I had to euthanize a cat.
This post is not for the feint of heart. I hesitated to post it, but I wanted to highlight the difference of living here. Sometimes the differences are subtle. Because this may have happened where I grew up in California as well.
Moments before my alarm went off this morning, I was awoken by the sound of barking/fighting dogs. I looked out my window, and without my glasses on I saw 3 wild dogs tearing and tossing at something small and white. I instantly assumed it might be our dog or our neighbors dog (which is small and white).
I burst out of the bedroom to run outside when I saw our dog. Relieved, I realized it still may be our neighbors dog, because, when a pack of dogs comes up, your little domestic one on a walk, is no match.
When I arrived outside, my Swiss neighbor had scared the pack off and was hovering over a dying cat. I will spare you the details but it was dying and in pain. The only thing humane to do was to end its life. My neighbor being a cat lover, I volunteered to do the necessary work.
Thankfully the cat was a feral cat, and not one of the domestic ones with a loving home. In fact this particular cat had also been terrorizing the neighborhood a bit, so there wasn't any love loss. I know it's sad, but somehow that made it better knowing someone's beloved pet wasn't dying.
I'll spare you the details, but I buried the cat, jumped in the shower and headed to work.
Now I have to help deal with this pack of dogs. Because as long as they are around, children, cats and little dogs in the neighborhood are not safe.
There is no animal control to call. This is one of those times where, if you're lucky, there is someone in the neighborhood who can do what needs to be done, and do it without the means of firearms.
Why on earth did I write this blog entry?
If you're thinking of coming here, you don't need to put animals down, there will likely be someone you can ask to do that for you. But, if you're the type of person who can do that, then believe it or not, that is yet another ability you have that can be used to serve others by doing a dirty job no one likes to do. In this place, every aspect of you, every skill you have, can be utilized to serve and bless others. I am thankful to God for the way I grew up, and the animal husbandry I learned, and the experience and ability to be able to handle these types of situations.
