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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Mary Read -- what happened

I checked the collar Mary Read was wearing yesterday.  I thought the collar had a safety, quick release catch.  But it turned out that wasn't the case.  When I tried to open the collar, I couldn't pull the catch apart without manually pressing on the catch.  I don't remember where I got them anymore, but it is clear this was not a safety collar, regardless of what the packaging with the collar said.


I left the collar loose, just in case, to make it easier for her to slip out of the collar if it got caught someplace.  The collar had a loop where it folded back, for adjustments.  Mary Read caught that loop in her collar on a stub of a broken off branch.  It worked pretty much like a choke collar.  The harder she pulled, the tighter the collar squeezed onto her neck.


Once she got her collar caught like that, her only hope was to hang on to the tree until I saw her and freed her.


I didn't see her in time.


Mary, baby, I'm sorry.  I thought I was making you safer, and instead, I was dooming you.


I'm so sorry.

16 comments:

Gemini and Ichiro said...

We are so sorry. You know, it is not your fault--you can only believe what the manufacturer said. Please do not think Mary Read blames you either. Cats know that you can't make everything perfectly safe for them, no matter how much you try. Our purrs.

Random Felines said...

PLEASE don't blame yourself. We are told to have them wear collars in case and then have to believe that the collars we buy are what they claim to be. Mom is checking all of our collars today. We don't go outside, but there are things we could get caught on inside and mom wants us to be safe. Again, we are so sorry......

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

So so sorry to read this and know you must be hurting so. You thought you were keeping her safe and she will know that too.. So very sorry... Hugs and purrs to you.. GJ xx

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

We should not blame ourselves for making the best decisions we could at the time with the information we had. You never would have used that collar if you thought for a second this could be the outcome. It was a freak thing in how it caught and what happened and not something you could have predicted.

And by sharing, lives will be saved. Small consolation I know.

Mickey's Musings said...

Do not blame yourself,we do not blame you. Hugs and Purrs!!!!

Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Tiger,Treasure and JJ

Cat said...

I am so sorry, it was such a tragic accident, you were not to blame. I know you are heartbroken!

KARLAVAGNEN said...

I am really sorry for your loss, you did your best to care for her and keep her safe. You are not to be blamed for what happened. It was an accident. Please do grieve your loss, but do not blame yourself. It could have happened to any catowner!

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

DO NOT blame yourself!! We're so sorry for your loss, but you cannot for one second think it's your fault.

Sending you lots of purrs and cuddles.

Maine Kitties said...

You may want to put the word out on this collar and manufacturer that it is not safe for cats.... it may help another kitty one day :(

Its never easy to lose a kitty, even by accident. I understand exactly how you feel :(

Everycat said...

We are all so sorry that this happened, but it was not your fault, please be kind to yourself. Manufacturers need a kick up the backside as far as "safety" collars go. In the UK we've seen plenty sold under that name when they are just like the collar you described. It's very easy to make that mistake. A few years ago, a neighbour lost a young cat in very similar circumstances to sweet little Mary Read. Her Mum was devastated, but we should blame the makers, not the cat carers who are trying to do their best.

We send you love and rumbly purrs

Oliver, Gerry & Mungo

Oui Oui said...

We are so sorry. You can only do what you think is best with the tools at hand at the time. The most important thing is she was loved, and knew it. A lot of animals never know what it is to be loved or have a good home. We are purring for the two of you.

~E said...

Thank you for the warning and I am sorry for what you went through. You are saving others! xo

KARLAVAGNEN said...

How are you doing? Please let us know!!! Bon courage!!!

Fr. Tom Fish said...

I am so sorry for what happened to the dear kitty, Mary. Please know we share your sorrow and deep sense of loss. Purrhugs and prayers to keep you strong. xx

Thank you for helping us through our loss of Trapper. We appreciate all the love, purrs and prayers during a sad time we just had. xx

Blessings to you all,
Tom, Mom Julie, Mitty, Tinker, & Anastasia

Batman said...

We are sad to read about what happened but please do not blame yourself. We stray cats always believe that when our time is up..its up. You showed kindness and compassion towards one of our kind, celebrate her life!

Batman & Robin

Buster Kitty said...

That's really sad!

Collars are funny sometimes because of that so-called safety catch thing. Some of them come off too easily like the one I had. I got loose once and if Matt had not found me I'd have to wait until someone scanned my neck and hopefully their reader thing worked right. Sometimes they don't. I had taken off my collar myself with my front paw and ran out. I don't know why. I think Matt and I had a disagreement about my jumping on the stove and licking tomato sauce he just prepared. What can you do? Too easy or too hard. Sometimes it's a cat's time to go and you don't know why. Just treat us as nice as you can while we're here and hope for the best. I think you do that from what I read. :-)