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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4118.0. "So sad, I tried to help" by DELNI::SCORMIER () Mon Oct 29 1990 14:08

    I checked all the keywords, and looked all through the title=lost
    topics, and couldn't find anything like this.  Moderators, please move
    to a more appropriate note.
    
    Last Friday (October 26) I was driving home and a car in front of me
    hit a cat.  The driver never even hit the brakes or looked back.  I
    stopped, since she was still moving. Another car pulled over and a very
    nice woman offered to help.  Neither one of us could tell if "Kitty"
    was still alove or not, so I wrapped her in a towel, placed her
    carefully on a flat surface, and raced for the vet.  I was too late.
    This beautiful kitty died, and now I don't know what to do.  I paid for
    the burial, but I can't help thinking someone is out there looking for
    her.  
    
    I have been looking in the local paper to see if someone advertises a
    lost cat fitting this description.  Would you want to know?  Or would
    you rather believe she ran away and is being cared for by some nice
    family?  
    
    I don't think I could get through the explanation to the family anyway
    without breaking down and crying (like I have been doing for the past
    three days) from a mixture of sadness and rage at the driver who had so
    little respect that he/she never even stopped.
    
    Just had to get this off my chest and would like some practical advice
    on whether to pursue looking for the owners or not.
    
    Hopefully, this cat was not the friend of the noters in this conference
    (I don't own cats...have two dogs and a bird).  But in case, here is a
    description:
    
    Beautiful grey tiger, white chin, belly, and toes.  Female, young (not
    a kitten, but it still appeared young to me...maybe I'm crazy?). The
    accident occured on Manning Street in Holden, MA.
    If this is your kitty, I'm so sorry that I couldn't do anything more.
    But at least I didn't leave her there...
    
    Sarah
    
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4118.1The World Needs More Sarahs!!!HDLITE::SCOTTMon Oct 29 1990 15:1714
    You are a great person Sarah!!!  Very few would have done what you have
    done.  At least the kitty had a proper burial...
    
    Yes, I would go on with your search.  To me, not knowing is worse.
    I'm sure the owners would be greatful to you for all that you've done.
    
    The driver of the car who hit the dear one is a !~#!@#!@93*&%$(*&!
    Unfortunately, the world as a whole, does not yet respect cats.  
    Nor do they realize the hurt they may cause by taking the life of a
    family pet.
    
    God Bless,
    
    Paula, Schnapps, Tequila, and Rici
4118.2Find the owner ...XNOGOV::LISAGive quiche a chanceTue Oct 30 1990 04:1213
    Yes, I second that. When Percy was missing, not knowing where he was
    hurt like hell. He was run over by some *#@$!%#$ who didn't stop and
    was picked up by the driver of the car behind. It meant alot to me that
    *SHE* bothered to stop.
    
    All sounds so familiar :-(
    
    Go on looking - is there a lost and found column in your local paper?
    
    Thanks for stopping for that little fur face.
    
    Lisa.
    
4118.3Where's the Bandwagon?UKCSSE::LMCDONALDTue Oct 30 1990 06:1114
    
    You people can really be harsh and judgemental sometimes.  You don't
    know any specific details of the incident yet you are ready to condemn
    the person who hit the animal and *assume* they did it deliberately.  
    It is entirely possible that the other driver never even *saw* the cat. 
    From my experience, the vast majority of people don't pay that much
    attention to their driving.
    
    It was very charitable and compassionate for the other person to stop
    and take the cat to the Vet and then go to the effort and expense of
    having it burried and trying to find the owner.  This I applaude.
    
    
    LaDonna
4118.4CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Tue Oct 30 1990 07:408
    Yes, that was a wonderful thing you did.  And its not just the 
    financial expense but also the emotional expense that you've paid.
    I also agree with those who said they'd rather know what happened.
    When I lost my first cat I was very grateful that I knew what had
    happened to her.  And knowing that someone cared would mean alot
    too.  It was one of my neighbors who found her body and immediately
    came to get me.
      Nancy DC
4118.5WILLEE::MERRITTTue Oct 30 1990 08:3013
    Yes, please try and find the owner.  We lost Cam about four months
    ago and haven't found/heard a word about him.  I would much prefer 
    knowing what happened to him.  We still come home thinking he's going 
    to be sitting there waiting, we still call for him every night, and 
    our hearts are broken.  
                            
    You are a wonderful person for taking care of that cat like you
    did....the owners would be grateful knowing what you did for
    their baby.
    
    Sandy
    
    
4118.6AIMHI::UPTONTue Oct 30 1990 09:0021
    
    
    	Sarah-
    
    	What you did was commendable and I'm sure we all would want someone
    	like you to be there if something terrible happen to our cat.  Just
    	last week on the way to work I saw a orange and white cat laying
    	in the road dead.  I know there is only one house in the immediate
    	area and just as I was going to pull over the owner was getting
    	into his car.  I asked if they had a cat fitting the description -
    	they did and he immediately went to get the body.  I would have
    	at least moved it off the road and tried to find the owner.
    
