I will never forget the morning commuting

The bizarre and unfortunate incident started, like many, during a morning of living work traffic.

For context it is painfully common to see the roads slowly cross the roads here in Florida. We live in a glorified swamp, with a few cities in between. I had my part of close calls about beating bugs, with the worst one that was a turtle that went under my car. My intestine turned in a knot while I looked in my rearview mirror, only to see the turtle shell turning. Then the head went out and it ended his walk over the road.

It was a cheeky hot August, with humidity that was wrapped around you like a thick blanket the moment you stepped out.

I had just reached a popular intersection, with a red light that stared at you with an judgment while the unhuised walked between the lines of cars, hoping for reserve change or a friendly look.

Just when the light turned, something went over the black paved road. I squeezed and realized that it was an adolescent cat and dragged himself alone with his front legs. He shuffled the road just in time before the wave of oncoming cars flew by with little respect for his presence.

I have a strong affinity for animals, I grew up with a mum of pets, which I lovingly Dr. Dolittle call. I knew I had to do something. This would bother me all day if I didn’t.

I abruptly pulled my car to the 7-11 parking lot, with a car from behind to me. I found the cat hiding under a bench through the adjacent bus stop, which sat upright with only his hull. He was gray, with a lake of white that covered his bottom. I called him more.

“Hey friend, is it going?” I said.

Lake hissed to me and looked furious. Although this was a small cat, it was still a cat, with sharp claws and teeth to turn around, and it is survival adrenaline on Max. I entered the 7–11 and asked the employee if he had a reserve box that I could use. The long -haired man, with a strict attitude, seemed stunned and said, “May I know what this is for?”

“There is an injured cat under that bus bank. I want to take it to the vet on Bayshore, “I said.

The man looked reassured and I still wonder why he was so concerned about my questions for a cardboard box.

As I stepped out, I was already sweating in my dressed work outfit. The morning sun did not take prisoners. I texted my boss that I would be a few minutes late, and briefly explained the test. He knew that I was somewhat eccentric and had no problems with my delay.

When I approached the box, Lake remained surprisingly. I used a small stick to gently slide it inside. I still remember the subtle sound of his fur that pushed the brown cardboard. He did not a fight when I closed the box and hit a few holes in the top for him to breathe.

I rode two blocks to the vet I used for my own pets, including a cat that I had saved in a less serious situation.

A bizarre scene greeted me in the vet’s office, with an unusually long line of people in front of me. A obese Golden Retriever stood with one woman. A towering man with a gigantic yellow -listed Amazon (parrot) on his shoulder stood behind her. The parrot missed feathers on some parts of his body.

For me, a beautiful middle -aged woman who tapped a small toy poodle in her arm with her foot with her foot impatiently tapped. It was clear that we all had a story.

A customer at the front bickered with an employee about his account. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and felt relieved to be in air conditioning again. The scent of many dogs and cats were swocked in with every breath I took.

The middle -aged woman for me turned around, glanced at me with the box in my arms and grinned: “What’s in the box?” I was immediately reminded of the same notorious line from the film SE7ENWho also had a box, with a much worse item in it.

“An injured cat,” I said with a light grimace.

“I’m so sorry. What happened?”

“Well, I’m not sure. I found the cat on the street. I think a car hit him, but I’m not sure.

The sad face of the lady melts in a huge radiant smile: “That is so sweet of you to help that cat out.”

My husband later found this part of the story funny and accused me of trying to pursue all local animal ladies.

Lake shuffled a little and hissed in my box. I peaked in and realized that he only adjusted himself to be more comfortable.

In the end it was my turn to talk to the veterinarian. After he explained my situation, the clerk gave me an exemption with this even keel -sided face and asked me to fill it in, with the help of the most monotonous voice I have ever heard. I immediately thought: “This situation is not at all surprising for her, or she hates her work completely.”

Reading the small print, something gave me a break. The exemption said, “You are responsible for all vets.”

My intention was to simply drop out more here because I didn’t know what else to do with him. I turned to her and said, “I think it’s good with paying costs for this, but I am not here with my own pet. Someone else can even possess him. Can you at least consult me ​​before you charge a reimbursement?”

The secretary waved the question and said: ‘That is just paperwork. We will not charge you for this. “

I felt uncomfortable because it was still liable for me through the paperwork. But I realized that this cat was in poor condition, and I should just add it. They said they would give him an X -ray scan and come back and let me know how it went.

Then I started to wonder if I had room for another pet in my life, although I had sworn to add family members. I forbade that thought from my mind for the time being because it felt premature.

Thirty minutes later a young male vet arose and his face told me what I had already feared. He frowned and said: ‘Unfortunately our tests revealed that his back was broken and that he was very, very sick. We had to eutanize him. I’m so sorry. But thank you for bringing it in. “

I nodded as recognition, not at all not surprised. The cat looked quite rough.

I left that day, shaken a little. The experience was somewhat traumatic for me and saw an animal in such an emergency.

Part of me was still satisfied with this result. I knew that if I had not brought this cat, days or weeks would have suffered in the wild or would be eaten by a predator. A selfish part of me was grateful that it had not been my cat because I was absolutely destroyed. But I was still sad.

This memory still comes back regularly to me. And to this day, 15 years later, when I see an object moving on the road, even if it is just a small paper bag, I immediately float my foot over the brakes and I get afraid that it might be someone’s pet.

It is quite possible that the person who hit this cat had no idea that it happened. I hope that is the case, because otherwise they left without doing the right thing.

The incident reminds me of respecting life as I see it, and help where I can when I see the suffering in progress. Animals may not have the refinement and the feeling of morality that we do, but that does not mean that they have no value and that they have to be ignored on the side of the road.

I wish I could have ended this story like doing so many YouTube videos, where I cleaned this sick and confused cat and rehabilitated in a happy pet on my couch. I didn’t save him that day. But I’m glad I tried.

Please be aware while you drive. So often, people forget that they control gigantic machines that are capable of a huge destruction. If you see an animal in need, don’t be afraid to do something. You would be surprised how many people just ignore life.

Rest in peace, more.