| Okay folks- here it is. It went thru several revisions, and it is rough
in spots.
I am sure it will be shortened a GREAT DEAL since it will be going into
the Cat-Chingup section, but at least the essence of the stories will
be captured. So here goes...
Also- while the description of the electronic bulletin board will sound
elementary to us, the editor said that many people don't know what it is or
how it looks thus she asked for a description. Remember too- I couldn't
use Digital's name.
Hope you like it.
Pat
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"A TALE OF TWO KITTIES"
by: Edd Cote
Pat Daley
The following two stories, while differing in their content,
are similar in several aspects. A happy ending to each story
was made possible because of an abundance of love displayed by
people whose company computers were linked into an electronic
bulletin board system. These stories represent only two of the
dozens of incidences wherein people have pulled together
to save a cat's life; to offer encouragement in times of crisis; or
share a happy feline tale.
Computers are becoming more a part of everyday life, a fortunate
fact for the following two cats. Some computers have the capability
of not only producing memos, graphs, and spreadsheets, but they
can also communicate with other computers, more specifically
one computer user can write to another user. Not every computer
is made with this feature but the ones referenced in the following
stories have such ability. The user connects his computer with
other computers by use of a telephone line - dialing a designated
number. The numbers different with each company. The user is then
able to access an "electronic bulletin board." The bulletin board is
similar to the ones seen in the school hallways, with handwritten or
typed notices pinned to the board for all to see. The electronic
bulletin board works much the same way, only this bulletin board is
dedicated to "cat" information rather than "school" information.
The cat message is shown on the computer screen, and the other
computer users can then read and react to the message. This is
how the messages about the cats, O'Malley and Touey, were spread
from person to person.
O'Malley's story was originally entered in California as a plea to
save a young kitten's life. O'Malley went from an apartment complex to
a shelter and eventually ended up in New Hampshire. His saga stirred
the heartstrings of people across the globe. Touey's plight was
entered as a way to vent frustration at the insensitivities
towards an injured animal. However, the bulletin board readers
became intimately involved with Touey's progress and jointly
helped defray his mounting bills. People helped both cats because
they CARED.
The first cat to be introduced is a gentle little feline
named O'Malley who today lives with his loving owners in
New Hampshire. O'Malley received a new lease on life through
an international effort by warm-hearted people. O'Malley
began his life as a stray kitten in Santa Clara, California.
His big break came the day he showed up on the doorstep of
Sabonn Pigott. Despite a strict "no pets" clause in her lease,
Sabonn adopted the little black and white cat, fed him and, when
he was old enough, took him to her local vet for neutering. "He
used to come around to my patio door, sit up on his haunches,
tilt his cute little face and cross his paws over his head." said
Sabonn. "When I let him in, he would dive onto the floor, flip over
and let me rub his tummy and tickle his chin. Then he'd squeak like
a rubber duck!"
On Friday April 8th, Sabonn discovered that her little friend
had been picked up by the local animal control authorities and
handed over to the humane society in her area. Realizing she'd
face certain eviction if she brought O'Malley back to her
apartment, Sabonn spent the next four days visiting the kitten
and diligently searching out a permanent home for him.
Despite her efforts, she was unsuccessful in finding someone to
take O'Malley. Having exhausted her local connections, she had
another idea. Sabonn wrote a short story telling of O'Malley's
plight and posted it on the company electronic bulletin board. Her
plea was seen around the world and she was shocked by the results.
Literally within minutes, other employees started to
take up the cause, volunteering their time and money to help
the kitten. One person, Marion Daly of Marlboro, Massachusetts
volunteered to pay airfare anywhere in the continental
United States if someone could be found to adopt O'Malley.
Just 24 hours after Sabonn had posted her story, Nancy Lynch of
New Hampshire read it. Her five-year-old daughter, P.J., had
been begging for a kitten and O'Malley sounded like the perfect
pet. Nancy left a message on the bulletin board stating she'd be
happy to take the kitten as a companion for her cat "Cuddles."
Those who had been following the drama breathed a collective
sigh of relief. However, O'Malley was still on the West Coast
while his prospective owners were 3000 miles away. Sabonn
checked airline schedules and completed all the necessary
arrangements for the flight, assuring the required
innoculations and documentation were completed.
Finally, on Friday April 22, O'Malley was brought to Sabonn's
parents' home where he would spend the night before his flight.
A new carrier with fresh, warm bedding was waiting for him,
along with a mild tranquilizer as recommended by Sabonn's vet.
