|
|
|
|
FEBRUARY 2009
|
THIS ISSUE:
|
|
|
Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective
By Gregory M. Simpson
I have been reminded lately how cat and dogs with disabilities provide the same loving companionship as those without disabilities.
At a dinner party hosted by friends, Holly took her rightful place. Holly is a beautiful gray and white shorthaired cat – with one eye. Whether a cat with one eye or a person with two, anyone could see that Holly truly found her purr-fect match in my friends’ family. Adopted from a local humane society, she has been part of a loving home ever since.
My friend also gave a home to "Sugar", a 3-legged, longhaired, diabetic, black and white cat. She describes, "I have to say at first I was nervous many years ago to adopt one with disabilities but I found out that they adapt very well to their situations. It reminds me of a human with disabilities and having to adapt."
While writing this column, my path crossed with a certified veterinary technician who describes her four cats as "differently-abled". Two are three-legged, one is cross-eyed with limited vision, and the fourth has a cleft palate in addition to a condition that affects coordination. This kind-hearted veterinary technician has a long history of adopting disabled animals, including a blind cat that, "…zoomed through our two story apartment like a road runner, without crashing into anything." Her most disabled adopted cat was a gray calico found and brought for surgery because of injuries incurred from resting on a car’s engine for warmth. This cat had her leg, ear, tail and left eye removed, but was reported to live a "happy normal life and was a gift to us for 15 years."
My favorite happy ending story is that of Logan. Logan was a young beagle brought to a local humane society after being tied to a tree for two years. He never knew when he would be petted or even fed. He never had the life of a puppy growing up because he was always by himself. He was observably depressed. Besides suffering these hardships, he has one other disability – he is blind. One day he was picked up by the animal control officer after he got loose. The animal control officer knew his owners and contacted them. They replied, "He is no longer our problem. We gave him away." When Logan reached the humane society, he loved being around other dogs, cuddled with them, and ran around playfully. A nice couple who had other dogs adopted him. He was able to learn how to climb stairs as his human companions said, "Step." Working through his blindness, he learned to get around just fine in his new, safe, and loving home.
Occasionally, a disabled animal bonds with another animal as its guide. A clipping e-mailed to me contained the following description by Terry Burns of Middleburg, Pennsylvania: "Cashew, my 14-year-old yellow Lab, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is Libby, 7, her seeing-eye cat. Libby steers Casey away from obstacles and leads her to her food. Every night she sleeps next to her. The only time they’re apart is when we take Cashew out for a walk."
Deaf animals can still "hear" from the very core of their being – whether one calls this their heart or their soul. Please listen to your inner voice and consider adopting an animal with a disability.
The mission of no kill shelters is to ensure that all animals, including ones as just described, find loving homes. All animals, whether "differently-abled" or not, want the same things that each of us wants – to love and be loved, have a home, and live a life without pain and misery. They do not ask for much but give unconditional love in return. Please consider adopting a disabled animal. As Aesop said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
For the animals, Gregory M. Simpson
Gregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.
|
|
|
|
|
|
