This is Mercedes, a 6-8 week kitten we rescued from certain death on the streets. People saw her from time to time, but no one claimed her: she was Nobody’s Cat. Where she slept was Nobody’s concern. Whether she got food was Nobody’s worry. She was a Nobody, almost invisible, certainly not worth anyone’s effort.
This is a picture of Mercedes when we first rescued her. She was literally blind and in great discomfort due to the infected and grotesque swelling and decay of both eye- balls.
Next is a picture after the one eyeball was removed. We are hoping that she can recover some vision in the other eye, but only time will tell.
Mercedes is now safe at Animals in Distress and has a lot of good years ahead of her, now that she’s been given a second chance, now that she is Somebody.
Mercedes’ story is so typical of that of many animals who seek anonymity in the shadows, and who die silently and alone most of the time.
The lyrics of an old song come to mind: “You’re nobody til somebody loves you.” Well,
Mercedes and the 300+ other animals at the Kennel of Hope are Somebody, because they are very much loved by all who make our work possible. “You’re nobody til some- body cares” continues the song. And because YOU cared, Mercedes—and so many other desperate animals– will have a second chance in a world that seldom gives second chances.
