She's back...

Yes Mariama is back and we’re having a ball!

After one week with the Kande household, Mariama ended up homeless yet again and back on our doorstep…skinnier and dirtier than ever! Turns out Fanta’s bratty teenage sister didn’t like Mariama and refused to let her stay at the house any longer…despite the rest of the family’s protests. Unfortunately, Annie and Samson didn’t want her at our house either. So we decided to make her the “Dispensaire kitty”.

Still very tiny (she hadn’t been fed adequately while away – our fault entirely for not having explained things better) we were concerned about leaving her alone at the Dispensaire during the night and enlisted the help Souleymane - the dispensaire’s night guard. A decision for which I’m sure Mariama would express her gratitude, could she speak. Souleymane was tickled to have been asked to help care for the little one and his compassionate soul insists she have a steady diet of freshly grilled fish in order to grow.

The result? One very chubby, spoiled kitty who refuses to eat anything but fish but who has also adjusted beautifully to life at the Dispensaire and is loving it!

"yes, yes I see...and when exactly did these problems start?"

It has been an interesting social experiment watching her win the hearts of people who typically don’t take the time to notice animals…maybe even helping the next generation to be a little more kind to God’s creatures.

But it’s not all play…Mariama has been receiving intensive training to become a great little hunter and guard kitty and JP (her trainer…since she was separated from her rightful trainer while still very tiny) tells me she’s doing nicely. I’m told the mice, bugs and geckos soon won’t stand a chance!