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Hello, everyone. Today, I come to you with a very sad story that needs to be shared, so that others can learn from it and take the necessary precautions to avoid this tragedy in their own homes. A friend of mine wrote “Boyd’s Story” after her precious foster kitten lost his life in a tragic accident. She is someone with decades of experience with animals and who has fostered and cared for many orphan kittens over the years. That this accident would happen in her home, where she and her husband are extremely careful, attentive to, and protective of their animals, has been utterly devastating. I find it a deeply moving and courageous act on her part to share Boyd’s story in the hope that other tiny lives might be saved.
Boyd’s Story
This is me at 4 weeks old. I was rescued from a warehouse by a kind man who found me starving. I had no idea what happened to my kitty mom. I was dehydrated and very hungry. Then I was rescued by another person who took me home and gave me some kitty milk in a bottle until I was able to eat on my own. It was a happy place – lots of other cats who would show me how to do things like climb the stairs, cover my litter (I was a champion litter box user), drink out of a fountain, and play. I would make my foster mom and dad laugh lots over my antics. I especially liked to help my mom scoop the litter and sweep up the litter that was thrown out of the box. She really appreciated that. As I got older (8 weeks) and started to climb I was getting into a bit of trouble now and then. But they were showing me what was right from wrong.
One morning just after I had my breakfast I was climbing on my dad on the recliner chair. I got off and decided to go under the chair just at the time my dad was getting up. My life was over in an instant as my neck broke. As my spirit was passing to kitty heaven, I could see then furiously trying to get my broken body out of that chair. I was so sorry to make them so sad. My mom tried to resuscitate me but couldn’t. She cried hysterically and hugged and hugged me trying to bring me back to life. There is much sadness in the household.
My mom asked me to write this story so that she can pass information on to all pet owners about the importance of kitten-proofing your homes. My house was very safe. Blind cords were high out of reach, no chemicals were in sight or accessible, all cat toys were safe and didn’t have little eyes and noses that could be ingested. Doors were never left open for me to escape. The dryer was especially interesting with all that warmth coming out of it, but I was never allowed near it. All cupboards were secure. No food except that allowed for us kitties, big, old, or babies, to eat. No poisonous plants or artificial flowers to chew on. I was told to stay away from that nasty recliner. We all thought that I was as safe as I could be.
In my memory please, please, please pass my story on to your friends and other pet owners to be very aware of those recliner chairs and other hazards for little and big kitties alike.
Love, Boyd
