Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 10, 2004

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 10, 2004

It Wasn’t Meant To Be

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – July 10, 2004 – I am a supporter of The Toronto Humane Society and make a monthly contribution to the animals. I was working at my computer yesterday when their July newsletter came across my e-mail screen. I stopped to read through it. They currently have about 450 cats and kittens in need of homes and another two hundred more in foster care.

I looked through the seven pages of pictures of the cats looking out from cages, as their pictures were being taken. The kittens are cute, little balls of fluff and they are adopted easily and quickly. Some of the mature animals are ten to twelve years old and have been surrendered by people who are no longer able to care for them. Others have been abandoned on the city streets, rescued by the Humane Society staff and others have been the victims of neglect and appalling cruelty.

Many of the cats look lethargic, some are asleep, others are curious and have walked up to the front of their cages to say hello. I looked down at Augie who was asleep on my office floor and Ziggy who was lying on a pile of papers on my side table. Neither of them has a worry in the world. Both are well fed, loved, cared for and warm.

They have also earned their stripes in life. Augie was abandoned and Ziggy deserted by his mother when he was two days old. I wondered about adding another pet to my household. Was I being silly? Do I really need another animal under foot? I continued to look through the pictures of the cats in the shelter. Felix caught my eye. He was a beautiful, domestic short hair with a clay coloured nose and the saddest looking eyes of any of the animals. He’d been in the shelter since May and he looked as if he had a broken heart. I connected with him immediately.

I thought why not? I have room in my heart and my home for another cat. Augie wouldn’t lose an ounce of sleep – Ziggy’s nose would be out of joint for awhile, but then he’d get used to the interloper. I thought about going down to River Street right then, but decided against such a rushed decision. I waited until today.

Needless to say Felix had been adopted. In a way I was glad, but in another I regretted my inaction. His little face with his sad eyes had beckoned very strongly to me. I walked around looking at the cats. The shelter was jammed with people responding to the weekend newspaper ads and internet notices. There is a dire need for loving homes for the overflow of cats.

I came away today, cat free, without a new member for my household. It wasn’t meant to be, but I have put that receptive energy out into the universe. When the time is right a cat will find its way to my door – either from the shelter, as a stray or via a phone call or comment from someone I meet.

In this tired, sad world of ours, I’m in a position to make a difference to an animal in need, and instead of saying “should I” – I need to say “why not?” A decision has been made. Another day there will be a cat who looks my way and this time I’ll heed his call.