Stacy Horn

Elbridge T. Gerry, one of the founders of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, was a member of a three man commission whose job was to find a more humane method of execution than hanging. I originally had a chapter about a hanging on Blackwell’s so I wanted to learn what is was like to be hung, (it’s horrible). This led me to the commission to find an alternative.

They explored and ultimately went with electrocution. The first experiments were on dogs, (poor puppies) but they realized the amount of current would have to be adjusted for people. So they electrocuted a 124 1/5 pound calf at Thomas Edison’s laboratory in New Jersey (sob). A doctor from the Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s witnessed and dissected the calf afterwards.

Elbridge Gerry was also a lawyer for the ASPCA, where I now work! I don’t see how he could have okayed such experiments. Except, if they believed electrocution was humane, I imagine they thought they weren’t hurting the animals. Still.

I took this at the park on the East River, while on lunch break from the ASPCA.

Holy shit. These guys are outside my window right now taking pictures of the front of the building. Someone asked them what they were doing and they said, “Yes, this is kinda awkward, it’s for a project,” but gave no details. I’m barely dressed and I just immediately closed the curtains. Damnit. I want the sun and the breeze.

Hello? Go away please!

Yay! They’re shooting a little further down now. I can pull back the curtains again.

In the five years I’ve had Bleecker I have never seen this side of him.

While I’m at work I put the kittens in the bedroom, to limit the trouble they can get into, and to keep Bleecker away from them until I know for sure they all get along all the time.

Finney first got sick in 2013, and I started a health diary for him, to track the symptoms. The first few and the last few entries.

2013

8/1: Started meds, PM.
8/2: Threw up, PM, diarrhea gone.
8/4: Threw up, time unknown.
8/5: Threw up, but might be Bleecker, my other cat.
8/10: Diarrhea, one day only.
8/18: Threw up.
8/26: Threw up. I gave him his slippery elm and pumpkin later than usual and he threw that up minutes later. Some diarrhea, but really, really firm stools the previous night!
9/3: Went on rabbit wet food, PM.
9/4: Threw up. But again I gave him his slippery elm and pumpkin later than usual and he threw that up minutes later.
9/7: Threw up, furball, but still. Not good.

2016

10/17: Taking Finney for a ct scan. Both Finney and Bleeck threw up this morning.

Finney was diagonsed with fibrosarcoma, and he had surgery October 20, 2016.

11/3: I met with the vet and decided not to do chemotherapy. They said his chances are recovery are 50/50. He threw up early this morning.
12/21: Finney has been so good with no problems, but today he is going to the litterbox to pee like he has a urinary tract infection or is blocked. Except I wiped him down and there was some litter stuck there and he seems fine now. I wonder if he was being blocked by a piece of litter that is now clear? I will keep an eye on him.
2/25: Finney threw up. I think it was Finney, on 2/17.

I stopped tracking his symptoms because there was no longer any point. I knew what he had. The tumor eventually returned, and there was nothing left to do but to keep him as comfortable as possible. He lived for eight months following surgery and I’m grateful for those months.

Finney on the old tv, a former favorite resting spot. I am so sad I can’t bear it. I feel like an insane person. Seriously. I can’t believe I will never ever curl up with Finney again.