Your Views for July 26

Justice for Rocket

I am the guardian of the cats at Lili‘uokalani Gardens.

One day, as I was feeding my cats, a woman approached and began to tell me about her 91-year-old mother having to go into a home because of dementia, leaving her cat, Rocket, homeless.

At this point, Rocket was being boarded at a dog kennel and was costing them $1,000 a month. I empathized with her situation and wanted to do what I could to help. Seeing her distress over her mother’s illness and Rocket’s situation, I offered to foster Rocket under the condition that this couple would help me with food and kitty litter for Rocket until we could find him a new home.

I explained to them that though I was willing to ease their financial burden for Rocket, I live on a fixed income and would need the help requested of them. They agreed. But a few days ago, after only six weeks, the woman sent me a text saying they no longer would help me with Rocket’s food and litter.

I was stunned! After I opened my heart and my home to this couple and their cat, how could they abuse me in this fashion and abandon their responsibility to their cat? I was very angry and felt used.

My first instinct was to pack Rocket and his things and deliver him first thing in the morning to the husband’s workplace. I turned suddenly, and my eyes locked with Rocket’s, and all I saw was this beautiful, gentle creature. I knew then that I could also not abandon him.

Rocket did not deserve this. Rocket is a sweet and loving cat and loves people, and all he wants is to be near a human as he touches you with his paw. When he holds my hand it’s as if he wants to make sure that I, too, won’t leave him.

I felt Rocket’s story needed to be told, for too often wonderful animals such as Rocket are thrown away like rubbish! We all need to have compassion for our animal friends.

Jayne Leigh K. Florino

Hilo