It Was a Brutal, Barbaric Way to Die.....

It was a brutal, barbaric way to die! Left by the side of the road in early Monday morn, of March  2003, in -25 F weather, (with a wind chill of -40 F), the ten-week-old kitten struggled to survive. Was she the last of the litter, ready at 8 weeks, but still with mom? Had there been no takers, no one interested in this tiny 'free to a good home', vulnerable beauty? Was leaving this baby animal to die in the cold the only expedient answer to 'its problem'?

My plans had changed that morning, otherwise, I would not have been on that road, where forests, deep snow and monolithic hydro towers, as far as the eyes could see, graced the landscape. ...  As I drove past this unusual looking 'lump of dirty snow', I was horrified to learn the truth. ... She cried out, screaming relentlessly, as I approached her, pleading, perhaps, that I would not leave her there to die. The kitten could not move. Even the snow squeaked that brutally cold morning. Had it snowed, she would have become part of the landscape, plowed into oblivion and our family would never have known the companionship and love of a kitty cat. Another act of torture missed!

We were destined to meet that fateful day. I was rarely on that road, having simply made a wrong turn that morning. A quick look changed my life and hers, forever. As I drove to the nearest animal clinic, her plaintiff cries assured me that she was alive, for now. ... 

The Yorkwood Animal Clinic in Keswick, Ontario jumped into action as soon as I arrived and told them my story. I  returned to the car with help and began to untangle the kitten from the web of airbag wires that had engulfed her as she wriggled on the floor of the car. I prayed that I would not hurt her or worse. 

The malnourished  kitten became the clinic’s top priority that week. Warming her body, however, became paramount. The thermometer could not register her body temperature. It was too low to matter. ... Parts of her ears and tail were at risk for amputation, I was told. The doctor would do her best. The prognosis was poor, however. Time would tell. I left, shaken at the brutality of the act I had just witnessed moments ago.

Was the kitty a metaphor for life in the 21^st century where abandoning an unwanted living creature was the only expedient way to deal with an inconvenience, a burden, a change of mind or an imperfection? In our disposable society, have we crossed the line? How we treat the most vulnerable among us is what separates us from the other ‘lowly’ species. 

There was no excuse for what happened  that morning - 9 years ago! ... Our precious little pea became the clinic darling for 5 days and came home to a family of 8: 5 adults, two large dogs, and a formerly abandoned rabbit. She was spared 'selective' amputation but no longer had whiskers, losing all to the frost that day. We all shared in the saving of a life and an act of cruelty had been stopped - until next time!

For those of us living in winter climes, take note as you drive by a suspicious 'lump of dirty snow'. It could very well be your next pet. For the rest of us living in year-round summer paradise, the lure of ditches, dumpsters and  the ever popular lake makes disposing of litters of kittens and puppies, oh, so easy. 

Take note as you go about your day. You never know what lurks beside and beneath these convenient, hidden places of death. To those who would dare to dispose of newborn litters or old family pets in such despicable ways, shame on you! There's no excuse! Take them to those who care and will find them homes. It's obvious you won’t!