Alas

Sep. 14th, 2009 01:31 pm
vr_trakowski: (inner balance)
[personal profile] vr_trakowski
Last night was such nice weather that I left my bedroom window open.  At about 11:30, I looked out to see a couple of kittens--five weeks, six?--cleaning up the leftovers from the ferals' supper.  I gathered up a couple of cans of cat food and went out.  There were at least five, and when they saw me they bolted into the bushes, but I put the food down anyway.  Judging from at least one of them, they're Cocoa's litter; I knew she'd given birth and was nursing, but not where her nest was. 

At about four this morning, I heard barking outside my window.  There are few dogs in my apartment complex--I'm not sure they're legal--and the couple I've seen were the little fluffy kind.  This was a German shepherd and something not much smaller. 

I whistled at them and they left off and trotted away.  But below my window I could see a little body in the grass. 

They came back about half an hour later, and I went out with a broom to tell them to go home.  They jingled when they left; they were wearing collars and tags. 

I took an old shirt and a plastic bag out when I left for work this morning, and gathered the little one up; the grass is long and I couldn't be sure Maintenance would see it.  There were no visible wounds, but it was soggy; shaken to death. 

I can't blame the dogs.  They were just being doggy.  I do blame whoever let them run free, and not just for the kitten, because I live right on a major road.  They could very easily be hit by someone not expecting a four-legged pedestrian, and the consequences could be disastrous for both the dogs and the driver.  I should know; I've done it, not half a mile away from where I live now. 

Poor kitten.  You had so little time, and your life probably wasn't going to have been much worth living; but you deserved the chance at it. 

Date: 2009-09-16 02:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vr-trakowski.livejournal.com
Unfortunately the SPCAs here would just euthanize. There is a private neuter-and-release group, but let's just say I had a very bad experience with them. I'd buy a live trap and try it myself, but I have nowhere to keep them while they heal--it's a one-bedroom apt. with two elderly cats already.

I suppose I shouldn't feed them. But I can't not.

Date: 2009-09-16 04:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 4persephone.livejournal.com
I have two cats myself I do understand. I am sorry the neutering group in your area sounds like a no-go. There have been a few decent ones out there that really helped me which is why I suggested. Feeding them doesn;t keep the population down, but it is easier than watching them starve to death.

Date: 2009-09-17 02:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vr-trakowski.livejournal.com
Yes--thanks for the suggestion! I should look around again and see what's available, this was at least two years ago and things could have changed.

Three of them let me pet them right now. *sigh*

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