I’ve seen Boomer more lately, and he’s lost weight. He looks ill, and he’s limping. I’m concerned about him, but I don’t want to antagonize him to try to catch him either. I came across him lounging on the front porch earlier this week, and I took him a can of Fancy Feast. He ate readily while I stood three feet from him. While he ate, I studied him. He looks like he may have ear mites. He’s thin. He’s been limping on a back leg for some time, and now he’s limping on a front leg, too. He has two small raw sores on each shoulder as if he had to squeeze between something too small for him.

I strongly suspect when I am able to catch him, Dr. Valeri will reveal he will need to be put down. This will be more humane than the suffering he will undergo if I am unable to catch him. If he, by some miracle, is healthy enough to nurse back to health, I’ll be glad I caught him. I am trying to trap him, because if he can be helped, I need to try to do it soon.