The more my life is full of blessings, the more moved I am by all those who extend their compassion to animals.
I went to the Bonners Ferry United Methodist Church the other day. This church is sacred to us; it’s where my wife, Teresa, and our children were baptized, where my wife went to Sunday school, where we were married, and where Teresa’s Dad’s funeral services were held. It has a wonderful minister and we love the church family there.
I got to church late (too many animals to take care of!), and I noticed a church regular had snuck out the back door of the fellowship hall and was putting out some food for what looked like stray cats. I smiled and then starting thinking about how veterinarians like me often invisibly wink or have a sly grin when someone brings a cat into our practice and says something like, “It’s not really my cat, it’s just a stray that I feed.”
Many people have fed this cat for 10 years but if they didn’t see the kitten come out of his mother’s womb, or the cat doesn’t live inside the house, they somehow don’t think of it as “their” cat.
And yet, these kind souls will be out there in all kinds of weather, making sure the cat — who they often can’t even pet or pick up! — has enough to eat and is warm and protected from storms.
They find a way to bring the cat to me for veterinary care.
They even often offer this same care to neighborhood cats who might loosely belong to someone else, or several famlies.
This holiday season, I want to give heartfelt thanks and praise for everyone who has ever gone out of their way to feed and spay/neuter feral cats, to rescue a sick or injured animal, or call authorities when they’ve witnessed animal abuse. You are my heroes, one and all!
