The Dark Side

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. (Matthew 25:40)

The other morning as we went on our early morning walk to the beach, we found one of the semi-feral cats we feed lying in the middle of the road. Some days before we noticed that the cat population had been drastically reduced and this cat seemed not to be fully in possession of its faculties. The explanation is that the communities had put down poison to kill the cats. Why they do this is a mystery to me. The cats do a great job of keeping vermin under control and the numbers remain fairly steady as illness and accidents take their toll. If any control is necessary it seems like a much better idea to make an agreement with one of the local vets to carry out a spaying programme. But no, the easy way out is to put down poison. If the cats eat enough of it their death may be quick, but, and this is not the first time I have seen this, if they only take a small amount, the death is slow and painful. What kind of species are we that we can contemplate such actions?

We picked the cat up and took him home where we made him comfortable and he was able to breathe his last in peace and quiet.

My thoughts on this are: As ye sow, so shall ye reap. So be it!