kathleen@ihuxw.UUCP (K. S. Romanowski) (05/25/84)
I just found this newsgroup, and I am rather surprised to see the number of people who think that letting their pet(s) run free in the good ole out-of-doors. When I was a youngster, I had many cats. They were all outdoor cats and most had a lifespan of about 1-2 years. Why? They would get into fights with other cats, wild critters and an occasional dog. My parents didn't believe in veteranarians so the injured pet was allowed to fend for itself and heal itself. It worked maybe 25% of the time. The remaining 75% of the time they suffered (in my opinion) and usually died. I also had to deal with cruel human neighbors who hated my pets and used to leave out poison foods for them to eat when they roamed over to the neighbor's yard. (I was raised on a small farm near a semi-busy highway, in a small community.) I cringe in horror as I remember vividly one of my favorite cats coming home after being gone for a couple of days. He was very thin and throwing up and his eyes were just glazed. He had been poisoned. He didn't have to suffer for very long. He died within 24 hours. I also have had to deal with the usual enemies of my pets: the automobile. It's hell to have to walk to school and on the way there, find your beloved pet who was allowed to roam free in a pancake shape on the road. So, after all of the bad experiences as a child, when I left I made sure that all of my cats were protected from the "wild" and that their domesticity was my choice for their life. They were my responsibility and I chose to keep them safe from the outside harm. As for a fire, well . . . if I were home at the time, I would first find my cats and then help them to safety. I know this will stir up a debate or many flames, but my opinion is just that . . . mine. I wanted to share it with those who also have this same opinion. Katie