The Porch Swing

A and BoneCrusher

Last April, A found a kitty she wanted to adopt. "Needed to adopt", she said. Thus, a little black and white tuxedo cat named BoneCrusher entered our world. We knew at the time he had special needs that would require medical attention as he grew. Surgery to cut a tendon that restricted movement in his back leg, removal of a few deformed claws which impaired his walk, frequent antibiotic ointments and salves to treat drainage from eyes without functioning tear ducts.

Today is the day for surgical removal of those deformed claws. They are "hooked" much like a bird's beak, and nerves run through them to the degree they can't be cut or trimmed. My daughter, the PETA member, couldn't reconcile the perceived cruelty of declawing with the medical necessity of it in little BoneCrusher's case and asked me to handle it for her.

So, bright and early this morning, I endured the abuse only a cat who refuses to be kenneled can exert. My arms and hands looked as if I'd navigated a thorny briar patch by the time I delivered him to our vet. BoneCrusher was afraid and too angry to allow me to comfort him, so I handed him - kennel-bound - to the vet tech and fought tears as I walked back to the car without him. He will be there for the next 2 days. Our home will be BoneCrusher-less and quiet.

The countdown to Wednesday begins...