I find also that farmers in general don't have alot of respect for animal lives. I guess it goes hand in hand with the nature of the business. When you raise animals to be slaughtered for food, you wouldn't tend to get very attached to them, and I think that carries over for other types of animals too. Alot of farmers don't like cats either. Cats are there to keep the mouse population down, and that's it.
Personally, I tend to judge people by how they treat animals. I judge character based on how people treat those in a lesser position of power...whether it be other people or animals. Cassandra ----- Original Message ----- From: Debbie To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 11:22 AM Subject: RE: frustrated So glad things are better. I was in this position years ago. My husband and I ended up hand raising 7 kittens from a co worker. If it is one kitten the lady may get attached to it. Although most people who have "farm cats" look at them as "just there and nothing special." I know because I work with all farmers! They make fun of me all the time because of our cats and dogs. They don't know what they are missing.The one lady's in laws here had a cat that had given birth lately. Her in laws had killed a female raccoon earlier in the week. Somehow the mother cat had found the raccoon's babies and when the people went to look at the kittens they found the baby raccoons with them, nursing the mother cat. Instead of being awed at nature and seeing the beauty in the situation - the farmers being farmers shot the baby raccoons! i have come to find that farmers can very cruel to animals. The other guy here in the office, a few months ago, bragged about how he shot his own dog - just because it wouldn't stay home. Another guy in the warehouse asked me what the dog pound charged to put a dog to sleep. Seems his dog, that was close to 12 years old, was having problems getting on and off the couch. His wife is expecting and had informed him he needed to get the dog "put down" before the arrival of the baby. he didn't want to pay the vet to do it so he wanted to take it to the dog pound because it is cheaper! Wonder if someday he would do this to his child or parents when they get to be an inconvenience? -----Original Message----- From: Melissa Lind Sent: Jun 19, 2007 10:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: frustrated Wow! Thank you all for the support! I’m back at work now—late because I had to go to the vet for some medicine for my babies—and the lady told me right away about her little kitty who is lapping up milk by himself. She was very excited. I’m very relieved because I worried all night about the little one. I live in Nebraska—far away from everyone on this list I think! But, I’ll let her know later today that there are people who would be willing to help her take care of the “nuisance.” She seems less stressed today, but it still breaks my heart to think of poor mama kitty and the baby having to go through that. I’m more than willing to transport as far as my paycheck will allow if anyone is interested in this baby (or any of my other foster cats, he he!) Since I’m at work, I’ll stealthily keep you posted today. Thanks again—I love being able to reach out to people who understand and who aren’t monsters! Melissa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marylyn Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 4:59 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: frustrated My nephew got me a bumper sticker for Christmas "The more people I meet the more I like my cat." If the situation is still on-going tomorrow you could offer, ever so sweetly, to relieve the "lady" of her problem, explaining how you know it is a burden, etc. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis ----- Original Message ----- From: Melissa Lind To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 4:42 PM Subject: OT: frustrated I know this is off topic, but I just had to jot this down at work since it’s consuming my thoughts. A lady that I work with has farm cats. Sadly, mama kitty and baby climbed into the car trunk when open, and they didn’t see them when they closed it. It’s been really hot and the two spent an entire day in the trunk. Mama kitty didn’t make it, but amazingly the baby did. But now my co-worker (more annoyed by the smell than anything) isn’t sure what to do with the baby. She tried to feed it, I think, but she doesn’t know about kitty milk or anything like that. And she actually sounds as if she’d rather just let it die. How horrifying. I’ve been close to tears all day after she told me so “regularly” as if it were nothing more than a nuisance. I really want to go take this baby and help it, but 1) I’m new here—it’s overstepping some boundaries, 2) the baby might not have made it through today anyway without food, and 3) I have 3 of my own cats, 2 fosters, and a husband who loves cats but is getting a little frustrated that I haven’t found homes for the foster cats yet. I know what the right thing to do is, but I’m conflicted. More than anything I’m angry at this lady (or saddened) by her lack of enthusiasm to help the poor baby. I can’t stop thinking about this little kitty. Right now I’m generally disgusted with people. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.0/853 - Release Date: 6/18/2007 3:02 PM

