Helping the Helpless

Ashes at my apartment

November 12, 2009 -

When I was a kid, we acquired all of our cats as strays. Many were just tossed out at our house, where they inevitably became members of our family. It was always too hard to resist the new kitten who was hanging around the garage or yard. Eventually, and sometimes without our parents’ permission, my sister and I would leave out a bowl of food, which led to the kitten being given a name, which led to the kitten being invited into the house. My parents always argued strongly against the addition of another cat, but they were often the ones leaving out more food or opening the door to the cat.

When I adopted Kate, she quickly made it clear that she preferred to be an only cat. I also lived my life until recently in rented apartments and houses. Generally, landlords frown on having their property overrun with animals (or ask for an exorbitant deposit), so I remained a one-cat lady until I bought my own house. Now, I think I’m limited to just the two cats I have because Kate is so distressed by her little brother.

None of this stops my heart from pulling when I see a kitty in need. I remember Ashes, a dark gray kitty I took to a no-kill shelter when I lived in a Phoenix apartment (prior to any work in animal welfare). He was yowling outside and pacing around, and I was trying my best to ignore him because I knew I couldn’t invite him in. Not only was he unneutered, but he was huge. I knew he wouldn’t get along well with Kate, or vice versa. But then I saw the neighbors throwing rocks at him. I could not leave him alone outside, being pelted with rocks just for existing. I put out food and sat outside petting him. He was the sweetest boy. He purred and gobbled down the food I left. I didn’t know what else to do, so I left out a bowl of food and went to work asking everyone I knew for a way to help this kitty. Eventually, we found a spot for him in a shelter in Sun City. I kept him in my bathroom overnight (much to Kate’s dismay) and took him in to the shelter the next day. Even though I knew he would find a home and get the love and care he deserved, I cried when I left him there. If I could have, I would have kept him.

Now I work with pet lovers who know to whom and where to go for help. I try every day to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets, but I still don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I see the available cats on shelter sites and on our internal intranet page and wish I could take them all home. I see the images from pet rescues where our Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicle helps out and I want to bring each of those poor kitties into my house and give them a soft bed, warm blankets, bowls of food and water and love. Every time I come across a kitty who touches my heart, I’ll be considering making more room in my home. If you want to help out, please visit the PetSmart Charities Web site. Everything we do can make a difference for the pets who don’t have a voice.

Michelle T. – PetSmart Charities