I know it wasn’t smart. Please refrain from telling me what an idiot I was. Unless you can make it really funny.
We occasionally have stray cats or dogs around the center. In the past we have found dog owners right away, and last year we saved a kitten who wouldn’t leave the playground – we found it a good home with one of the families at Lincoln Lutheran. Well, the past two days there has been a wrong-looking kitten across the CDC’s fence. It’s all scrawny and has a horribly weepy eye. I told the kids that if it came over the fence they shouldn’t touch it because it’s sick. I, of course, had to try and go get it so I could take it to the vet. I lured it with a hot dog, but it kept running away. Finally, I got close enough to grab it – and it gave me some pretty bad bites. Stupid Lauren. The first thing that raced through my hypochondriac mind was Brad’s voice. He often gave the advice, “If anyone asks when your last tetanus shot was, say it was a couple of years ago.” I don’t think I’ve ever had a tetanus shot. I really hoped I wouldn’t get the ‘thirteen shots in the stomach’. I knew I should have some antibiotics, since I could practically see the germs all over the cat’s face.
So feel free to not comment on this. Just pray that that kitten is alright. or dies soon of natural and humane causes.
UPDATE: I caught the cat this afternoon. I had a box and some irresistible cat food and trapped it nicely. I’m glad it was me, since I didn’t know if I could trust the police to do it kindly (Yes, I reported everything yesterday, and Officer Hoag came to talk to me this morning.) I took it to the vet and explained everything and they agreed that the kindest thing would be to euthanize it and have it tested for rabies. So, here I am at 4:50 in the afternoon crying in my beer over a stray cat’s death It was the right thing to do, but I have the right to be sad. No cruel comments, please.
Note to self: Your last tetanus booster was July 18, 2007