I held Charlotte in my arms yesterday as she was euthanized because of a massive tumor in her chest.
For the past thee years, she’s lived in the Mexican War Streets, being fed by a 75 year old caretaker with a fixed income. Charlotte was trapped, spayed, and released. She showed no interest in human contact.
Charlotte got very ill recently and her attentive caretaker noticed. Charlotte allowed herself to be taken into the house. The caretaker called us, her contacts at the pet food pantry. We rushed over, put her in a carrier, and took her to River Urgent Care in Brookline. We waited nearly two hours, but Charlotte was calm. When released from her carrier, she turned out to be this amazing love bug – she purred and wanted to be held and demanded pets. We were all shocked. The vet immediately said she had at some point been someone’s pet. Sigh. She was a pet and then homeless for three years, afraid to go inside.
The vet tech gave her one treat and it turned out to be her final treat ever. She did not get sick. But diagnostic tests showed the tumor compressing her trachea. Even though we had an inside place for her to go, there was no treatment. So we took turns holding her and petting her and telling her she was a good girl.
After the euthanasia, we held her a little longer – it always seems like they are still there, right? Then we drove to her caretakers house to deliver the sad news. She cried a bit and beat herself up a bit although we assured her that her vigilance prevented Charlotte from suffering unduly.
She feeds other cats, just a few. She looked at us and said that the next cat who needed her would make itself known. Recently, she had to euthanize her pet cat and now has space in her home for another.
Cat colony caretakers make every community safer and healthier. Cats who are fed every day, have clean water, and a warm dry place to sleep are much less disruptive than feral cats. Cats that are spayed/neutered and vaccinated, monitored for health issues are better neighbors. The friendlies find homes sometimes. There are fewer and fewer kittens. The colony stabilizes. All because one or two people take on this role in a neighborhood.
We are a pet food pantry, not a rescue. But what could we do when she asked for help? She’s not connected to a rescue and most rescues can’t help everyone who calls. Marie works overnights so she gave up her sleeping time, catching a few winks in the car while we waited. But there was no way she wasn’t going with us to the vet.
We’ve had similar situations – we helped a cat with a blockage, we helped a cat who jumped into Marie’s arms one day, we helped a neighbor whose dog was attacked, and another neighbor whose cat became unexpectedly ill while they were away.
But we are not a rescue and we do not have the funds for this work. We just make it work. If you can help replenish the nearly $600 spent on Charlotte, we’ll be able to show up again.I’ll put the links to donate in a comment.
Yesterday was hard. I came home to hug my own cats closely and give extra treats to my colony cats. It was also a privilege to remind this little creature that humans could offer her comfort.
But I still feel pretty sad.
If you are in a position to help us replenish the expenses, that would be helpful so we can respond the next time. Of course there will be a next time.
It is my personal belief that communities and neighbors should chip in, bit by bit, to these little drives – to thank the caretaker and rescues for serving our community. To acknowledge that the cats didn’t ask to be homeless and the caretakers give from what is often too little to care for them. Cats that are spayed/neutered and vaccinated, that have regular food and clean water, a safe warm place to sleep – they don’t engage in as much nuisance behaviors. They aren’t driven soley by desperate instincts to survive and procreate. The friendlies can find homes.
When someone has a vet bill of a few hundred dollars, it shouldn’t disrupt their rent or utilities, or their food. They shouldn’t have to relinquish a sick pet to make sure it gets veternariy care. But for many folx, a few hundred dollars is out of reach especially in an emergency.
- GoFundMe bit.ly/GivePghCatFolx
- Venmo @PittsburghLGBTQ
- Paypal.me/PittsburghLGBTQ
- Checks made payable to Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities can be mailed to 1439 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
We also have two wish lists if you prefer to send pet food. There’s never enough of that.
- Chewy bit.ly/TheChewyList
- Amazon bit.ly/TheRuffList
I made a video recounting the days events. These are sad small tragedies in the mist of so much that is awful. But they are real and meaningful.
Oh, Charlotte.
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