Tales & Tails of New York

Among my emails this Christmas day is one from Renee of the Manhattan AC&C entitled, "White Christmas."

No, it's not about snow on Christmas.

It's a very sensitive and in fact, heartbreaking piece about three solid white cats that Renee pulled off the "euth list," in desperate hope for 11th hour placement.

One cat ("AJ," pictured above) came into the shelter with part of his tail missing and a bleeding hind paw. Another kitty is just dirty and messed up in general, probably from months on the street.  And "Powder" simply got dumped by some owner with hurried and lame excuse.  

On the latter note, how does anyone dropped off their pet at the animal pound right before Christmas and then go off and "celebrate" this supposedly "religious" holiday?  That is question I have never been able to figure out.  If someone has an answer, please share.

Getting back to Renee's tear-jerking mail, it must be really tough to work in a shelter which, even on Christmas day has to put down 25 cats and dogs. 

There is no "holiday" on destroying animal lives for human convenience.  Powder's former owner must have been going away for the holidays.  The cat was no longer convenient.

So, Renee tries to "pull" a pitiful few she hopes to save.  And then sends out an urgent email to those of us who can usually be counted on, but today, are fully loaded ourselves.

All we can do is feel bad that even on this, perhaps the holiest day of the year, there is no reprieve from the desperate and the desolate.

Earlier this morning, I caught some of the Christmas services on TV (naw, I don't go to Church on this day.  Why be a hypocrite?  After all, I don't go the rest of the year).

It was beautiful and moving.  The angel-like choirs. The hundreds of faces filled with spirit, joy and faith. The Christmas story told poignantly and fresh once again.

The Christ child born humbly in a manger, surrounded by animals because "there was no room at the inn."

"No room at the inn."

And yes, even 2000 years later, this phrase still rings painfully true.

Can there be salvation or last minute miracles for three bedraggled beings whose hours on this earth are dwindling to a precarious few?

I don't know.

I can only hope for the animals' sake and Renee's, it can happen.

That only the spirit of Christmas could move beyond frenzied shopping, brightly packaged presents and bows, indulgent dinners and pious toasts.

The challenge of Christmas to be this day and everyday hereafter.

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