Then, at 8:55 Saturday morning, Sabonn waved a fond goodbye to
her little friend as the jet took-off that would deliver him to
his new owners. Meanwhile, young P.J. Lynch knew she and her
mother were going to Logan Airport on Saturday, but she didn't
know the real reason behind the trip to Boston. Her mother kept
the kitten's arrival a secret, telling P.J. they were "picking
up Grandma." One hour after the plane landed at Logan, the
carrier was delivered to Nancy and P.J., who, of course,
immediately fell in love with the tired little kitten. P.J.
spent the ride home telling O'Malley about his new family.
As soon as the interested employees who had been watching the
story unfold heard that O'Malley was safe, applause came from
around the world in honor of those who had made it happen. A
special effort was made to reimburse Marion for the money
she had put toward airfare. At this time it was realized just
how many people had been cheering the effort. Checks for $10,
$20, $50 and more came in from across the U.S. One employee who
had been following the story sent a contribution from his
home in Munich Germany making "The Great Continental Kitty Swap"
truly an international labor of love.
Our second fate-delivered feline is Touey, a beautiful,
long-haired male. Touey owes at least one of his nine lives to
Maureen Roy, another employee of the same company, who cared
enough to stop and help, and to Dr. Terri Nord, a dedicated
veterinarian whose skill enabled the healing of this hapless
little fellow.
Miss Roy was driving to work when she noticed an injured cat lying
on the roadside, its head moving back and forth. The four or
five cars in front of her continued along their way. Maureen,
however, went to the aid of the wounded creature.
As Maureen explains, ".. it was bleeding profusely. The cat was still
warm, and looked at me helplessly in its pain. I took my raincoat
off as quickly as I could and put it over the cat's lower body to
keep it warm as I tried to remember, in my anguish, which direction
was the Framingham Animal Hospital. I didn't dare pick it up
because of the blood it was losing." She left him with a few
soothing words, running to the car and speeding to the vet.
After she hurriedly explained the situation to the desk attendant,
a nurse grabbed a blanket and returned with her to the spot,
where a small surprise awaited them.
"And what do you know! A man had stopped, wrapped the cat
in the raincoat and put it in his hatchback, thinking to bring
it to the animal hospital himself. The nurse took the cat
back to my car, holding it in her lap. I thanked the
man - I was so glad that someone else cared."
"Boy, you drive like I do," was the nurse's comment as
Maureen rushed Touey to the hospital, where he was instantly
placed in intensive care. "There was nothing else I could
do, so I went to work, trying to see the road through tears
and boiling anger. I just kept thinking, How can anyone hit a
cat and keep going? How could all of those cars have kept
going before a cat nut like me came along?"
Maureen entered her story on the computer bulletin board,
mainly to vent her frustration. Because of the duration of
shock and blood loss the cat had undergone, Maureen believed it
must have been put to sleep, but she felt that it was better
than the cat taking its last gasp by the side of the road.
The note received immediate replies of sympathy from other
employees, most of whom inquired about the cat's fate after
arrival at the hospital. In later reports it was revealed that
he had suffered severe head trauma, including damage to his
eye and extensive nerve damage to the left side of his head.
Making almost daily visits to view his progress first
hand, Maureen wanted to let him know that he had a home when
he was ready to leave the hospital - with her of course! By
this time she had named him Touey, "short for Toussaint,
a French variation for ALL SAINTS" (referring to her co-employees
whose actions Maureen considered to be like those of saints).
Touey was hit on March 29th. Two days later, donations
began to arrive at the hospital to help cover his hospital
costs, which were beginning to mount and would become
staggering before Touey was healed. The local humane society
had assumed the initial hospital and medication fees. However,
shortly after admitting him to the hospital, Maureen had decided
to adopt Touey, thereby becoming responsible for his hospital
bills incurred after the adoption date. These involved more
medication, two operations (eye removal and neutering), further
brief hospitalization periods, and continuing one day visits
to review progress on the healing of his fractured skull and broken
nose. Many caring "bulletin board friends" from
across the country helped to share in Touey's recovery, sending
donations to aid in defraying expenses, as well as prayers to
aid his healing. The bulletin board also enabled people to
keep Maureen's spirits up with continual encouragement and
empathy. In return, they received daily updates on Touey's
progress. A loud "hurrah" could be heard when Maureen said that
he was going to make it.
Maureen said it best - "I guess those of us who truly
love animals cannot make others FEEL for life to the extent
that we do, but I for one refuse to burn with passion any less.
I suppose we exist to make up for those who don't ..."
Because of universal concern by people involved in joint
efforts, this world can be a better place in which to live.
Perhaps people at other companies have similar experiences,
further showing that animal welfare does not get lost in the far-flung
reaches of the busy corporate world.
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