The Monsters Among Us
While having little to do with photography, I feel compelled to share this story as a warning and a plea to all readers.
Lucky was a little helpless kitten when adopted by my friends Michael and Shauna. When they took him in, he was not even able to feed himself. They were able to nurse him into health, bottle-feeding him until he was able to consume food. Lucky became a happy playful curious cat, happy in his new home with more fellow felines to play with. Last week, right near his home, Lucky was shot. Fearful and in pain, he was barely able to drag himself home where Michael and Shauna rushed him to the vet who was able to rescue him, leaving the two pellets embedded in his flesh and implanting a metal plate. The cost was significant (thousands of dollars) but Michael and Shauna spared no expense. True to his name, Lucky was rescued yet again.
It is one thing for viruses to inflict pain and suffering, unaware and without prejudice, but quite another for a highly evolved human capable of thought, compassion, and judgment, to deliberately inflict pain and death on undeserving beings. For all our great capacity, intelligence, and emotions, some humans go full circle to a level lower than the lowest life forms.
Such aberrations are not only a blemish to humanity, but often signal psychopathic tendencies applied to other beings and fellow humans. They have no legitimate place among us and we must work diligently to purge them from our midst.
Anyone moved by Lucky’s story and the immense love that made him so well deserving of his name – please consider helping with Lucky’s medical expenses by sending a small donation to Michael’s PayPal account. Michael never asked for it, nor did he know I planned to ask my readers for assistance, but it is not unlikely that Lucky’s care will require additional cost in the future.
It is worth mentioning that Lucky is not the only one owing his life to Michael and Shauna. They provide a loving home to several rescued cats and Mojave the dog who was found left for dead in the desert with a noose around her neck. They are extraordinary compassionate people and I’m fortunate to count them among my friends.
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Thanks for sharing this… so glad there are people like your friends Michael & Shauna. At our home we have two cats who are shelter rescue kittens, and they’ve been an amazing add to our family (and I swore I’d never like having a cat around, much less 2!).
Appreciate the donation link – will share this around right after I put something in from us.
Thanks,
Andy
That’s horrible news, yet great that the cat is ok, they should try to find out who shot the cat, could have been a neighbor that doesn’t like animals in their yard! Completely mean and goes to say without “emotions” to do something like that.
I hope everything goes well for Lucky!
To Guy and his readers: you have no idea how humbled and amazed we are by your generosity and concern. It’s times like these when I lose faith in humans, and then I’m reminded that it’s just a few bad apples that can demonize our whole species.
Lucky has about one dozen external staples, a pin, a plate, eight screws, four shaved legs (for IV’s), and a quarter-shaved body. I’m happy to report that he is currently doing great, and I’m left wondering when he’ll start getting cranky about being cooped up! (he has ahead of him two months of strict quarantine and non-movement).
Shauna and I have filed a report with the police and have queried the neighborhood. We have our hunch about the savage that did this to Lucky, but we will never be able to prove it and justice will likely never be served. Thank goodness for Karma.
For the record, we have eight cats and one terribly loving pit bull (Mojave, described by Guy). All have been rescued from the mean streets and certain death. As anyone can likely imagine, our annual animal care costs are in the thousands, and a trauma like this pushes the budget way over the edge. Sometimes I think we’re crazy for taking in nine animals, but I accept a certain level of St. Francis-like behavior that has followed me through my entire life (rescuing innumerable domestic animals and wildlife along the way). And then I remind myself that someone has to be there (thankfully there are many of us) to speak and care for those who have been treated with negligence and irreverence by a more evolved(?) species.
To Guy, his readers, and donors: THANK YOU from the top and bottom of our hearts. Lucky sends his THANKS as well. We are truly humbled.
Oh, I should also provide explanation for the photo in Guy’s post.
Lucky has a penchant for crawling under houses and other dark and spidery places (Lucky AKA SpiderMan). I cannot begin to tell you how many times he has come home looking like this, ignorant or uncaring that he’s wearing a mask of spider webs (and sometimes even dead spiders). I have numerous photos of him in this silly state.
Am I the only one wondering why your cat is allowed to run the streets? Would you let the Pit Bull run the neighborhood?
JD: Lucky does not “run the streets”. He is always indoors at night, and enjoys occasional daytime outside (no different than most humans). Lucky does not even stray far from our yard, and I believe that he was shot within 200 feet of my home.
I’m well versed regarding life span statistics for indoor vs. outdoor cats, and I’m also well aware that the Audubon Society and many birders would like all domestic cats banished from the streets and/or planet. Keep in mind that ALL of my cats are street rescues from humans who have abused their privilege. ALL of my animals are sterilized, and I have not once in my life bred any animals. Lucky WAS allowed to “run the streets” because it gave him great pleasure and freedom to have time outside. He’ll enjoy the safety of the indoors for the remainder of his life, but I have to wonder what your agenda is….
Thanks for your concern?
What horrible news! I’m sickened by the things some people do. And Mojave was found with a noose around his neck in the dessert? What is wrong with people? Animals are so innocent
My kitty Tikki is the most loving and trusting friend ever. She is one of the best things in my life. And to think that 14 years ago my family found her starved and “thrown away” in a garbage can. I’m getting teary just thinking about it…Anyways, my deep respect to you and to Michael and Shauna for your loving and compassionate care.
That is a very noble thing of Michael to do, and you, Guy for pointing this out. I saw a cat in really bad shape (missing patches of hair and walking gingerly) outside my house a week ago. It was on Sunday unfortunately though so the pet control wasn’t available to pick it up. It wasn’t there anymore by the next morning. It seemed to feel better after receving some water though.
I shared this with as many people as I could. I hope it helps.
[...] displayed by friends AND strangers alike. Unbeknownst to me, my good friend Guy wrote about Lucky on his blog and requested donations to help with Lucky’s care. The response has been surprising, amazing, [...]