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Shelter
Hours of Operation |
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Mon. |
11AM -6PM |
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Tues.
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11AM -6PM |
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Wed. |
Closed |
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Thurs.
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11AM -6PM |
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Fri. |
11AM -6PM |
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Sat. |
11AM -4PM |
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Sun. |
Closed |
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Thrift Store Hours
Chambersburg and Shippensburg |
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Mon. - Fri |
9AM - 5PM |
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Sat. |
9AM - 4PM |
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The Integrity of Ugly
Everyone in the apartment complex
that I that lived in knew who Ugly was.
Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world:
fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love. The combination of
these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on
Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have
been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side,
his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had
healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning
the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest
stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped-type, except for the
clumps of missing fur. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same
reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!"
All of the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks
at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their
homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always
had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand
there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at
him, he would curl his lanky body around his feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically
and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you
ever picked him up, he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt,
earrings, whatever he could find.
One day Ugly tried to befriend the neighbor‘s dogs. They did not respond
kindly, and Ugly was badly hurt. From my apartment I could hear his
screams, and I tired to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he
was lying, it was apparent that Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. As
I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing
and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him
terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation
on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering, and obviously dying, was
trying to suckle my ear.
I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his
head, then I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the
greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a
little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly
was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did
he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or
struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me
to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat there and held
him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed
little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true
pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more
about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk
show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had
been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was
time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my
total to those I cared for.
Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked and
beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.
- Author Unknown
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CVAS, Inc.