CICO, THE STRAY

I purchased a compost box, to make use of my food scraps and yard waste, thus using the compost to organically grow my own vegetables. A few nights after putting the box together, I found the compost box door ajar and thought the wind had blown it open. I put the cover back on, only to find it open yet again the following morning.

I started thinking; it must be Luisa, my neighbor’s cat! I found that to be rather unusual though, since Luisa gets plenty of food at home and is well cared for by her owners. The only crime I can accuse Luisa of, is using my freshly laid turf soil as a litter box. But hey, that’s part of the food cycle, besides; she doesn’t cause as much damage as any other cat would, since she only has three legs. You see; Luisa got one of her front paws caught in a trap and her owners had to have it amputated.

I was touched when I heard the story, since I didn’t think people in Portugal cared this much for their pets.

Getting back to my compost box though, I had to exclude Luisa as the culprit, since I placed a large brick in front of the door, which ended up opened again the following morning. Luisa is very smart and agile, but couldn’t possibly have enough strength on one paw, to remove the 15lb brick I had placed in front of the compost box door. But if not Luisa, who was getting into my compost box?

While having lunch at my other neighbor’s house on New Year’s day, I noticed a large dog eating scraps in their back yard, when I pointed it out to my neighbor, he told me he’s been throwing scraps out in his back yard to feed this poor dog, which was apparently abandoned in our neighborhood, by some heartless person.  

It really touched my heart when I saw the poor animal, tail between his legs, eating a few bones my neighbor was kind enough to have given him.

As I was watching him eat, I figured I had found who was getting into my compost box; I also asked myself a question, where is this poor dog getting his next meal from?

After getting home that evening, I cut up a piece of beef, added a bone I had used to make soup and placed both on a plate underneath my BBQ canopy, since it was raining, I didn’t want the meat to get wet.

Early the next morning, I came downstairs to my office, looked out the window and notice the compost box door was still closed, as I had left it the night before. I decide to get my camera and set it up on the tripod, hoping perhaps, I catch a bird bathing in my bird bath, it would be a perfect opportunity for me to take some picture of nature, since it is one of my favorite hobbies.

 As I return to the window to finish setting up the camera, I noticed the compost box door was now open. How could this be? I had just looked at it, less than ten minutes ago and it was closed! I thought whoever opened the door was probably still around and decided to stay by the window for a few more minutes. It didn’t take long, as I turned the camera on, the same dog I observed in my neighbors yard New Year’s Day, showed up by my patio. At first, he didn’t find the food I had set out for him; it looked as if he was about to leave, but men’s best friend has something going for him, their acute since of smell.

Without warning, he lifted up his head, has if someone was calling him, turned around and headed straight for the food plate I had left for him. He ate the beef on the spot, then took the bone out to the yard and chewed on it for a few minutes, until it was all gone.

 From this day forward, I will continue to set out food for Cico, (yes Cico, that’s what I decided to name him) If all goes according to plan, Cico won’t be tearing down my compost box door again and as he gains confidence around my place, I will try to approach and pet him.

I just think, heartless people  such as his previous owners, shouldn’t be able to own a pet, if they just plan on abandoning it, when it’s no longer convenient for them to have one. In reality though, I don’t know who abandoned this dog, nor do I know their situation and struggles in life! Lacking that information, I just have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

After all, their loss can end up being my gain and there is a good chance, Cico and I can end up spending many happy years together.