Warning: This story
includes two brief accounts of cruelty toward animals.
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| This mother cat and her kittens were pelted with rocks, but thanks to their kind rescuer and Alley Cat Rescue, the mom and her surviving kittens are recovering and will be available for adoption soon. Photo courtesy of Alley Cat Rescue. |
In late May, a kind person in Maryland witnessed some
children throwing rocks at a tortoiseshell cat and her four kittens.
Fortunately this person intervened, rescuing two of the kittens. But the other
two kittens had died, and the mother had run away.
The kind person then called Alley Cat Rescue, a nonprofit
dedicated to the welfare of cats. ACR took over care of the kittens and sent
rescuers out the next day to search for the momma. They found her near where
the incident had taken place. She was under a car and was likely searching for
her kittens. The rescuers were able to humanely trap her, and she is now
recovering in foster care along with her two remaining little ones.
Understandably, the little family has been shaken by what happened to them, but
they are getting better and will soon be available for adoption.
The momma’s new name is June Bug, and her kittens are Star
and Boo. We hope they all soon learn that many humans are kind and loving and
would never, ever try to hurt a defenseless cat.
The importance of humane education
We’re so happy that June Bug, Star, and Boo were rescued and
are recovering, but this story makes us ask, Why do people do stuff to
intentionally hurt animals? Old SoLT has been asking this since she was about
12, when she briefly witnessed some older teens throwing rocks at a puppy. She
didn’t understand it then, and she doesn’t understand it now. How anyone could
see any living thing suffering and not have their heart break is beyond us.
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| Humane education--learning to have compassion for animals-- benefits kids and animals alike. Photo via Adobe Stock. |
According to ACR, “cruelty towards animals can be an
indicator of other behavioral problems in children and continued criminal
activity in adulthood.” One problem, wethinks, is that often people—adults and
children alike—don’t understand that, yes, animals feel pain and fear. Yes,
animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. That’s why we’re so
glad to know that ACR advocates for humane education—teaching children to be
kind and compassionate to animals.
“It is so important to teach children compassion for animals
at a young age, while they are so impressionable,” said Denise Hilton, Alley
Cat Rescue’s director of operations. ACR has taught humane education courses at
elementary schools and Girl Scout events. Hilton said, “When we have taught at
local schools the children have been really engaged and interested in learning
more about cats.”
That is good to hear!
We applaud ACR's humane education initiatives and hope they can do a lot more of it.
Get more information
And potential adopters for June Bug, Star, and Boo should
contact Alley Cat Rescue at acr@saveacat.org to learn more about
them.
It's so sad some people are so mean to animals.
ReplyDeleteCall me cynical, I do, but many people just get off on cruelty - it gives them a sense of power.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad. Who could possibly want to hurt kittens :(
ReplyDeleteIt takes a village! Start teaching children that it's not okay to harm ANY animal. This makes me so sad.
ReplyDeleteThis absolutely breaks my heart as it is often the precursors to more and worse violent behavior. We are grateful that June Bug and Boo and Star were rescued, but that two kittens died is inexcusable. I wish the childrens' parents had been found and prosecuted for animal cruelty, as they are ultimately responsible. I am certain this little family will all find good home(s). It would be nice if they could stay together. Thanks for sharing. We do support Alley Cat Allies.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel sick. Those poor, precious little angels. When I was a teen I was walking in our downtown area with my mom when we witnessed a man dragging his dog who could barely walk down the street. People were yelling at him to stop, that his dog couldn't walk, but he kept going. Cell phones weren't in everyone's hands back then but people were yelling into stores to call the police. The next day my mom called the humane society to find out what ended up happening and she found out the man was well known to them, but we never knew what became of the dog. How people can be so horrible I'll never understand.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I can't read this I just pray the cats are OK. I get so upset reading of cruelty to animals.
ReplyDeleteWe need to educate children!! I am so tempted to beat them to a pulp but that won't work so education is vitally important. God forgive those idiots for killing those kittens and depriving them of their mother.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't read the stories but Gramma once screamed at a neighbor kid who was banging a cat in a bag against a brick wall. Karma came about when he was a young adult was pushed off an 18-floor balcony during a St. Pat's party.
ReplyDeleteI just shared a story on my FB page about a woman who killed her husband while he was beating his cat. Served him right too.