Kerry,
I hear you on the sadness and frustration. (I love MC's magnet, I want
one!). I usually start out all sympathetic sounding about these jerks
plight. Oh, how terrible that you have to lose a family member this
way! What happened that circumstances have come to this?! I get them
talking about their cats/dogs, I ask them about their 'babies'
personalities and talk about what kind of home would be a good match for
them. I ask them about relatives or people that care about the human in
question, get them thinking about how much easier it will be on the
cat/dog, if they can have some contact with the person they've spent
their life with. I ask them about the day that the animal came to live
with them, what were they like when they were kittens, etc. If I can
get them crying, all the better! While I'm talking with them, I urge
them to consider what a terrible thing this is for their animal friend,
how they won't understand what is happening to them, how the person will
never know if they are safe, or happy, or dead. I don't know, I'm
pretty burnt out on trying to educate unfeeling people, but sometimes
waking them up to the fact that these animals are not property, should
be treated with dignity and respect, even hitting the guilt button about
how they are letting them down, (in oh-so-subtle ways) can help them
reconsider their plans. After all, once this is done, it can't be
undone and it's something that they will have to live with for the rest
of their lives. I have a neighbor behind me that while not an 'animal
person', has shown herself to be compassionate and caring in other
ways. Her daughter is going through an ugly divorce, (this girl is not
a brain surgeon), and she 'dumped' the family dog on her mother. She
was keeping the dog in her mom's backyard while she moved into a condo
that "doesn't take dogs". Arrgghh! I clenched my teeth and tried to
appear sympathetic to her jerk daughter's situation. Then I turned it
on big time about how the dog must be feeling right now, losing his
home, his family, ending up in a strange place through absolutely no
fault of his own. Then I went on to describe what this dog will be
feeling when she finds herself in a shelter, how scared and unhappy
she'll be, the fact that she will probably, after all the trauma she'll
be put through, be pts because she's no spring chicken and there are so
many other animals at the shelter that will be attractive to potential
adopters. Bottom line? The mother has decided not to put the dog
through all this. She's kept the dog, (now ask me if I did the right
thing, the woman is learning, but she has a long way to go before she
provides the kind of home I think any animal deserves).
I don't know Kerry. I'm not in a very good position right now to feel
empowering. Back to my mantra: All we can do, is all we can do. Good
luck helping those poor cats. I'd definitely bring up all the dangers
and neurosis caused when a declawed cat finds themself in less than safe
circumstances.
N
MacKenzie, Kerry N. wrote:
Hi all
I just received this from a co-worker---it makes me so sad (and
livid--so I'll need to cool down before I compose a response). Unless a
person has really compelling reasons e.g., moving into an unenlightened
care facility, why would they be "unable" to take their cats? (She
doesn't give a reason which makes me suspicious that the reasons are not
compelling.)
I think--once I've recovered--I should compose a measured, hopefully
educational (that's where you wonderful guys' input particularly comes
in) as-helpful-as-possible standard letter for myself to respond to this
type of plea. If you have any suggestions for such a response I'd
welcome them. I will of course direct her to the no-kill shelters
ultimately too, tho I've no idea how they normally respond to this sort
of situation. It must happen all the time. (I know, correction, *knew*
one woman who gave up her cat because the fiance didn't like cats. Dump
the man, more like.)
thanks in advance for any info you want to suggest for this forthcoming
form letter. And thank God for you guys, the real animal-lovers of the
world.
Kerry
______
I am writing because I am moving soon and am unable to take my cats with
me. I am therefore in need of a very good home for them. They are
brother and sister, 10 years old, and extremely loving and sweet. They
are both de-clawed, fixed, and up to date with shots.
If you or anyone you know is interested in saving them and giving them a
good home, I would be extremely grateful.
Please let me know if you are interested in seeing pictures.
I really appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks,
Kim
847-945-8520
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