Cruelty can take many forms. PFA volunteers regularly encounter cats suffering the obvious physical effects of abandoment, malnourishment and starvation and abuse, but cruelty doesn't need to be physical to have a devastating effect.
This week PFA got word about Edsel, an 18-year old female cat whose owners took her to a kennel for boarding and then refused to take her back, abandoning her and leaving her fate in the hands of strangers. Naturally, poor Edsel is very stressed and scared and isn't eating. What animal wouldn't be stressed to be in that situation after a lifetime in a home?
Peronally, I can not understand what would compel the owners to have Edsel for so long and then just dump her like that. They may have had reasons for not keeping her, but their method of dealing with it is heartless. Maybe they thought they were doing her a favour by not taking her to the humane society! But, they have caused immeasurable stress and fear to a vulnerable senior cat who was their pet for many years (18 cat years equates to about 88 human years).
These people have also caused stress and heartache for the staff at the boarding kennel. They are not in a position to keep people's unwanted animals and are now faced with trying to find her a home or being responsible for sending her to an uncertain fate at the overcrowded humane society where euthanization rates are high.
Finally, Edsel's owners have caused stress and heartache for PFA as we struggle to find a way to help this cat when our foster homes and volunteers are already overloaded and our adoption rates are extremely low. We have no room in foster care, but no-one wants this poor cat to live out her last days in a cage or to be responsible for sending her to an early and unnecessary death.
Maybe, if enough people make enough calls and put out enough pleas, we will find a way to help Edsel. But it won't be thanks to the actions of Edsel's owners. Edsel must now rely on the kindness of strangers.
-Alanna
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