC - I didn't know that! Hows about that! 10 hours for a
parent? Anybody can see that's wrong. Wow -
I remember when my horse died in about 1989 - I'd had her for about 28
years. A friend - a social worker in private counseling practice - had no
clue about it - she said "explain to me how you can be sad about a horse
dying". I was in shock. I suppose it was a legitimate question, but it
just overwhelmed me.
It's hard, the non-traditional losses... glad to know you specialize in
that area.
Gloria
At 01:03 PM 4/30/2005, you wrote:
>i'm trained as a grief counselor, and specialize in "unsanctioned"
>grief--which includes pets, gay/lesbian relationships, foster children
>leaving, miscarriage, etc.
>
>there was one study done where people were asked what the appropriate
>amount of time one should mourn for a parent. the answer???? (this
>still blows me away) TEN HOURS. so we expect people to understand
>about our furkids??????
>--
>MaryChristine
>
>AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats
>MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>ICQ: 289856892
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