Flush no more

A terrible thing happened over the weekend. Last Saturday, N came into the office to feed Flush, the kitten we've rescued from the drain downstairs, and found it listless with no appetite. M later brought it to Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital for observation, only to have them call back on Sunday morning saying she was very weak and can go anytime.

We all rushed down in time to bid her a tearful goodbye - you can imagine us crying our eyes out as we pat her limp body in a cardboard box. Apparently she was anaemic and her red blood cells level was so low at 4 (min level is 24!) due to reasons that she might be infested with worms and her young body couldn't cope with the stress. All we could do was to agree to the euthanasia to end her suffering. I told her she was such a brave sweet girl and as M called out to her, she managed to meow back softly one last time. Sigh, it was really, really sad. But we did our best and were glad we didn't turn a blind eye to her pleas and gave her a safe and warm home for 3 weeks. Flush, we'll miss you dearly.

We have received some kind condolences from friends such as T and J who said: "Our deepest sympathies to the passing of Flush. T and I were teary eyed when we read your post. It was so, so sad. Though we were pretty depressed after the news, we were glad that at least his last days were not spent in the drain, unloved and all alone. He was in the company of people who loved him and what few days he had on earth was spent with hope, affection and a warm roof over his head. Thank you for showing him and giving him all that. He is in a happier place now, a place with abundant love, food, and all the wonderful gifts he couldn't experience here. Our hearts are with you as you go through this difficult time. Love..."

J's email ended with a brilliant quote by M. Ghandi ~ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." How true. It distressed me a lot when there seems to be less room, empathy and tolerance for animals in our progressive societies, especially with the recent debate in the forum about allowing cats in flats. Plleeeease lah. Can't they just see the humane logic behind it?

It saddens me that more and more creatures are edged out of their natural habitats and face extinction as humans relentlessly take over and milk whatever natural resources left for the sake of economic growth and process. Pui to that! On the contrary, we should encourage sustainable means of living and practise responsible consumption for the sake of humanity and our environment.