The old man with silver hair glanced up and asked. âWho is it?â
âTheyâre journalists from the Stray Animal Protection Association.â
At the mention of the Association, the old man sprang up instantly getting chairs for Agnes and Jared Please, have a seat.â
âMr Fabian, donât fuss over us,â Agnes reassured him. Iâm just here for a simple interviewâ
Mr Fabian cleaned his hands As he said. âAlright, ask awayâ
Agnes pulled out her voice recorder and handed her camera to Jared âCould you be the photographer today?â
Jared took the camera and said I charge quite a bit, but weâll settle up laterâ
Agnes started the interview Mr and Mrs Fabian, when did you start caring for these stray cats and dogs?â
Mr Fabian replied About a decade ago After my wife and I retired, we began looking after these poor little creatures Many of the dogs here were raised by us from birth. It started with just three dogs and two cats in the alley The number has grown and now weâre looking after around a hundred Agnes asked, âCaring for so many strays requires a huge expense How do you manage?â
âMy pension covers some of the expenses,â Mr. Fabian explained âMy wife doesnât have one, but she used to run a hot dog stand in the alley, which made a decent amount. We used all the earnings on these animals. But now, with the governmentâs redevelopment plans, weâve lost our business and are being asked to move if we move, what happens to these animals? Some are too old to fend for themselves. The government offered housing compensation, but pets arenât allowed there, let alone this large group Agnes was touched by their story.
So, youâre refusing to move because of these strays, right? Agnes asked for confirmation.
Mr Fabian sighed, and Mrs Fabian, who was grooming an old dog, replied, âYes, we donât have kids of our own. These cats and dogs are like family. Each one has a name This one is Potato, because she loves eating potatoes. That one is Max If we leave, these animals would either be left to stray again or be euthanized. The older ones. without our care, would simply starve Theyâre all precious lives. We raise them, and leaving them now would be like throwing our own children away. We wonât move, no matter what Agnes was surprised to learn that the Fabiansâ refusal to move was due to their love for these strays âHave you discussed this issue with the government?â Agnes asked âOf course, Mr Fabian answered, âWeâve tried explaining multiple times. If they could find a solution for these animals, we wouldnât stand in the governmentâs way But some people claimed these animals carry diseases and should be euthanized.
Twelve have already been taken. We fought tooth and nail to protect the rest. Some people taking advantage of our old age, tried to poison our dogs to force us to move. Thatâs how we lost our Sparkyâ
Tears welled up in their eyes âWeâre old and donât have the means to take them to the vet. Even when we managed to, we were told there was nothing to be done. We could only watch them suffer and die in agony, and then bury them. How can people be so cruel? These animals are gentle and never bite. Dogs understand human kindness. They know what you do for them How could anyone be so heartless?â
Overwhelmed by their grief, the elderly couple was inconsolable.