Friday, May 23, 2008

IF : Worry


We have a large feral cat population where I live. Sadly, there are a lot of transients here, so when they get their orders to ship out for whatever reason, they feel it's okay to just leave the cats behind. A lot of them were military families who lived in Fort Ord, now an abandoned property with many cats in colonies fighting for survival. But this happens everywhere and by people from all walks of life and I worry about all those innocent, displaced cats. This handsome guy was rescued and has a loving home, but he'll always have trust issues. You can tell from the worried look on his face. So, I beg you, if you can't take your cat with you, please take it to your local shelter or try to find a loving home for it before you leave. Animals are not disposable. Thank you!

42 comments:

  1. Nothing. Nothing makes me more angry than people thinking that they are not responsible for their pets. I can not tell you how many cats we trapped and had fixed to keep ferral populations down! Prancer was abanddoned and was sleeping in a cardboard box on my mother-in-law's porch, and Dahlia & Peter were found in the bushes by my work when they were barely 3 weeks old.

    “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man"
    -- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

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  2. Very nice painting, and such truth and wisdom. I do not know how people can "use" an animal and leave it when they are through. I love my rescue dog, issues and all. I know she would not have the trust issues she has if someone had been more responsible with her as a puppy. Thanks for spreading awareness and making great art!

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  3. How beautiful!! Yeah, I still have rewal issues with stray cats running arond, or at least the people who don't care for them. I just don't get it!

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  4. Poor cats! Hope the cat owners will be more responsible towards their cats.

    I like the way you combined an illo with music, love the Beach Boys!

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  5. Wonderful image! Your comments are so true, too!

    www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

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  6. Oh,what a sensational feeling!!!

    But I personally worry about the people who are loosing their lives during the wars going on around the world.

    Best Wishes
    Parisa

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  7. He's a beauty! I'm so glad he found someone to love him.
    Mine are some of the castaways and they're great pets!

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  8. I love it!! Great eyes!!
    (^v^)

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  9. Great illustration and wonderful sentiment which cannot be stated enough. They are totally dependent upon the kindness of people - please be kind!

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  10. Poor kitty - this one may have found a home and lessened his worry, but there are so many out there, looking for their homes.

    A wonderful drawing friend.

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  11. lovely
    you work too fast
    good luck

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  12. Beautiful Image. Now I'll have to go dig out my Beach Boys cassette (yes, a cassette) to hear the rest of the tune!

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  13. Good job ... reminding us all that we're appointed with the task of good stewardship in regards to the flora and fauna. Handsome cat, too. :)

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  14. Beautiful painting. And I could not agree more with you on how some people treat their pets. It's a shame! My heart breaks for those poor furry ones left behind by ignorant people.

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  15. So true. And spay and neuter-for pity sakes. If you don't have 5 bucks (we have low cost clinics) and time for a drop off and pick up, you don't have money or time for an animal...I know, preachin to the choir.

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  16. what a beautiful drawing! i luv the eyes too..

    and i have seen alot of stray cats in my past and how some just go about having their little kitties with no homes. i guess rules in my country is different when it comes to animals. i just hate rude people spraying water over them to drive them away. i would luv to take them in but then again my son is allergic to fur so all i can do is leave some food near where i see them stay.

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  17. ohh just read this now.. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.." oh my.. no wonder.. 8(

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  18. omg this is powerful. i really love the way you do your work with a new message connected to it...keep on sending these messages out to the world. i love you. hugs and wfs.

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  19. Wonderful illustration with sad eyes :( Great message as well. I agree that people need to get their pets spayed or neutered! It just doesn't make sense to bring more unwanted animals into this sometimes cruel world. We went to Hawaii this Christmas and feral cats were everywhere. They would come out to get food if you were anywhere around a "park" area. Poor things...so so sad :(

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  20. Ooooh and Princess Pepper Cloud...wonderful quote by Ghandi!