    	I like all the previous noters - would want to know what happened
    	to my cat.  I think not knowing - always leaves you with unanswered
    	questions.
    
    	Again- thank you for caring.  You did the the right thing.
    
    	-Dee
    
4118.7JJLIET::JUDYMoney? What's that?Tue Oct 30 1990 09:1415
    
    
    	re: .3
    
    	Umm, excuse me but in no way did I see that .0 or anyone else
    	in here said the person hit the cat deliberately.  It was simply
    	stated that this person didn't have the decency to stop.  If
    	something the size of a cat hit my tires I would realize I'd
    	run over *something* and would stop to check it out.
    
    	I'm afraid you're the one who jumped to conclusions here.
    
    	JJ (not trying to be snotty or anything but just pointing out
    		the facts)
    
4118.8Thank you for caring....DELNI::HAWKINSTue Oct 30 1990 09:3615
    I agree with all the rest...You did a wonderful thing by taking
    the kitty to the vets.  If there is a chance that the kitty/dog 
    is alive, I do the same.  If the kitty/dog is dead, I at least
    move it off the road.  My daughter does the same thing (even though
    she takes a lot of flack from her teenage friends).  
    
    And yes, you should try to find the owner to let him/her know.  At 
    least, their minds will be put at ease to know it's not suffering. 
    If there is a telephone pole, variety store, etc in the area that 
    you found the kitty, post a notice.  Check with the vet to see if 
    you can list his number for the owner to call.  **Please** don't 
    list your own number - the weirdos would have a fantastic time 
    calling you.  (Check a few notes back about #*@&#%$#^$ callers.)
     
    -g
4118.9I Hope you can find the owners...OFFPLS::SPINGLERI work to support my cat habit!Tue Oct 30 1990 09:3712
    
    
    Sarah,
    
    You done good.  And as we all know that is not always easy.
    
    Bless you for caring,
    
    Feline Glad for people like you!
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    
4118.10WJOUSM::GASKELLTue Oct 30 1990 11:205
    Thanks for the effort--I wish someone could tell me what happened to
    Miss Flea. 
    
    Three and me.
    
4118.11BRAVO!!!AKOV13::FALLONIsn't that a Mooncat?Tue Oct 30 1990 12:039
    You did a wonderful thing!  I must confess, about a month ago coming
    home from work I saw a dead cat on the side of the road. It looked like
    a beautiful calico, similar to one I had had several years ago that was
    hit and killed.  I could not stop.  I really couldn't face to look at
    the poor little body, especially if it was all yucky.  I haven't
    forgotten this yet.  BUT, if it had just happened, I WOULD have stopped
    to help.
    Feeling very quilty,
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing and Arthur
4118.12*YOU DID YOUR BEST*AIMHI::OFFENWed Oct 31 1990 12:1118
    You did everything you possibly could and I admire you for it.  I was
    there when a *person* in a pick-up truck hit a large collie once and
    never stopped.  It even looked like he *swerved* to definitely hit the
    dog.  I was right behind and saw the whole thing.  I immediately pulled
    over and put my flashers on so no-one else would hit the dog.  She was
    still alive.  The woman in the house near-by came out to also help. 
    She called the police and they came down.  I was going to try to get
    the dog to the vet myself but couldn't lift her.  The police put the
    dog in the back of their car and brought her to the vet's office.  She
    died a short time later of head injuries but at least I know I tried to
    help.  I cried all the way to work.  The vet notified the owners.
    
    This is one of the reasons I believe in keeping my dog on a leash or in
    a fenced-in yard.
    
    Sandi mom to 3 indoor kittys, 1 outside kitty (not by choice) and 1
    fenced-in dog
    
4118.13FSOA::NGRILLOWed Oct 31 1990 13:0213
    You did a very admirable deed!  I wish there were more people like you!
    
    I also believe you should keep on trying to find the owners.  A little
    over a year ago **two** of my cats just dissapeared!  I hung posters,
    called just about every shelter, and put an ad out for 2 weeks
    in the paper.  I never found out what happened to them.  Every now and
    then my nephew tells me he seen "Minka" (one of the two that's
    missing.)  It drives me crazy because if he seen her why doesn't she
    come home and where is my other baby??  I pray someday I do find out -
    if they're with someone else it would put my mind at ease or if
    something did happen to them at least I'd know.  To this day I still scan 
    the neighborhood thinking "maybe they are still around."
        
4118.14MARX::BARLOWThu Nov 01 1990 11:119
    
    Yes, find the owner.  However, I'd lie and tell them that she died
    right away.  Don't even mention the vet.  It would just kill me to
    know that one of my cats had suffered.  Just say that you took her
    to the vet to have her buried properly.  This whole story brought
    tears to my eyes.  It was very kind of you to stop.
    
    Rachael, Spike & Lady