I received some horrible news over the Christmas weekend. During feeding time, one of the cats in a colony on campus was attacked by unleashed and unaccompanied dogs. Unfortunately, the person feeding the cats had to witness the horrible attack on Cricket and managed to get him to a vet. Poor Cricket had a broken jaw, brain damage and worse -- and thus had to be euthanized. We have a leash law and yet people still let their dogs roam the neighborhood wild and loose. This time a cat, next time might be a child. A life taken is a life gone no matter if the life had four legs or two.
We'll miss you, Cricket. You would never hurt a fly, let alone kill a bird. You were abandoned several years ago and found a colony of cats that accepted you. I'll always remember you as the funny cat who scooped the wet food out of the can with his paw and reminded me of a raccoon. Rest in peace, sweet Cricket.