An Open Letter
For starters, I think what you did was an out right cowardly act. I think I understand why you thought it would be a good idea to call the Arizona Humane Society on me. Why you thought you could somehow make yourself feel better, within your largely selfish life, to anonymously "drop a dime" on me. I think I understand, because I think I know who you are, and I know you know who you are, so I hope that these words cut at you and make you realize how much hurt your actions potentially caused. How spiteful that seemingly easy call was to make. Just because you are not in control of your life does not mean that I am not in control of mine.
Understanding your motivations, I can see where you thought you were just trying to help. But that misses the larger point of why Melissa and I rescued our cats in the first place. We rescued them specifically so that they would have a better life, off of the streets, out of the way of cars and coyotes. Away from people who could potentially do them harm. Harm that you tried to cause them yesterday. Yes, yes, I know you think you were in the right. That you are blinded to the love that these cats receive. That just because you are incapable of providing such care, that somehow no one can. You don't see that we are keeping the cats in a safe enclosure. Complete with food and toys. Veterinary care and the touch of people that love them dearly. That I am doing my best, everyday, to carry on with the love that Melissa put into this world.
Can't you see that these precious animals are better off here? Better off living in the colony that they've been in their whole lives? Better with the people that have cared for them, in some cases, since 2002?
Knavery such as this cannot stand. When I decided to spend the rest of my life with Melly, I promised to love and cherish her. To protect the things that she held dear. That continues. I have sworn to do everything in my power to protect the things that she cared for from evil actions such as these. As such, I will go to any length necessary to make sure that they are taken care of. Cost and time be damned. I don't care about the opinions of people who automatically think that someone with a bunch cats must have a mental illness. I don't care about your opinions. They are inconsequential. I will defend my animals from any threat, no matter how stupid or misguided.
You'll never understand, because you've never known love like this in your life. For in order to experience such love, you first need to love something more than you love yourself. I honestly don't think that is possible. Not with what you've shown us all up to this point.
Oh and by the way, your little plan failed. I actually got a commendation from the Humane Society on how well they are being looked after. I still have all of my guys. I still have them, because the opinions of people who actually matter saw first-hand that I am providing these dogs and cats with better care than they could possibly receive elsewhere. I am giving each and everyone one of them a better life than you, or anyone else could. That I have been doing so for the past 17 years, and that I will continue to do so until each and everyone of them has lived a rich and full life, full of love and comfort.
Underneath it all you are a fundamentally flawed and unhappy person. You have learned to cope with your situation by meddling in the lives of others. I have cut you out of my life for precisely this reason. My regret is that I ever forged a connection with you to begin with. I knew better. The signs were all there. The incessant need to pass critiques on any thought contrary to your own. The lack of a personality pulled from anything other than motivational internet memes. You are a pod person. A product of your times. A prepackaged, Kirkland Signature generic human, imitating something of better quality in order to save a buck or two.
So where do we go from here?
Under no circumstance do I ever want to see or hear from you again. You are out of my life. I am sorry that you were ever "in" my life. I thought you were a friend, I was wrong. It is clear to anyone with a conscience that what you've done by calling the animal cops on me, without the decency to even do so to my face, was fundamentally wrong. It was only done to cause hurt. The worst part is that it wasn't just me that could have been hurt irreparably. You potentially put the lives of five beautiful, healthy, happy, and deeply loved animals at risk. Your actions would have had far reaching consequences, hurting people you've never met, who will never meet you. You tried to put Melissa's legacy in jeopardy, the same way that our tiny, ham-fisted president has tried to ruin the legacy of his predecessor. In my mind, you two are one and the same.
Silly as this may look to people unfamiliar with the situation, I hope that you get this message. You need to hear it. You need to realize that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Please just concentrate on figuring out who you are once and for all. We're all getting a little tired of your "phases".
Authenticity is not hard to come by in this world. All that it requires is an ability follow your heart sometimes. You are all cold logic and calculations. There is no love, only strategy. In order to love you would have to actually have a heart. If you had one you would have thought long and hard before pulling a bush league stunt like this. How someone has made it so far in life without figuring out compassion is a mystery to me. Most of us learned it in kindergarten. It missed you somehow.
Negative feelings aside, in your hollow words: "I wish nothing but good things for you". The difference is that I mean it. I will not forgive, nor will I forget, but I am willing to turn the page and not strike back any further beyond this open note. I hope these words reach you, and that you can read the true meaning behind them. Every living thing, whether it be a defenseless animal dependent on a loving owner to protect them from vindictive attempts at harm, or someone lower, deserves happiness. I hope in your case you can realize that you don't ruin other people's happiness just because you can't find your own. Maybe print that on a picture of the northern lights and post it to your tumblr blog.