Re: OT: My current Guilt

[Barbara Lowe]

sometimes I get to hear the stories of how my foster kittens were rescued. two women who clean the bathrooms at a local state park/beach were leaving the parking lot and noticed a cardboard box. they almost left without checking but decided, "aw go get it". inside were two shivering kittens. this was in the dead of winter. they survived. they were meant to die by whatever lunatic dropped them off because even tho the restaurant stays open at the park, it is used very very rarely.   another kitten came to the shelter via a mom who was obviiously not well off--rusted car-grubby clothes-small whining toddler w/ filthy face--told our supervisor who was having a really really bad day that they couldn't afford the vet bills and the kitten-maybe 4 weeks old-was not as active as it had been. the shelter had had over a dozen animals dumped on them that day--all grown and all sick. supervisor said couldn't fit in this tiny kitten.(she felt this family would just turn around  and adopt another kitten somewhere as they just didn't want to pay the vet bills--PLUS there was also a scare of distemper in the area that summer). I was there for whatever reason and followed the mom out to her car. she was crying and I fell for it and took the kitten immediately to vet to make sure no distemper. he perked up and was a little pig. meanwhile no one at shelter knew I had the kitten. they get a phone call and a visit in person from this woman's very angry husband who was showing signs of being "under some influence" threatening them wanting  his kittten back. they had no idea but teh supervisor remembered, "oh damn Barbara was here." but said that was just another adopter looking for a kitten who claimed to be a volunteer who took your kitten.  the guy cursing, spilled the beans that the baby had thrown the kitten against the wall. never knew or cared if baby or the drunk guy--I kept that kitten til it went to a good home.  The woman I realized later, showed signs of being abused, she still cared enough to rescue the kitten. I always think about her and wish I had been smart enough to know how to rescue her.   another group of kittens came to me via two restaurant waitresses who saw the group being thrown from a car in their parking lot. crying kids in the back of a station wagon and the mom just tossed the kittens one by one--right by a very busy roadway. they think they found them all. thank goodness they had a very understanding boss who let them take over an hour to catch them.   You did the best you could with the mouse. that's all any of us can do. Perhaps when you have time, you can google how to care for wildlife. spring is coming and that means baby birds falling out of nests,etc. a very helpful wildlife rehabilitator on the animals board on ebay always shows up to help with info how to and what not to do with animals. she made me feel better about a tiny tiny baby snake I found who died. I know a squirrel rescuer thru my vet--why those darn things always find me when I'm out walking with my dogs--so i can call her to make sure should I bring it to her or not. Frankly if you can catch a wild mouse, that probably meant he was not in good shape. take care, barbara