**WARNING – GRAPHIC PICS AHEAD** Nothing an animal owner hasn’t seen at some point in their pets’ lives probably – but a warning none-the-less. -krisgo

If the internet isn’t your greatest source of information in rescue, you know the right people. I have a few dozen people I know in person who are experts, or at least have a lot of experience, in dealing with cats, dogs, and snakes. Most of these people are veteran owners and rescuers; some have been doing it all their lives.
If the internet is your greatest source of information in rescue, you do not know the right people, and you need to stop. Don’t make life-and-death decisions for animals depending on you using information you found online. It might be good. It might not. But if you ask around, you’ll find most people in rescue will talk rescue with you.
It’s why I’m writing this right now, in point of fact.
My photos of Aqaba gathered no small amount of attention. It’s a good story, and so far, it’s a story heading towards a happy ending. Stray cat wanders up and is rescued by people who will be good to the cat. Who doesn’t love this? The devil is in the details. Aqaba was rescued only after Wrex mauled him. It was only then Aqaba allowed himself to wander into a trap and got to a vet before infection set in.
Here’s photos of the wounds.
Wrex just missed killing Aqaba. This isn’t Wrex’s fault because he’s a dog, and he lives in a nice, secure, fenced in area, and a cat got inside the fence with him and two other dogs. Wrex is older and slower, so this isn’t the disaster it might have been.
Back in the world of social media, my friends, some of whom I know and love in person, began advocating I adopt Aqaba. My Dudes, I have been down this road before, the road that says love and training can change the inner workings of an animal’s instincts. I’ve seen it work. And I have seen it fail, and failure means an animal is dead.
If your dog mauls an animal, you have the responsibility to heal that animal if you can. If you take an animal in, you have the responsibility to find that animal a safe, secure, and loving home. That is your obligation when you take on dogs that might get to and injure other animals.
Right now, Aqaba is living in my bathroom. It is small, sparse, and no place for a cat to stay for an extended length of time. Aqaba loves it, right now, because there is food, water, and security. He’s a young cat. He needs socialization, companionship, and play. If I adopted Aqaba his life would be lived in a cell. A well stocked cell, but nevertheless a small place.
If I adopted him, I would forever be watchful for an open door, or a cat bolting, or a dog trying to push in. Or Mom, at 85, making a mistake that might lead to greater tragedy than I can bear.
No one in rescue has advocated me adopting Aqaba, and more than a few tell me that it’s a wonderful feeling idea, until something happens.
They are correct.
Fortunately, right after I finished writing this, someone contacted me about adopting Aqaba, and we’ll know soon where that leads.
But know this, and know this well, rescue comes with hard lessons. Dogs kill cats, and dogs kill other dogs. You may or you may not be able to change the animal. You get to be wrong one time, and that’s going to get an animal killed.
Take Care,
Mike
And Wrex