What Made You Cry Today?

[Gráinne]

For the last two months or so, a huge black stray cat has adopted my family. The kids named him "Izzy" and when the weather was warm, he enjoyed sleeping just outside the door or exploring. He would periodically come inside and was getting along at least peacefully with the other cat.

Yesterday, I found Izzy on his rug but he was holding a front leg off the ground and wasn't moving it. He also didn't meow for his breakfast as he always does. Today, when I saw no improvement, I took him to the vet. Someone had shot him in the leg . The vet said he needs to amputate the leg, and keep Izzy there for a few days.

The good news: He should be fine, and he's otherwise healthy. He'll just be a three-legged cat with a stump where the tail should be, and a notch in his ear.

The bad news: How do you tell even more worldly older kids that someone shot the cat? How do you explain cruelty?

I'm still so glad I took him in, rather than wait. He was suffering. Yes, it's $500, but I couldn't let him be killed, or put him down.

What cretin does this?