The kittens in the wastepaper basket (a sharing by a reader)

Here is a story from one of our readers:

I read with interest on your comment on your blog if only we can vote on the animals behalf. Personally I would think animals will not  put their fate and vote for a politician.

This coming election is all about politicians only interest is to keep their jobs and whatever perks and power than comes with it. Animal welfare and rights should all of us and the society’s responsibility no matter who comes into power.  The following quotes by theology of freedom is so true;

“Your religion is Not Important’. Take care of your actions because they become habits. Take care of your habits because it will form your character. Take care of character because it will form your destiny and your destiny will be your life…

The main cause why animals are suffering here is because some quarters of our society has made cruelty their habits thus it is their character and their destiny and their life. I am speaking of from first hand experiences.

On last Sunday morning 7th April 2013 I was attending and cleaning our patio. Suddenly I heard loud angry shouts and something crashed on side of roofs of and sounds kittens scampering and crying on our roof. I rushed inside and upstairs and can saw a wastepaper basket and some nesting like (made of dry straws and leaves) all over our patio roof. I saw three frightened and crying kittens running around and went on to hiding in our rain gutter.

What had happened is that the man next door had found his wastepaper basket in his balcony had a few weeks’ born kittens nestling in the nest that their mother had lovingly build for them. The mother (an neglected pet of our one of our neighbour) thought she had she found a safe place to give birth and safe place for newborns. The man hurled and threw the waste paper basket with the kittens out of his balcony which somehow landed on our roof.

I called my hubby who was out for his run and he rushed home. By that time the man had locked and closed all the doors and windows of his house. By the time hubby managed to get on the roof the kittens were nowhere to be seen as they are hiding in the rain gutter; so scared and frightened and cannot be entice to come out. Their mother was whimperingand wailing in a frightful meow up and down the road in front out house frantically looking up the roof.

Hubby didn’t minced his words at the man who was peeping from his window on how he can do this to innocent animals who only want to survive. Where is compassion as a father doing this act of cruelty setting a ‘fine’ example to his two young sons by hurling and throwing a basketful of kittens out of his balcony to die. This is an act of cruelty. An act of compassion would be taking the basketful of kittens downstairs and put them out  on the ground. Even if had put the basket in out rubbish bin it will not be as back as they’ll have a better chance to survive.

We tried all day – cancelled all our plans to get the kitten out of the gutter. Meantime I kept on feeding the mother with all kind of food that she likes so she can gather her strength and energy and get onto the roof and lured and get her out and or at least nurse them until we find a way how to.

As I was comtemplating (evening after a heavy downpour) how I can walk on the roof. The kittens managed to find a safe place in between the roof tiles. Hubby is too heavy the patio roof might give way. I had the experiences about a 100 years ago walking on high ropes but it was with safety harness and all so now it might come in handy. I figure roof is safer than ropes as it has a broader space to walk on.

A couple a neighbour a few block away was driving pass to go out to dinner and saw me contemplating. A few minutes later, the couple teenage son turned up and asked whether we want him to go up the roof as he is a agile and lighter than both of us in our early golden years. His father had seen me attempting to climb the roof and had called one of his sons  whose is at home to extend a helping hand. We were touched by their offer of kindness and assistance but we declined as we would not want to put someone child in danger or the possibility of getting hurt.

Finally by yesterday evening the mother cat has gathered all her strength and courage (she was afraid of the man) managed to get her babies out the rain gutter and after nursing her babies carried two down and although one of the kitten fell down but it was unhurt.

I learnt two things about the two fathers ; one is passing on the legacy of cruelty to his two sons (by the action of cruelty -literally throwing the kittens to die) and the other father a legacy of compassion and kindness to do whatever it takes to save innocent lives.

So as you can see; do we really need to depend on whoever is in power or the authority to practise a life fill with kindness and compassion. There seems to be a lot of cruelties already either by those who have the power and even by ordinary humans like us who are not the authority.

It has to come from us; maybe if we make it a habit so as it will be our character and our destiny and life to practise compassion and kindness to the innocents and unfortunate be it human or animals maybe it will rub off to those in power and be kind and compassionate authority and lawmakers. What goes around comes around.