Oh, those "animal lovers"

Referring to a nice gray cat often seen snoozing in a cozy basket on a counter at the family business, the woman in charge said he had just gone outside. She hoped he’d be back by the time she finished that day.

Then she added her hope that he wouldn’t be hurt if he wandered near Rt. 206 (right outside) . . . and mentioned that his collar had recently broken so he wasn’t wearing one right now. She added her hope that he wouldn’t be picked up as a stray.

Obviously, she wasn’t listening to herself, or hearing the implications of what she said, or immediately going out to bring the cat inside to safety. She just said all that and let it go, as if saying it would somehow cover her -- “animal lover” that she is.
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