It was after midnight -- time for the most gruesome part of Annie's job.
It was something she'd never have pictured herself doing. But if you
want to be employed by the animal welfare department in this city, you
started at the bottom. Since Annie was determined to make a difference,
she had no other recourse except to join the very organization she
despised. Once she possessed her hands-on experience, she could devise a plan to overhaul things at this "Auschwitz for animals."
And so, Annie did her best finding ways to stretch the rules to give
pets extra time to find a home. However, when all else failed, her job did
include "the dreaded task." At least Annie knew she'd be kind the two times a month she was forced to weed out those animals deemed un-adoptable.
Recently, before entering the room, Annie took a deep breath to calm
herself. She was thankful to find only one animal -- an aging black beauty
with eyes of the deepest gold that looked back at her with a brilliance
she'd never before encountered.
She spoke gently trying to soothe the frightened feline. Annie was
surprised when the cat touched her paw on the side of her face in what
could only be described as a pleading gesture. The cat then stood up on
her hind legs and danced around in a circle. With everything else
momentarily forgotten, Annie looked at the black kitty as she spoke in an
inquisitive voice, "What's a fine gal like yourself doin' in a place like
this?"
Once more, the elderly feline raised up on her back legs and twirled
about in a complete circle. Growing more convinced by the second, Annie
said, "You're showing off for me, aren't you?"
It was truly apparent. This cat was definitely trying to find some
way to convince someone that it was too smart and well trained to be put to
sleep.
"She must've been someone's trick cat," Annie thought, certain there
was indeed valid attempts at communication going on, as the cat performed once again, tucking her head under and rolling forward in a righteous somersault to Annie's delight.
Wondering why she hadn't been discovered as special already, Annie
reached into the cage and gathered the cat into her arms, telling the black
beauty, "Don't you worry honey, you're coming home with me -- tonight!"
As she held the elderly feline closer, Annie could have sworn she felt
it sigh with relief. Talking more to soothe than really explain, Annie
continued rattling on, "I just have to make one more check around, then you and I will go sit in front together and wait for Gus the janitor." Annie
made a mental note to inquire as to why she had not at least been told that
kitty was extremely friendly and mellow -- the exact type needed to use in
the "therapy pet program."
Not all cats and dogs possess the right temperament and Annie had
posted a sign on the message board requesting that all workers let her know if they discovered such an animal. That had been over four weeks ago and there hadn't been one animal mentioned.
"I don't even know why half of these volunteers bother to come here.
It certainly doesn't appear that their hearts are in their work," Annie
thought with despair. Some of the volunteers really tried hard, but it was
impossible to run a competent facility with workers who were not permanent. That's why Annie was here -- it was what she wanted to remedy.
The elderly lady who handled cat adoptions had passed her point of
usefulness, and although Annie did not want to be cruel, a choice had to be made. Better to hurt the woman's feelings than to let animals perish
needlessly. Annie decided to call a staff meeting the next day.
She looked down to see that the kitty had fallen into a deep and
exhausted sleep in her arms. Looking down at her dozing "foundling," Annie thought, "You're as black as ink. Why, that's it, Inka, Inka Black, that's what I'll call you!"
And right then, Inka Black did it once more -- she woke from her
rumbly purring slumber to reach up with her paw and caress the side of her new care-giver's face, while at the same time, closing her eyes into that adoring "love squint" -- that long, slow blink that is perhaps the most
tender _expression that a cat can bestow.
Taking it as a sign -- a good omen that this was the beginning of a
new day at the shelter -- Annie and Inka went to wait for Gus so they could
go home together.
by Anne Lombardo Ardolino
