Joined
·
2,579 Posts
We went on a lovely walk to a park we hadn't been before (which is also 1 block from the apt., same as the park we always go to). This park is even more beautiful and it was very early morning on a holiday, so the air was crisp and we were alone. We smelled the flowers, rolled in the grass, chased birds and bugs, it was a little paradise.
Alas, soon dog owners started getting up and strolling their dogs and Prince was attacked by 2 dogs. He managed to escape by climbing the nearest tree, but the tree branches happened to have the most impossible shape to get down, so he started crying and crying to me for help.
I lay on the ground beneath him encouraging him to jump on me (though he weighs 14 lbs), but he wouldn't. I raised my arms encouraging him to jump onto them, but he wouldn't. We were like that for about half an hour. I didn't know what to do, and I didn't have my mobile phone with me to call the Municipality emergency service (who come to rescue pets from trees, free of charge).
So I took a courageous (desperate) decision: I abandoned Prince. I turned my back on him and walked away and started playing with and feeding some strays far from there. Prince got even more stressed out (he has abandonment anxiety) and decided to just jump off the lowest possible branch of the tree so he could follow me. At first it was a jump, then it became a fall.
Fortunately nothing happened to his body, but I'm afraid what it may have done to his psyche.
A positive effect is that this coming out unharmed has made Prince a lot more valiant and trusting in his dexterity, so he now enjoys more stuff because he tries more things.
What would you have done in such a situation (if you have an outdoor cat, of course)?
I know many would condemn my taking Prince to the park unleashed, but I think there's a hard balance to reach between the risks of a rich life and the safety of a long one. I now know to leave the park long before dog owners start strolling them at about 8:00 am on weekends. We'll be going from 6 to 7 am. I just can't bear the thought of Prince living a life of a 2-room apt. and the downstairs tiny, filthy, public garden with the same strays always fighting the same fights.
Alas, soon dog owners started getting up and strolling their dogs and Prince was attacked by 2 dogs. He managed to escape by climbing the nearest tree, but the tree branches happened to have the most impossible shape to get down, so he started crying and crying to me for help.
I lay on the ground beneath him encouraging him to jump on me (though he weighs 14 lbs), but he wouldn't. I raised my arms encouraging him to jump onto them, but he wouldn't. We were like that for about half an hour. I didn't know what to do, and I didn't have my mobile phone with me to call the Municipality emergency service (who come to rescue pets from trees, free of charge).
So I took a courageous (desperate) decision: I abandoned Prince. I turned my back on him and walked away and started playing with and feeding some strays far from there. Prince got even more stressed out (he has abandonment anxiety) and decided to just jump off the lowest possible branch of the tree so he could follow me. At first it was a jump, then it became a fall.
Fortunately nothing happened to his body, but I'm afraid what it may have done to his psyche.
A positive effect is that this coming out unharmed has made Prince a lot more valiant and trusting in his dexterity, so he now enjoys more stuff because he tries more things.
What would you have done in such a situation (if you have an outdoor cat, of course)?
I know many would condemn my taking Prince to the park unleashed, but I think there's a hard balance to reach between the risks of a rich life and the safety of a long one. I now know to leave the park long before dog owners start strolling them at about 8:00 am on weekends. We'll be going from 6 to 7 am. I just can't bear the thought of Prince living a life of a 2-room apt. and the downstairs tiny, filthy, public garden with the same strays always fighting the same fights.