Big Dog

[tinhuvielartanis]

According to Doc, it was a fairly large dog that attacked Smidgen, who was lucky to survive the attack, much less make it home. He had to keep her overnight to clean out the rather impressive wounds, repair the damaged muscle, and put in a couple of drainage tubes. If all goes well, I'll be able to pick up Smidgen any time after 9 AM tomorrow morning. I wrote the Mother Unit to let her know the skinny on Smidgen's bill of health, and to thank her for literally saving my feline friend's life. It's at times like this that make me seriously consider finding homes for all remaining animals. It's obvious that I can't sufficiently see to their needs and, had it be solely up to me, Smidgen would have lost her life because there's no way I could afford a vet bill right now. Sure, Smidgen and I have been inseparable since she was was a mere four weeks old but, in all honesty, I'm more of a detriment holding on to her than I would be if I found her a home with people who could care for her and be able to afford any unexpected bills that may arise.

This is a conversation I think Aunt Tudi and I may need to have sooner rather than later.

Comments

[warkitty.livejournal.com]

I know how hard it is to even contemplate re-homing the babies.

For now though, I'm just glad Smidgen will be ok and that the mother unit was able and willing to help.

[gatheringrivers]

{{{HUGS}}}

Soooo glad the mother unit came through!

Might be worth keeping the kitties indoors-only rather than in-and-out. Ours don't go out (well, we live on a street where someone zooms through at 60 around 4am regularly anyway, but still....) and it just seems safer to keep them indoors.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

These are tamed cats whose quality of life would be 0 if their freedom was taken away like that.

[turelie.livejournal.com]

Gah! I'm so glad you had help with the bill...poor smidgey. :( Glad she's gonna make it.

My kitty has been an indoor cat his whole life...all my cats are since I had one go out and never come back when I was a kid. Gabriel doesn't seem any the worse for wear being inside...he gets enough exercise and playtime....and he spends a lot of time laying in my lap. :D

One of my mom's cats is indoor-outdoor...he pees on anything on the floor if we try to keep him inside. :( But he knows this is home, and he always comes in at night and during bad weather. :) Most of the time, he's snoozing on the little perch we attached to the railings on our porch.

We have coyotes here...and speeding morons....less loose dogs. Dogs out loose here get taken by the dog catcher to the pound...so we surprisingly have a lot of people who listen, and walk their dogs on leashes, or let them out in a fenced-in yard. :D

Cats are everywhere tho. :( I feel bad for them...I mean they do get to be outside, but at the same time, I worry one of the asshats here will mow one or more of them down with their pickup trucks. :( Then humans will die.

Slow and painfully, on the front grill of MY truck.

[turelie.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't have to give them all up... :(

If you'd come here and announced that you needed moolah for the vet bill, I'd have sent ya something to help out. :(

[teague.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad your baby came through. My mom has also helped with many a vet bill. She'll even be helping with a neighbor's bill since his dog got hit by a car, and he also has no money for a vet. I deeply understand your conundrum.

[flameprincess.livejournal.com]

You also know that had you come to any of us about your furry babies we would have gladly assisted.
I know what's it like because I've been there. You are a good owner/friend to them and I know you'll ultimately make the best decision for them.

[polypolyglot.livejournal.com]

***HUGS***

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

I hate hearing poor Smidge is hurting!

As for affording their care, I understand all too well. I'm beating myself up today because I can't really afford to keep 3 cats, and truthfully they are all that's standing between me and a home with my fiancee and child. But I still get a sick feeling in my gut when I think about the LAST time I left cats at a shelter because I couldn't afford to keep them and I was being evicted. There are no homes for adult cats. There just aren't. It's so rare that one gets adopted these days, how can I expect to find homes for my own?

I won't do it, I can't send them away. But I don't know what I AM going to do.

[ladyana5.livejournal.com]

oh, my! you poor dear!(and Smidgen) Believe me, you are doing a great job by simply doing what you can and giving them the basic necessities such as shelter, food, companionship and, most of all, getting them spayed/neutered. Yes, awful things happen, but it's worse when the very simple requirements are not met. And yes, I know the difficulty of trying to keep a indoor/outdoor cat locked up. All I can say is for the other (small) animals you get from now on, seal the doors tight; don't even let them experience outside unless it's your own backyard withe a thick, high fence. Sorry, i just don't trust the "outdoors" unless you live on an isolated farm.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

All of my cats were feral at one time. I can't deprive them of their natural inclination to be outdoors. It's tantamount to cruelty.

[ladyana5.livejournal.com]

I went back and read my post and it did sound as clear as mud! sorry, what I meant to say is that yes i understand why you let them out. I just meant it would be best for any _future_ furries that adopt you to keep them indoors. i am very and happy and proud of yout that you care so much about them!