It is heartwarming to know that others care enough to have written letters recently decrying acts of cruelty to animals, such as the vicious, disturbing incidents on West Shore Road when a car plowed through a family of geese, and the missing cats at the town dock. These horrible acts of abuse have compelled me to write this letter.

On a blustery day last December, when walking by the town dock, I discovered that a family of six cats had been thrown out into the elements. I learned about this from a wonderful couple who I met who had been buying food and feeding these orphaned animals every day. The kind people had even canceled holiday travel plans to make sure somebody would keep feeding the cats. Apparently, before this couple, another woman had been feeding them until she became ill. The couple and I talked at length about animal abuse and the cold cruelty it takes to throw these sweet, defenseless, indoor creatures out into the street. Why weren't they put up for adoption, or at least taken to a rescue shelter?

The friendly animals seemed grateful for our attention and one of them had a disability that made it difficult for him to eat. I noticed how the other cats were actually helping him get his share of food. There was a makeshift plastic shelter the couple had brought, to replace previous shelters that had been mysteriously destroyed.

As I drove by the dock over the next few months, I felt sad for the abandoned cats but thankful for the kind dedication of the two loving people who looked after them day and night. My heart ached.

Recently, my heart broke, as I walked by and saw a "Reward for Missing Cats" sign on the little plastic shelter the couple had brought for them that cold winter night. The cats have mysteriously disappeared and no one has yet come forward with any information as to their fate. I dread thinking about what could have happened to these poor, innocent creatures.

Making the world a better place means being kind and respectful to all living creatures. If someone can be cruel to animals then they do not care about people either. If you know anything about the town dock cats, please come forward. If they've been harmed, the person(s) responsible should be punished. If the cats are okay, a lot of caring people would be really relieved.

It makes me proud for our beautiful community that people like the couple I met share their compassion for innocent, homeless animals. And that people are sickened to see an SUV plow through a family of geese when there was plenty of time to stop and avoid them, as the other cars did. I would love to see the day we could influence those who just don't care, because "Pride in Port" should also mean Pride in Caring.

Vicki Jo Hoffman