Saving a life

I was taking a Sunday afternoon stroll with some Senegalese friends after a big, heavy, traditional lunch. On our way back I heard the most heart-breaking cry from a big pile of trash. It was the most fragile kitten, no more than two weeks old. It could hardly walk and tumbled around, while calling its mother. I have little by little become 'used' to seeing these poor, helpless animals in the streets. There are so many! Especially, in the beginning you feel a constant nausea passing by this sad reality, and I guess it never leaves a true animal lover. For some reason, in this case it was impossible for me to just move on. I searched everywhere to find the mom or at least other siblings, to be reassured that someone would come to take care of the kitten at some point. Nothing was to be found. Usually if it is an area close to my place I would come back later to check up, but this was fare away from where I live, so I decided to take la petite with me right away. Senegalese purely connect cats and dogs with dirty, street animals, and would NEVER in any way touch them or even look at them. They do not understand the concept of pets. Why spend time and money on taking care of a dirty animal when you hardly have enough to take care of your family. So you can only imagine the looks coming my way as I was talking through the streets in the neighbourhood carrying a loudly crying, very dirty kitten. Not only is it a Toubab wondering around, but she is for some reason carrying a CAT!!?

I brought it back to my Senegalese family who lives close by. I was worried about their reaction. I knew I would not be able to do much for the kitten in the long-run, since I am leaving in a week, so what I was about to do, was actually forcing family to take care of the cat.... They must be so tired of all my crazy Toubab ideas. But they weren't even surprised when I introduced them to their new friend. They were just shaking their heads saying "Diouma, Diouma, Diouma - la protectrice". The youngest daughter was, surprisingly enough, overly excited and was completely understood with being its new mom. Never had I seen that coming. We gave it a wash to get rid of the worst flees and parasites and furnished a little basket with cloths and towels for it to live in for the first days. I bought milk and a small bottle, and showed the kids how to hold it and feed it. Now she is fast asleep in her new home. They have decided to call her Diouma...