How to Save a Life

So that you can better understand where I am coming from, let me preface this post by making this simple statement: animals > people IMO when it comes to charity. I am one of those people who seems unaffected/desensitized to all those starving kids in third world countries commercials. However, as soon as the music queues up to that damn Sarah McLachlin ASPCA commercial, the tears are already racing, marathon speed, down my cheeks.

I already have two cats who I spoil like any good crazy cat lady should. I would not hesitate to open my home to one or two more, but my husband has already told me in no uncertain terms that if I do bring anymore furry kids home, I can sleep in the garage. So how does a person like me, a person who is so affected by the many injustices that are done to our domestic animals, make a difference? Since adopting and fostering is out of the question at this point in time (we live in an apartment that limits our in-house pets to two per household) and volunteering is something I don't have the time for right now, I was just about out of ideas. Every night I would scan the next day's "To be Destroyed" list of cats who were slated for euthanasia early the next morning, reading their sad bios and looking at pictures of sad and scared cats who were thrown away like they were disposable. Given up for reasons varying from: moving, new baby, allergies and owner died. Many of these poor cats are highly adoptable. They would make wonderful family pets. Pregnant mothers, newborn kittens and elderly cats were all euthanized without any special consideration. All because of irresponsible owners who refused to spay/neuter or otherwise fully understand that having a pet was a lifelong commitment.

Fast forward to this week. There was a cat on the dreaded "E List" who particularly affected me. His name was Mooka and he was noted to be a stray. At approximately five years old, he looked like one of my cats and from the shelter notes, he had a matching personality to boot. But what really got to me about this cat was that he had been on the list for FOUR consecutive nights. Within the NYACC, a four-night reprieve is virtually unheard of. There was something very special about this boy and the thought of him surviving the list four times, only to be killed was just not allowed to happen.

I started filling out an adoption application, at the risk of being divorced. I didn't care. Someone had to save this poor kitty and I was going to step up. Except my husband intercepted me and told me nowayinhell could I adopt another cat.

As the night wore on, time was literally running out for Mooka. As each hour passed it was looking like no one had any interest in adopting/fostering him. I was distraught. People starting pledging money for Mooka's pull, hoping that if we could pull a large enough pledge together a rescue group would step up and pull him. I pledged what small amount I could, while trying to reassure myself that I was doing all that I could do.

At about 11:30 an angel came thru for Mooka. A wonderful rescue group, seeing all the money we had raised for Mooka, agreed to pull him. He was saved and will hopefully be curled up on someone's lap very soon. ALL BECAUSE I DID WHAT I COULD DO.

Many times animals will still fall thru the cracks, despite having pledges. It's just the sheer mathematics. There are only so many rescue groups with open space. Without fosters and willing adopters, there is no space for these animals to be saved. So at the sake of sounding like a PSA: PLEASE BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER AND SPAY AND NEUTER. ADOPT YOUR NEXT PET. THINK ABOUT ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME ALONG WITH PET OWNERSHIP BEFORE IMPULSIVELY ADOPTING. CONSIDER YOUR LIFE SITUATION FOR THE NEXT 10-20 YRS BEFORE MAKING THE COMMITMENT.

Now here is Mooka's shelter intake pic:

Isn't he a sweetheart? Please consider donating time and/or money and/or supplies to your local rescue group. They are truly the only saviors most of these sweet animals have.

P.S. In case you want to help and don't know where to start, the group that pulled Mooka is called Anjellicle Cats and you can read all about them here.

UPDATE: here is a recent pic of Mooka at his rescue group's sponsored adoption event a few days after he was pulled from death row. Such an affectionate kitty.

Updated pics 2/6/12: It makes my heart so happy to see pics of handsome Mooka thriving. Still waiting for his forever home, he is happy to be socializing with the other Anjelicle cats!