A magical place

I was transcribing a program today at work that was partly about a remarkable lady in California who devoted her life to caring for animals. Over a decade ago she'd been invited to visit a sanctuary for elderly cats and was surprised to find a place she described as cold and clinical. She thought surely it's not too difficult to improve on these conditions and give cats a safe, happy, loving environment to live out their lives in. Soon afterwards, Gail Pope and her husband Richard transformed their home into BrightHaven*, a sanctuary open to all animals that are elderly, sick or no longer wanted. 

These animals, mainly cats, aren't kept in cages or lack the attention they seek and deserve. Instead they have the run of Gail's entire house and garden, socialize with all the others animals, get fed a high quality, natural diet and most importantly are loved and looked after by Gail, Richard and a team of selfless volunteers who promise one thing: that this place will be a nurturing, comfortable home for them for good. There are currently over 70 cats at BrightHaven, as well as dogs, goats, horses and birds. These are all animals that have been abandoned, injured, abused or simply given up on. As you can imagine, many of the cats are from shelters where they'd otherwise have been euthanised.  

When I saw Gail talking on this program, I couldn't help but be struck by what a kind, giving lady she is, not just because of her extraordinary efforts, but also because of her general demeanor and obvious gentle, caring nature. All too often she is picking up the pieces of another person's selfish actions, yet she comes across as humble and understanding of them. She says that sometimes people feel it's best to put their animals out of their misery because, for example, the pet has the onset of kidney disease or has sustained a bad injury of some sort, but often it's the owner that is being put out of their misery, not the animal, so why should they not be entitled to carry out the rest of their lives in a comfortable, happy place where they are loved?

It would be a fantastic thing if places like BrightHaven were commonplace rather than a brilliant rarity, but I guess it all comes down to the issue of money. At least I know who'll be on my list of organisations to donate to when I have some spare dollars, and in the mean time I feel more uplifted than I would have two months ago knowing that, albeit small, I do form a piece of the jigsaw with my six little foster cats who may not otherwise have been given a chance.

* I urge you to visit BrightHaven's website. Their work is so inspirational and getting a glimpse into this feline dreamland, at the risk of sounding saccharine, really is magical.

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