He is gone. I pleaded with the people who fed him to keep him safe. He visited me daily, as my place is a safe-haven for critters. Just last week I had a heated discussion with the family about allowing him to endlessly roam. They said he was “street smart” because he crossed large highways in Richmond — this family has now lost three cats and one dog to this road. They clearly do not get the message…
Numerous times I saw Cotton across the rural road near my house. Numerous near misses. Dozens of times I carried him home and poked him in his front door. Yesterday was his last outing.
As I left my driveway I saw Cotton once again walking along the narrow shoulder of the busy road. I stopped, hoping that he would again cross over safely. As he attempted so, a red car came speeding out of nowhere and Cotton disappeared from view under the car. I watched as he ran from under the car about 25 yards then leap under my row of cypress trees. I thought for a split-second that he resembled a cork in the ocean, invincible — to rise unharmed from this event.
I sprinted to the house and found his people home. We looked and called for Cotton, who began crying desperate cries from the culvert under my driveway. He was injured yet we could not reach him. Someone ran for a flashlight, another for a pole, while I spoke to Cotton in quiet tones. I once heard his collar bell ring, as perhaps he attempted to come to me. He was in agony. His nine lives were expiring.
Later that day, the family’s message on my voice-mail stated that Cotton had died [a painful, slow death — nearly an hour] as son and mother attempted to retrieve him from the pipe. He hemorrhaged to death…a cruel end for a truly unique feline who was barely past one-year old. One family member dismissed him as “just a stray from Richmond”.
These misguided people thanked me for my caring on my voice mail [“we did the best we could for him”], yet no amount of thanks can rectify this reality. This noble, elegant creature is gone.
There should be protections against this kind of perverse human mentality, and certainly animals of any kind should be disallowed in that household! Protection is the number one priority of animal guardianship. If one does not “have the time” to provide security, then innocent, living creatures should be left to those who will.
The following photos are ones taken in my home, during happier days this winter. Cotton did not deserve this end and I did not need to witness his final blow. Yet had I not, perhaps he would have died alone, and would still be in the wet pipe.
Cotton on a happier day. I really fell for him..
Cotton liked to come over and nap at my cottage. What a nice guy…
If you follow this blog, I recently scribed the thing about energy https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/the-thing-about-energy/. Was this image an omen?
I weep today as the snow falls in heavy wet crystals.
I could have intervened more fervently.
Life is a balancing act…
Remember to slide your mouse over the images for further description…and please send good wishes into the heavens today for Cotton — and value your critters more than ever.
Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
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