Animal Lover

Everyday I am asked for a dollar for food, a bus ticket, coffee, whatever.

Everyday I say no. I hear them call me a "regular." I see their glazed-over eyes and hear their tripped out nonsense. I see their hours somehow mirror mine. I see cell phones and am furious that people heading to Starbucks are duped and donate.

I see their animals, puppies and kittens on leashes and my heart breaks for the irresponsibility of pet ownership. I question if they really are homeless. I see the fatigued animals, sweltering in the nearly triple digit heat and become depressed, falling down the rabbit hole of the possibility that this exists here and on an exponential scale.

I don't dispute mental illness but I detest laziness by able-bodied people. Mostly I'm infuriated by the prospect of these 20somethings lack of work ethic.

Cats and dogs are domesticated here and require food, water, and shelter. I understand the need for companionship. Again, is it responsible if you truly are without a home (and not a faux-bo, as a friend has dubbed it) to have a pet?

Against my better judgment I went to PetsMart after work to buy a particular dog owner some food, who asks me every single day for money and occasionally something for the puppy. I bought a few cans of Science Diet and hauled them to and from my office on my various outings yesterday. Of course, the day I do it he isn't there. But it's in my office to try again next week.

If it isn't obvious by now, I am an animal lover and would take all of them home with me if I could.

In the past few months, our home has had a homing beacon on it for lost animals. More than a few times, Scott has heard "I rescued a cat/dog today." I like to let it hang there for a moment because he doesn't share my love for being the neighborhood shelter.

The funny thing is 2/3 of the recent occurances have happened over my lunch hour when I'm home--of course at the end when I'm on my way back. I've sat in the gutter (in a skirt, of course, makes for a better story later) for 40 minutes trying to coax a kitten out from under my car. Just yesterday, a dog was in the middle of the street and I pulled over, praying it would have tags (yes! amen!). I called it over, wrangling to get access to the tags (in a dress, again) and thankfully was able to quickly locate the neighbor who'd left their gate open.

The bottom line is I want animals to have a good home. I know I can't solve the problems of abuse and neglect or provide homes for all, but if I can help a few along the way at least selfishly  know I've tried.