Friday, June 17, 2005
Shelling Peanuts on the South Side
Spent a Saturday at another "Spay Day"--this time in Chicago. A low-cost clinic on the south side volunteers its space and equipment to the PAWS humane society so veterinarians, students and volunteers can perform free spays and neuters for animal shelters, low-income pet owners, and feral cats.
My colleague Susan takes special pleasure in the castrations--almost to a diturbing extent--and equates the procedure to slipping peanuts out of their skin. "It's fun!" she reminds me (that boyfriend of hers is a lucky guy!), as I face a table with three anesthetized tomcats lying side-by-side, waiting to unwillingly and unknowingly sacrifice their boys. (the cats to the right are recovering as volunteers monitor their heart rate and respiration.) As you can imagine, they don't wake up in a very good mood.
The day went pretty smoothly, and I think we neutered about 30 cats.
And no, I don't have plans to make any home-made peanut butter. Although I was tempted to save a pair in a vial of alcohol to show off to my friends--but then I wouldn't have friends anymore.
