Is what I did totally immoral?

ewa

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I have a cousin who, well how can I say this nicely, totally a ghetto white trash idiot!! She is 30, used to(really recently) been addicted to meth, had her kid taken away by child services, and gone to jail more than once. Basically her life has been one seriously bad decision after another. I have called the cops and child services on her numerous times for everything from theft, drugs, assaulting her mother, not feeding her 5yr old daughter, leaving her 5yr old daughter alone overnight, etc..... I also have helped her get b ack on her feet many times as much as I can and do as much as I can to be in her daughters life so she is cared for properly since child services is always so quick to give her the kid back. I take them grocery shopping, babysit, they spends holidays at my place, and I helped her get a decent job.

Recently I was at her house picking her up to go grocery shopping and her cat Tigger is horrendously skinny and looks horrible. I asked her why he is so skinny and she said oh I didn't notice. I checked the cupboard and their is not a stitch of cat food to be seen, and the litterbox was so full it was like a giant solid rock in there. I asked her when the last time she bought cat food was(she lives on the same block as a pet store) and she said oh I ran out yesterday. LIAR! I had a little "talk" with her about the fact that her cat is starving to death and that if she can't care for him properly then I will find a home for him that can. She swore she was taking good care of him and told me to leave it alone. I left it(for now) and we went grocery shopping. At the store we were almost done and she looks at me a says Oh I forgot to get cat food, Tigger gets really mad when I don't feed him, and then she scurried off to get cat food. She came back with two cans of the cheapest cat food!!
I frowned but said nothing. I dropped her of at home without saying a word about it.

I got home and immediately called the SPCA and reported her(without leaving my name or she might actually beat me up or poison my dog). The SPCA went to her place and she lied of course and said the cat had gone missing for weeks and she just found him again so skinny but now that he is home she is gonna get him back up to a good weight. I talked to the officers that went to her place and they said there is not much they can do other than go back every few weeks and check up. That is just not good enough!

I made a very rash decision today after I dropped her daughter off after school. I was driving down the back alley behind her place and there was Tigger digging through a garbage can for food. I stopped my car, called him over, and put him in my car!! I can`t take him to my place because not only do I have enough cats already but they are over at my place all the time so they would notice that I took him. I took him over to a friends place and put Tigger in the nice warm club room in her barn with some food, water and a soft fuzzy bed. My friend said he can stay there as a barn cat if I want. Her barn cats get great care. Good food, warm place to sleep, loads of attention from students and boarders. I think he would be much happier and better cared for there. I am happy with my decision to take her cat.

Is it wrong that I took him
 

natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Ewa

Is it wrong that I took him
No, it's not wrong that you took him! Good for you!


Now if you could get her daughter away from her.... The woman sure sounds like a piece of work! I can't imagine how the child is going to turn out. Probably a mirror image of her mother
 
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ewa

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Thank you! I still think it was good but my mom reemed me out for it. She is worried my crazy cousin is going to find out and then get revenge. I know for a fact that she would attack me in some way if she found out but how could she. She doesn't know my friend!

I wish her daughter were taken away for good as well. I would even take Ivy(her daughter) if she were taken away for good, but Jamie wouldn't let that happen. She would again take some sort of revenge for me loving and caring for her daughter because she can't. Its kind of like that if I can't have her no one can thing with her! My aunt(not her mom) took Ivy the last time my cousin was in jail and when my cousin got out and found out that my aunt had her daughter she went on the war path. She harassed my aunt, got someone to smash her car windows and slash her tires, she tried to poison my aunts dog by throwing rancid chicken in her yard and then phoned my aunts partners work, she is a counselor at a catholic school, and told them that she is gay and made up a bunch of really horrible stuff, forcing her to eventually quit.

My cousin is a mirror image of her mom and her daughter is gonna be the third in line to inherit all the bad decision making skills and strange attraction to loser mullet wearing redneck drunks with bikes that knock you up, beat you up and then run away, that seems to get passed on in that part of the family.

At least the cat is safe! Now if only I could take the kid and not go to prison!!
 

momofmany

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As hard as that decision had to be for you, it was the right one for the cat. Your cousin isn't going to connect it to you - the cat was outside and outside cats can disappear at any time.

People with addiction problems have a real tough time caring about anything other than their addition. The cat was never going to be taken care of and it would probably have died if left in that environment.

What you did was probably illegal, but not immoral (IMO).
 

libby74

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Sweetie, you saved Tigger's life. In my book you're a hero. Don't feel bad about it and don't let your cousin even suspect that you had something to do with Tigger's disappearance.
Maybe someday she'll get her act together, for now, just keep being available for her daughter. Sounds as if the poor little one needs a guardian angel.
 

darlili

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"Whoever destroys a single life, destroys the entire world; Whoever saves a single life, saves the world entire" - Talmud. And I'm pretty sure both Jesus and Mohammed, and any other ethical system you can think of, would stand behind you for your acts.

I can understand your mom's fear, but I am in awe and grateful for your courage, for both the little girl and the cat. Bless and keep you, and the innocent souls you've helped, and may God help that child to grow up safe and whole.
 

calico2222

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You did the right thing! From what you say about your cousin, it will probably be weeks before she even realizes Tigger is missing. He will be much safer and loved at your friend's house.

As for Ivy, the only thing you can really do is be a good role model for her and show her how people are supposed to be. My heart goes out to that little girl.
 

addiebee

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I agree with all of the other posters. If your cousin questions you, just play it cool. Don't feel guilt for saving a life. And good luck with the little girl. She needs all the love and support you and the normal members of your family can give her.
 

tierre0

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Of course you did the right thing, the kitty will be happier and better cared for where you have taken him.


However, hopefully she will not go out and just get another cat that she won't take care of.
 

deedeemay

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If I were in your shoes I would also do the same thing and rescue an innocent cat from almost certain death. I take off my hat to you!


I'm sure your cousin won't even notice Tigger is missing, and if she does and you get questioned, just tell her you don't know of Tigger's whereabouts. I'm glad to hear that your friend is now Tigger's guardian, and that he is being well cared for now.

We are proud of you!
 

swampwitch

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Your cousin is so very lost.


I would have rescued the cat, too, but I can't say whether it's right or not. One has to follow one's heart in these situations. I'm very glad the kitty is being fed now.

Originally Posted by Ewa

...My cousin is a mirror image of her mom and her daughter is gonna be the third in line to inherit all the bad decision making skills and strange attraction to loser mullet wearing redneck drunks with bikes that knock you up, beat you up and then run away....
Not necessarily... I learned what kind of person not to be from my parents. I hope you are able to stay in the little girl's life. Every child needs at least one "rock" and you might be the one who helps her become aware so she doesn't repeat the destructive pattern. It sounds like you are her chance at a better life. Bless you.
 

whisky'sdad

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My cousin's ex-girlfriend is exactly like your cousin. Her first child never went to school. He is about 14 with a mind of a 6 year old. It's pretty sad, but what can you do? I'm just keeping an eye on the news for when he snaps and goes on a killing spree. He's not challenged or autistic, he just doesn't have skills.

Anyhoo...

You did the right thing. I would have done the same...
 

momto4kitties

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You did great! But I understand how you feel, I did the same thing a couple of months ago with the neighbor's cat, I had to do it because the cat was suffering and they weren't caring for him. You did the right thing, thank you so much for saving Tigger!!!!

HUGS!!!
 
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