Feeling Old!!

My conversation with a woman trying to sell me a subscription to the Woodland Trust:

Her: "Do you have any grandchildren?"

Me: "No" - with a saccharine grimace and burying my hands in my pockets to refrain from slapping her ((F*** do I really look that old) note to self: put make up on before going out in public from now on))

Her: "Oh dear, any children then?" expressing the most pitying of faces just in case I was "barren"
Me: "No" (This B**** is really asking for it!)

Her: "We are selling subscriptions to save our woodlands for the next generation"
Me: "Really" (Until they start putting USB ports and charging points in trees, you are wasting your time lady)

Her: Can I interest you in subscribing, it's only £1 a week?"
Me: "Well it would help to protect all the animals I suppose. I love animals, do you have any pets?"

Her: "No, I'm not an animal person"

Me: "Oh dear, nothing at all? There are so many beautiful pets waiting to be rehomed at the Cat Protection League and Llys Nini, can't I interest you in giving a loving home to a beautiful bundle of fluff? (Just SLAM down that Oscar - my face oozed sympathy, pity, horror at her empty life, my voice trembling with emotion)
Her: "No"
Me: "Okay, thank you but if you should change your mind.." (walking away, (hunch shoulders more))

Her: "Alright then ... um... thank you."
My final look at her showed her face full of confusion about where this conversation had gone so wrong for her.
I then bought hair dye, skin cream and vitamins.
Hmph.

The Pain of Animal Cruelty

Such pain

Trawling around the net as one does,  it had to happen sooner or later that I would come across articles which would make me not just becoming glassy-eyed, but actually crying aloud. 

Two cases made this happen. 
The first was of a 23 year old woman, Laura Cunliffe, found guilty at Barnsley Magistrates Court for putting her one year old cat in a microwave and turning it on. The cat would have died a terribly slow and painful death. 
The second case was of a 27 year old Bristol solicitor, Katy Gammon, who deliberately left her dog to starve to death. Again, an agonising and long death for the dog. 

Details of both these horrendous cases are available on the net so I am not going to elaborate here. 

After my initial abhorrence and sadness for the fate of these two pets, I examined the comments made by many others on the Social Media and newspaper sites. Most were asking for a "few minutes alone" with these women, a sentiment I can fully understand. 
In the first case, there were mental health issues and in the second, seemingly just "issues."
Neither can be an excuse for the terrible cruelty inflicted on these animals and in the first case, she is banned for life from keeping any animal. A sentence which I hope all those close to her, makes sure is enforced.

These were stories I so badly wanted to "un-read" as I know I will never forget them.  Like many other people who have their hearts manipulated by our furry loved ones, abuse and neglect reaches into the darker parts of us and reveals a side which few of us want to admit is there.  Whether we would indeed be violent if presented with the opportunity to confront these beasts is to many of us, unknown and it is for this reason, I began toying with a more suitable punishment.  
For Katy Gammon, the Bristol solicitor, violence toward this evil woman would probably be fleeting.  
If I had the power to make it happen, I would wish upon her a HUGE dose of love for her dog. Throw in a MASSIVE dose of empathy and combine them all with a SUPER ENORMOUS quantity of guilt. 
These combine to make the stomach-churning pain and empathy any animal lover or reasonable human being would feel, reading about what she did. I would then wish that these emotions last for as long as she lives, for her to know, understand and FEEL what she had done to her beloved pet. 

 I think THAT would be a lifelong price to pay and one from which she would obtain 
NO peace, NO forgiveness and No escape. 

These were just two of the many successful cases brought to court by the RSPCA.   I look forward to a time when there is greater legislation and enforcement regarding the ownership of animals.