Unemployed Cat Trapper

I am currently out of Poppa funds for fixing cats. I have enough left to fix four tomorrow and that's it. The trailer park womans' son, had promised to donate to cover those cats, but the donation has never materialized. Maybe the vet clinic will get it in the mail today. I did call the woman and asked about it. She seemed sort of hostile to my request. It goes that way. People don't want to fork over. I am hoping her son just forgot.

I can't tell you how many times I've been stiffed.

It costs me to help people too. The cost of bait, of flea treating and worming the cats. I don't get reimbursed for such things by anyone. I have a handful of nice folks who sometimes contribute by sending cat food or flea treatment. But I go through a ton of bait, for trapping and Advantage. I go through tons of flea and worm treatment.

Just think, I've already taken in 24 cats this week alone, and each one, except for the owned male, was wormed and flea treated before returning. It's the least I feel I can do for these stray and feral cats. But it comes at a cost to me.

I can't officially fund raise for help with flea and worm treatment, and bait, because I am not a nonprofit. That's unfortunate. I don't know why I give away myself so much. I have gotten lots in return, however. I've gotten a purpose in life, a job, a way to help the community and the cats whom I love. I've made friends even far away, like in France and Great Britain, and on the east coast and in Canada. Sure, I've never met them, but they're online friends.

I can't say I've made a lot of local friends. I have met scores of local people, which has been interesting to say the least. There are a lot of characters out there and some incredible people.

I rely on people's word, too. If they say they'll donate, I have to believe them. I rely on believing them. I always have optimism that their word is good. But often I am stiffed.

I remember the woman out off Spicer, for whom I trapped and took in 24 cats to be fixed. She claimed she would pay the costs back at $100 a month. But I never heard from her again. She never carried through on her promise. The woman was, at the time, a SafeHaven board member, at least that's what she told me, and just because of that, I believed her, felt this gave her credibility, so felt her word was good. She resigned that position about that time.

But anyhow, I tend to believe people and I don't want to stop believing people. It does seperate out clearly the liar crowd. You know who they are if they lie to you and renig on promises made. You know the inner workings of their character, that they use people. This makes me downcaste and angry at first, but it doesn't really affect me. I know there are a lot of such people out there.

I want very much to continue taking in cats, but the money is not available that I have been using, to a great extent now.

The trailer park woman called to say her son is putting the donation check in the mail today. It is being sent to the vet clinic. That's great news. I wonder how much it is for. She didn't say or know. I better not get my hopes up.

So far, I've taken in 12 cats to be fixed from that situation--four adult females, one adult male, 4 male kittens and 3 female kittens. Total fixing cost to Poppa: $474. There are four cats who still need fixed there. I have, in addition, treated all 12 so far fixed, for roundworms and fleas. Cost to me for flea and worm treatment for these 12? About $20. I didn't add in bait and gas. It isn't free to get cats fixed. I wish it were!

I don't what I can do with myself if I don't do what I've done for years.

I'm an unemployed cat trapper, is what I am right now. And I don't sit around very well. What can I do now?