Two days ago, CP came over to borrow our cat trap and a cage. Apparently, this tom-cat, named Blackie, has been terrorising CP's spayed-neutered cats on the street.
CP and her neighbour wanted to catch him and send him for neutering, with the hope that he won't be such a terrorist after that, and also so that he won't go around impregnating other unspayed female cats.
So, the trap was set.
But Blackie was smart.
He went around the trap, on top of the trap, anywhere but INSIDE the trap, until finally he could not resist the fried fish anymore, so in he went, and WHAM, the trap-door shut.
I know, it's not a pleasant experience at all. Blackie was shocked and reacted "wildly". He banged his head on the trap and injured himself.
I've already been cautioned by our vet who said he doesn't think I'd be able to stomach the consequences of trapping an animal. "It'll break your heart", he had told me.
I guess so. It would take great courage and a strong stomach (and heart) to do this, I know. But it's for the greater good. I don't have that courage yet, so I have never trapped any animal before.
Our friend, who is very supportive of our CNRM initiatives, had donated two traps to us when we started our One-Street CNRM. "At least you'll have traps to lent out to rescuers who might want to use it", he had said. He told me he had used it before and there were no serious mishaps. Being the kind man that he was, he said he'd never recommend anything to me that would hurt the animals in a bad way. I know this. In fact, the MPSJ councillor himself had used it before, and he said it worked fine. No mishaps too. And my friend from Singapore said the same - just minor injuries, sometimes.
So, back to CP's story. CP was so upset last night and said she regretted her actions, and she would never use the trap ever again. Blackie had banged himself so hard, he was bleeding on the face. I could fully empathise with how CP was feeling. I would have felt the same too. It's so hard for us to see any animal suffering. So there we were, the two of us, on sms, trying to think of how to help Blackie. I said maybe we could release Blackie in a room and re-catch him this morning. But how? Blackie is so fierce he'd probably escape.
By then, Blackie had calmed down. I suggested that CP played the Metta Chant or any soothing music to calm Blackie down. It'll help.
Then, I texted our vet to seek his advice. Well, he said it's for the greater good. Should not have any serious injuries. Bring him in this morning and we'll get him neutered and treat his wounds at the same time.
And I also texted the kind officer from the shelter. He said the same. In fact, he said, if only we knew how many captured animals are euthanised at the pounds every week, if only we knew how many dogs, cats, puppies and kittens have to be put down due to overbreeding, this little bit of injury on Blackie is nothing. It is definitely for the greater good. Spay-neuter IS for the greater good. He said it is sometimes so hard, as a shelter officer, to give the order to euthanise because they can't find any other way to deal with the problem. No one wants to kill, he said.
I can fully understand that. While we only deal with so few animals at a time, and we can opt to nurse sick and dying animals and let them go naturally, think of the problems faced at the shelters. They deal with so many every day. And, with so many constraints and limitations, too. I'm glad I'm not in their shoes UNLESS I have a big piece of land where all animals can run freely, like what Meiji does.
Nobody wants to kill. Well, except for the sadistic humans, that is.
So, spay-neuter IS the way, folks.
I'm now waiting for Blackie to come to our clinic. I hope his injuries are not serious. CP said he calmed down quickly and is quiet this morning.
Photo updates later.
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