Death can't catch this West Valley City cat [euthanized twice!]

WECT.com ^ | October 16, 2011 | staff reporter

[Slings and Arrows]

[dblshot]

At least dumped cats can go feral. We have a lot of horses in Texas more or less on their own when owners go broke and there isn't much grass in the pastures for them. News this morning was about a pack of nine dogs terrorizing a subdivision. Two years ago what I thought was a mutt puppy followed me and my two big dogs home. This “mutt” was starving, dehydrated, ant bit and had mange. I advertised locally but no one came forward to claim him, no collar or tags either. I couldn't bring myself to take him to the SPCA so after nearly 1000 bucks in vet bills and my wife trying to get someone to take him he's still with us. Turns out he's a full blooded Blue Lacy, aka Texas hog dog, smart as a whip, can run all day, and now bosses my two big dogs twice his size around.

[pbmaltzman]

A formerly tame cat who gets dumped not only has to figure out how to hunt its own food, but also gets lonely for its people.

I took in a little, medium-haired gray kitten, a couple of years back, who had been turned loose when her people just moved away. She was skinny, yes, and hungry--but she was really lonely too! It didn't take much coaxing for her to come to me and jump into my lap.

She was a real lover girl, seemingly grateful to be rescued, and made herself right at home on our bed and our guest room bed.

I ended up giving her away (which I regret doing), and I only hope that family treated her well.

I hate to see animals dumped, but I don't have the wherewithal to take in any more. I have two cats, and I'm a renter.

I have seen a couple of local ads for folks giving away tortie kittens, and I'm tempted... but the landlady wouldn't be all that happy with me if I did, and neither would the two cats I already have.

[pbmaltzman]

I’ve read stories about dumped horses too, and have also seen ads on Craigslist and elsewhere for people giving away horses (virtually or actually) for one reason or another. I’m not in a position to take in a horse, either, unfortunately. And the upkeep for a horse might drive me into the ground too.