Tales & Tails of New York

  This time of year most Rescue Groups and Shelters get many requests for (Christmas) "kittens and puppies."    

Where are these people when we most need them?  In the spring, summer and early fall?    

Such is the thought that runs through our minds, though we don't say so in words.    

Nature is what it is.    

The fact is that most animal births occur in the spring and summer.  That is because nature (or God) has deemed that animals born in the warmer months stand much better chances of survival.    

But, by the time Christmas rolls around, animals born in spring or summer are then about four to seven months old or "too old" for most people seeking "baby kittens/puppies."    

Thus, the frustrating situation is that we (shelters and rescues) have all these wonderful adolescent or adult cats/kittens/dogs for adoption, but "demand" is for infant animals.     What are we supposed to do?    

Personally, I would love to send all these "kitten/puppy" seekers back to Grammar school for a basic course in nature and biology.    

Second to that, I wish that the "Spirit of Christmas" would miraculously fall on the people and instead of demanding "little kittens/puppies or fancy "purebreds" they would suddenly be moved to adopt the harder to place, "nice" older cat or dog who has been sitting in the shelter or rescue for months or just come in as some bedraggled "stray."     

Isn't Christmas supposed to be about "giving" and "mercy?"    

When did it become something of mere demands and desires?    

I have not been hitting the stores this year in a frenzied, mad search for "presents," cards or other holiday hoopla.    

If the people I love and care about don't feel appreciation by actions all year long, then some "gift" (no matter how nice or expensive) isn't going to convince them.  One has essentially failed in the job of being a decent human being.    

Don't get me wrong.  Gifts have their place in our lives -- as material (or in some cases, living) symbols of real caring and appreciation.  A "celebration" so to speak, ofa special relationship.  A way of saying to someone, "You are important to me. I appreciate you."    

But, somehow all of that has, in my view, become somewhat tainted and jaded in this mad pressure on many people to somehow get the "best" shirt, jewelry, Ipod or sadly, in some cases, "youngest, cutest or "best" purebred animal for those we care about.    

Wasn't Jesus a living symbol of simplicity and lover of the downtrodden in life?    

If Jesus had a dog, would He have "chosen" a thousand dollar Poodle or just taken under His wing, some mangy Shepherd mix tagging along with Him on missions?    

If Jesus had a cat, would He insist that the cat be a "baby kitten" or would He offer His merciful hand to some stray in need of a little kindness?    

We celebrate Christ-mas, but in so many ways seem to have strayed from its real meaning and message.    

Now, maybe some reading this might say to themselves, "But, my daughter isn't going to want some big, older mutt or mangy stray cat!"    

Ah, but in many ways children are far wiser and more tender than the bulk of us so-called "adults!"   They have yet to become jaded by our culture's somewhat shallow and overly materialistic "values."    

When I was about eight-years-old, I found a scrawny, abandoned, adult tabby cat in our building's hallway and brought her home.  All the neighbors denied the cat was theirs.  My mother was afraid of cats and didn't want to keep "Kitty Kelly" (My Irish Grandmother's name for the cat).    

But, because Kitty Kelly was so nurturing and gentle with our older, infirm dog, Ronnie, and because I was so relentless in begging my mother to keep the cat, she finally relented.    

We had Kitty Kelly for 17 years, and she served as the basis for my lifelong love of cats.    

Yesterday, "Amber Klein" (our wonderful adult "stray" Chow mix rescued from the city shelter) was adopted by a great family who initially were thinking "smaller dog."    

But, today I received a delightful call from them telling me what a 'love" Amber is!    

What kind of animal would Jesus have had?     Well, though He would have loved all equally, me thinks somehow, the ones at His side would have been those "cast out strays" that everyone else would have shunned.                                                                                          *************  

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• #1 Comment from a5150petlover 
  12/21/05 11:03 PM | Permalink

  I'm very sad to hear your frustration, well deserved, of course, about he cats/dogs no one wants to bother with.  I only wish I was close so I could take the Siberian (?) whatever cat to foster.  I myself have three cats, I adopted two older cats and one kitten.  They all are special, but must admit, at my age, I leave the kittens to the young ones!!!!!
  I work for a local humane shelter and am appalled by the lack of respect and dignity give to animals.  How they want to pawn them off to some one else.  Unbelieveable.
  I just hope that you have more good days than bad.  The phone call about the cat disturb me so much.  I wished I could help.
  Take care and God bless you and all the animals.
  TJ
  Comment from a5150petlover - 12/21/05 11:00 PM