The Bitten Kitten

My mother taught me many things as a child, but the one thing that remains with me to this day is the lesson she taught me about Unconditional Love. One of my earliest childhood memories is of my mother coming home from one of her jobs and flopping down on a couch full of kittens; I didn’t know it at the time, but it was my mother’s determination and work ethic that kept us fed and clothed and off Welfare. I look back on those days now and shake my head in amazement; my mother raised four girls by herself and never let on how desperate things were. We might not have had new clothes or the latest toy, but what we did have more than made up for it.

My mother could never say no to a stray animal, she would take one look at their little faces and would either take them in herself or she would bully the neighbors into taking on the responsibility. I can clearly remember coming home and being completely covered in kittens; at one point there were the four girls, my mom, four cats and twenty-one kittens living in a three bedroom Duplex. I remember it because it was the happiest time of my life.

It is because of my mother’s influence that I love cats so much, and I have never quite understood why others don’t feel the same way. I have friends who have cats even though their allergies are so bad they should buy stock in Claritin for the amount of money they spend, but I also know people who wouldn’t care if a cat lay dying in pain right in front of them. (I can actually recall this certain person saying ‘it’s a cat, it’s not like it has feelings’.) I will never understand that kind of mentality; it absolutely astounds me that people think we are the only beings capable of showing emotion on this planet.

I have been an animal rights activist all of my life, but it is only lately that I have become aware of just how many people are willing to give up their time, energy and even their freedom to protect them. I have been reading up on the Shac 7, the so-called terrorists who are now serving ridiculous prison sentences for harassing the Huntingdon Life Sciences Company because of their continued acts of cruelty, and for (gasp!) actually going to New Orleans and rescuing abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina. (To find out more information please go to www.shac7.com )

For awhile now I have been yearning to become more involved in what my mother calls ‘the good fight’. I have been looking for a way to spend my free time and I have found it by becoming a volunteer kitten feeder at the Toronto Humane Society. This is possibly the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had; hard for the simple reason that there are so many kittens that need to be fed; rewarding for the simple reason that I feel like I’m making a difference. It is emotionally draining and fulfilling at the same time; I have seen kittens no more than 24 hours old and barely clinging to life being nursed by men and women who are so dedicated to their task that they will stay for hours on end until they know that each and every kitten has been fed and cuddled. It is this dedication that makes this job much more than a way to spend my free time. It is devastating when a kitten dies, but I cannot tell you the joy and pride I feel when a sick kitten becomes well enough to be adopted.

To give an example I want to show you my pal Lack Ear. Lack Ear was found in a patch of wood and had been savagely attacked by a raccoon; he was less than a week old when he was brought in with one ear completely bitten off. He was not expected to live due to his numerous injuries, but through the love and constant attention of the volunteers and staff at the Humane Society, Lack Ear will be up for adoption in a few weeks. Lack Ear has a personality that could melt even the hardest heart; all he wants is a cuddle and a kiss. Even after all he has been through in his short life his capacity to love remains unchanged.

Kitten feeding is not for everyone but there are so many other jobs that are available for those who are interested in volunteering: dog grooming, dog walking, rabbit and ferret maintenance, cat grooming, and adoption services. It is in each and every one of us to provide and care for our animals, all it takes is a little time and love.

I’m not going to turn into a Soap Box Preacher and jam Animal Rights slogans down your throat, but I am simply going to state that to ignore the plight of animals means we become less human; they still have the ability to show unconditional love, and it is our responsibility to return it.