Wednesday, September 24, 2008

It's Once Again Safe for the Chipmunks to Come Out


Chipmunk at window eatingMy neighbour called me yesterday, and asked if I'd seen the stray cat hanging around. Apparently, our stray has been killing many of the chipmunks -- in a most tortuous, play with them before eating kind of way. This made me jump off the fence that I'd been straddling. I had to take the cat into the OSPCA.

An officer dropped off a live trap in the afternoon with instructions to trap it between the hours of 8:00 and 4:00 when the centre was open. The cat visited us around 4:30 yesterday afternoon -- too late to take it in. This morning, I baited the trap and set it out where I'd previously fed the stray. He (I'm not exactly sure if it is a he or a she) came at 8:00 a.m. Despite the enticing aroma of food, he didn't fall for the trap. Instead, he rubbed up against me, letting me pat him. This was good news regarding his "adoptability" -- friendly, affectionate, but may have some trust issues considering what happened next.

I ran downstairs, grabbed my own cat's carrier and put food in it. He may have been wary of the metal trap, but he walked right into the plastic carrier. He meowed, loudly and piteously, for the entire 20 minute ride to the OSPCA. But now he's safe -- he'll be checked over, given a flea treatment, then put up for adoption. Of course, I cried after dropping him off. I want only the best for him, but I also want the local wildlife to be given a better chance at survival. I'll try to follow his progress, and give you updates.

Thanks to all for your advice!


9 comments:

Jan said...

Good for you. It was the right thing to do.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Thank you, Jan. It was difficult taking him away, but I'm sure he'll be far happier once he finds a new home. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does find a new home).

Shannon Perry said...

Brave lady. Absolutely it was the right thing to do.

Shannon Perry said...

Just an afterthought: even if the cat is euthanized--and that's far from a sure thing, given that she's let people pet her--there are worse things. Suffering a horrible winter or any of the many nasty fates that lurk outside could definitely be worse. You've saved her from those, and that's a very kind, humane thing to do.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Thanks, Raggs. You're right about the weather and dangers -- I imagine spending the winter outside in Ontario isn't much fun. I did what was right for this neighbourhood and that cat, but you're doing the right thing by your stray(s) -- he wouldn't survive without you.

I do believe my guy is adoptable. The only problem is that our local adoption centre has about 250 cats waiting for new homes. He's far back in line, and won't even be put out for viewing for quite some time.

Anonymous said...

Fingers crossed here too, that this kitty will find a good home.

Good on you, Lynn. While it's never possible to help "all" animals -- it does feel good to know we can at least help "one" when we can.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Thank you, Georgie. Wouldn't it be nice if it were possible to help all the animals? You know, with one of those blanket wishes when you blow out the candles of your birthday cake -- I wish all the people and animals in the world would never suffer, and everyone/thing would be happy.

I guess those kinds of wishes only work when you're four years old, eh?

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