or trap cats in ‘my’ trailer park on Saturday, got up early on Sunday to bring
one late-arriving cat to the clinic. Found the clinic site abuzz with activity—some volunteers putting tags on traps and recovery carriers, others lining the carriers with newspapers or sorting cats in traps by their sex. Everyone pitched in, doing whatever was needed. A vet tech came out to say, ‘Let’s have the first three cats,’ to begin
the clinic day.
Thirty scruffy, thin and wormy cats were in the house. One would be found to be so ill that she was humanely euthanized. Caregivers in their oldest clothes,
still smelling of mackerel, mingled with clinic staff in their scrubs. We communed together about the cats, sharing happy stories and then grief with the caregiver who would be burying her cat later in the day. I spent some time rinsing traps after they were cleaned, and carrying them to dry in the sun. Before leaving for church I
checked the cats recovering from surgery to make sure all was well with them.
Arriving at church in a rush, I changed into ‘good’ clothes in the restroom. I was
just in time to play the opening hymn, ‘Nothing but the Blood.’ The sermon was based on the second chapter of John, in which Jesus clears the temple. The minister
referenced criticism of Jesus for healing people on the Sabbath, and for
healing those afflicted by ‘demons’ at all. I thought of our feral cat rescuers, who
may be criticized for working at spay/neuter clinics on Sundays. I can’t, however, think of a better way to do good for God’s creatures than to offer them veterinary care on His day. Thank you to all those who trapped, transported, surgically treated, provided post-surgical care, combed, cleaned or flea-treated animals at a volunteer clinic this Sunday.
AMEN!