Dr. Phil McGraw, family strategist, often speaks of how at times families need heroes to save them from their dysfunctions and to help begin new and healthier behavior patterns. Well, the cat world today can boast of a heroine who would have made even Dr. Phil proud. (He’s an animal lover himself). The unexpected valiant one is a forty-two year old mother named Christine Hill from Spencer, Massachusetts.
On June 1 of this year, Mrs. Spencer spotted an elderly man trying to drown an orange kitten in netting in a bucket of water. The man, Laurence E. Thayer, 85, repeatedly submerged the tiny creature while his five-year-old year old grandson stood behind him. Mrs. Spencer, owner of an upscale salon, said that she asked the old man what he was doing when she looked into the bucket and “saw a little mouth opening and closing, like gasping.” The old man callously replied, “It’s almost done. You can’t save all the wild animals in the world.” The little boy stood silently behind his grandfather and appeared to be indifferent to the situation.
At this point, Mrs. Spencer transformed into superwoman minus the usual suit and cape, for there was neither time nor a phone booth conveniently nearby. She pulled the tiny kitten from the bucket, pressing its tiny stomach to force the water out of its lungs. When confronted with his deed, the old man replied: “I didn’t know it was against the law. I’ve been doing it for a hundred years.”
It is against the law to kill a cat and Mrs. Spencer took the adorable kitten named “Lucky Girl” from his property and reported the incident to the North Brockfield Animal Control Center. Unfortunately, no charges were made against Mr. Thayer out of some lopsided respect for both his ignorance (hah!) and his age.
Perhaps this incident will bring needed attention to the problem of destructive feral cats on private property, which is an understandable issue of concern. But whether it does or not, I would like to ask Mr. Thayer one question, with no respect at all for his age and ignorance.
How would YOU like being submerged in a bucket until after gasping helplessly for air, you finally drown? I think you should try it. Maybe you’ll like it, and then the world will be free of one callous, cruel and ignorant excuse for a human being!