Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-11-28
CARE FOR SICK CATS.

m snt Of MANNED and Disabled FelInes.
An appeal for contributions TO an un-
usual and peculiar charity appears in The
Animal World, to which lovers of the
feline race will doubtless respond with
alacrity. It seems that the home for
starving and forsaken cats" founded
about four years ago by Miss Swifte, is
sadly in need Of money to carry on its
humane and eminently practical and
necessary work. While babies starve
in the tenements, the cats retreat is
maintained and supported in such
manner that every kitten receives per-
sonal attention and interest, and none
are allowed to leave the home unless
guarantee is made that they will better
their condition.
This home is built at Whitechurch
lodge, Rathfarnham, County Dublin,
and its object is to protect cats against
brutal neglect and actual torture, to
nurse them in sickness, and support
them when forsaken, and to this work
Miss Swifte gives her personal supervi-
sion and attention, together with such
devotion as only enthusiastic women be-
stow upon the particular cause they es-
pouse.
This worthy lady has received much
odium as pioneer in new enterprise
outside the line of popular approval in
variably experienced, but, pinning her
faith to the queens sentiment that ''no
civilization is complete which does not
include the dumb and defenseless of
Gods creatures within the sphere of
charity and mercy" she maintains by
sustained effort the work she considers
paramount, and of which we subioin an
account, published in her fourth annual
report:
1.-The friends and subscribers of this
institution will learn with satisfaction
that it maintains its position in every
sense of the word. We are enabled to
state it has held it's ground through ad-
verse times and continues to be pro-
gressive work. We have brought it sue
cessfully to the close of its fourth year,
not without having had often stern diff
fculties to face; however, we can, in all
truth, say that many poor cat has been
saved from brutal treatment or a similar
death by finding an ever ready welcome
and shelter within its walls, while others
have been received there, rescued from
deplorable wretchednesS, misery and
starvation. During 1888, 1926 cats and
kittens were received into the stray de-
partment, as against 204 in the previous
year.
"Space will only permit us to describe
few of the most glaring cases, while in
general way we can mention that
numbers are brought in wounded or
more Or less manned by boys, dogs, men,
traps, poison, etc. These are among the
enemies this particular race of animals
has to contend with every day, and yet
there are acts of parliament to protect
them from all. One creature was
brought in with the flesh severely lacer-
ated on both sides. One cat was brought
in with its back broken and unable to
stand; this creature was in great suffer
ing; we knew recovery was impossible,
and therefore it was Immediately de-
stroyed. Several We're brought in with
All eye knocked out with the blow of a
stone. One was thrown into the grounds
with legs paralyzed; one with its leg
much bruised by trap; this cat recov-
cred and got a good country home in
England, the gentleman, in whom we
had every confidence, taking it over
himself, along with valuable Persian
that had boarded for eight weeks in the
home.
"We are quite aware that our work is
derided by some, but we do not in the
least care what people think o. say. We
are above that kind of folly; being con-
vinced that our cause is a righteous one,
that is sufficient for us. We invite all
who deride such work to suggest a
remedy that would create better state
of things for cats or one that could lessen
a manifest evil, seeing they (cats) have a
right to protection. We think we can
have no loftier aim than in carrying out
the wishes of our queen on this subject,
which are quite d'accord with our own,
and directing our efforts in an especial
manner toward subduing the sufferings
of this race of animals, which her ma
esty has been graciously pleased to sin
gle out for special mention in order to
elevate them"
With visions of ravaged larders and
depleted supplies, with remembrances of
midnight serenades when Tommy meets
his Tabby upon the garden wall to touch
our hearts and loosen our purse-strings,
we wish success and prosperity to the
cats retreat and kittens shelter