Gimme shelter

Yeah, so, there are these posters at all the Muni stops in my neighborhood that really bring me down.

There are always posters about HIV or homelessness or domestic abuse, but as you know, I don’t care about people. No, it’s the one about pets that makes me almost burst into tears.

My mighty, mighty good man David and I were taking the T-train from Dogpatch when I saw this poster. We were on our way to the Embarcadero, where we were going to hop on a ferry to Sausalito. Good times, right? Unfortunately, for the first part of our daytrip, David had to listen to me cry about this poster.

“Who does that?”
“Who just leaves their pet?”
“Wouldn’t the guy find a home for it?”
“I don’t understand people.”

Then we got on the train, but as we pulled into the next stop, I caught a glimpse of the same poster again. I couldn’t let it go.

“Pets depend on us to take care of them. They can’t really fend for themselves. That poster is really effective. Look how upset I am. But, I can’t adopt another pet. Homer would never allow it.”

Finally, David offered his own interpretation of the poster: “You know, the cat looks happy to be in the shelter. Maybe that guy was an abusive owner.”

Me: “Did you just try to cheer me up by saying the cat was abused?”

David: “Yes. Yes, I did.”

Me: “I thought so. Thanks.”

[Side note: The poster is for a good cause, The Shelter Project. Like I said above, I can’t adopt another pet; however, when I see something that upsets me about animals – like that sad commercial about abandoned pets with the Sarah McLachlan song that makes me want to take a bunch of pills – I donate to an animal-supporting cause such as the SF SPCA. If you have room in your home and your heart for a pet, I strongly encourage you to adopt a shelter animal. They will improve your quality of life.]

[Side note, part two: Of course, I really do care about people, but not as much as the amazing Julie Michelle. Here is further proof that she is an angel walking amongst us in San Francisco: Taking Flight.]