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  21. Thanks for the kind compliments you left on my blog. Your cat illustration is equally impressive. You captured that haunted look of a cat with trust issues perfectly. It is horrific how a certain segment of the population treats animals as objects. It make me wonder sometimes who is the more intelligent,compassionate,
    "superior" species: humans or our four-legged brothers and sisters.

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  22. Ah yes, the cat situation. here too. :-)

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  23. Very true, lovely portrait! Thank you for thinking of Jack the Red-Collared Lorikeet as well :)

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  24. Ahh, this breaks my heart!
    Beautiful painting however. I recognize the look in his eyes...... I have worked in a shelter for years and at a certain point I had 7 cats at home, among them a few of these cats. They are very grateful but never loose that worried look.
    On our island lots of cats are left behind at camping sites and every autumn we have to catch those poor things and try to find homes for the ones who are still a little sociable.
    beautiful post!
    Thanks for asking attention for this subject!
    Marianne

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  25. Amen girl! Your the voice of reason.

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  26. Hey...thanks!!...love your piece too...reminds me of my lovely lil cat!

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  27. yes I totally agree!an animal is not a toy!Come to Romania and you´ll see the sadest spectacle with 100ds of homeless dogs.I have at home,in Bucharest 2 cats,taked from the street many years ago:the first one was so weak that could´nt walk;the second one was born without eyes:which heart you can have to abandon a helpless animal in this way?I must say I took the IF chalenge in the same way,I´m happy to see many others done the same!Yours,beside message is wonderful executed!She have hipnotic eyes:))!!

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  28. What a beautiful paint! Thanks very much for your comment. And , yes, "Lars and the real girl" is a great movie. One of the best ones I've seen this year!

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  29. The sad thing is, animals lovers would remain anxious, the irresponsible one would remain irresponsible, it's still a long way to go!

    Once again, you created a beautiful painting accompany with great message.

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  30. Some people do think their animals are disposable or sometimes they own them because they want to fight them like the pit bulls. Those people make the world an ugly place. I just hate that.

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  31. Thanks for calling attention to the abandoned cat and dog population. Not to mention the endangered species. We need to do much more to help these animals. But evidently we have not evolved enough to realize that the animals have just as much right to be on the planet as we do.

    Great "cat" painting.

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  32. Such a beautiful, powerful and poignant painting. The kitty's expression speaks volumes.

    I also love PPC's quote from Gandhi. Nothing could be more true.

    Thanks for always posting such thoughtful, wise messages.

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  33. I agree with ya a hundred of thousand per cent! Meow!

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  34. Beautiful cat portrait. One of our cats is a former feral cat. We adopted him from a local feral rescue organization. He was very stand-offish initially, but now loves humans and is an attention hound.Hopefully he no longer worries!

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  35. Terrific message!! I've adopted 3 cats from a cat rescue shelter. Love your art, too!

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  36. I worry about my pooch when I am away at work. I don't see how anyone can leave an animal behind forever. What a great piece!

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  37. Very nice, but very sad. He looks a little like our cat, Pinhead. I agree with the comments of the others before me. I also agree with the Parisa post, but that is a different subject. This post topic is about animals, and it seems to me it is not meant to displace or minimize human suffering. One truth is that we, as humans, can minimize human suffering, and eliminate the suffering we cause animals, who are truly helpless in this human world.

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  38. Ah, so kind to the kitty cats!

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  39. what great eyes! and an excellent sentiment..

    dot

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  40. Beautiful painting, beautiful cat, beautiful poignant message! People can be so low sometimes. Glad he has a home.
    Hope you have a great weekend Laurel

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  41. Amen to that! On our farm we have several stray cats. Some have been abandonded for us to take care of and hey, I don't mind at all but my heart always breaks for them. Your little guy looks like a sweetie. Great art as always!

    http://justgiddy.typepad.com

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  42. Amazing painting, the eyes expression it's deeply touching! Great message, I absolutely share it!

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