i visited him today. found him shivering in the corner of his cage. he hadn't eaten or pooped. he was just stuck to that back wall. i coaxed him out and held him for a while. actually, he clung to me and stuck his head under my chin, like he was hiding. his toenails had been trimmed and i was relieved to see that his wee feet looked normal. state law requires that strays be held for 72 hours in case an owner might show up to claim them, regardless of how unlikely that seems. then they become county property, to be put up for adoption or not, as the deciders deem appropriate, so he won't be bathed till his hours are up and his stinky mats are sad to see. he hadn't eaten so i found some canned food and he tucked into it with some interest. he was sleeping when i left.
turned out, he had been dumped at the shelter two days ago, with a parakeet. they were able to get the bird but not the little guy. i'd say we can be pretty sure nobody's going to claim him and if they tried, they'd meet a hostile wall of people between themselves and the little stray cause everyone there knows his story. everyone there...every single person...was celebrating when they found out he was safe. i find that very moving...very telling about the folks who work there...very important about the place.
and just so you know, i did already put my name on his file, to say i'd take him as a foster if he needs care. AND there's another woman - a passerby who tried to help catch him initially - who has said she wants him, regardless of what they find. so maybe there's hope.
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