The Wayfarer's Dole

Years ago, I read a magazine article that made reference to “The Wayfarer’s Dole”.  My memory is quite hazy, but it had to do with someplace in Britain -- I thought some sort of medieval monastery -- where anyone could stop by and be offered food and drink and perhaps even a place to sleep, AND this had been going on for hundreds of years, and was still going on today.

I recently decided I needed to look all of this up, and the truth is a bit more complicated than my vague memory -- but the fact is that for many years, THIS is what I vaguely remembered … and this is one of those cases in which this vague memory of the truth is in some ways more important than the actual truth.

The reason the inaccurate vague memory is more important than the truth is that for several years now, I have tried to re-create this concept of a medieval monastery, but for critters -- mostly cats, though I have yet to turn any critter away.  Basically, my rule is that any critter -- again, mostly any cat -- who shows up at my place gets a meal, water, and a place to sleep that is hopefully safe and warm and dry.  If they will let me handle them, they get medical care, if they seem to need it, and if they choose to stay for a prolonged period, they get “fixed” and medical care, including vaccinations,  whether or not they appear to need it, and whether or not they will let me handle them (I possess and am capable of using a trap, nets, and special protective gloves).

The area where I live has cold, snowy winters, so the winters are the most difficult time.  I make various shelters, including insulated houses that I build from scratch, and do my best to supply unfrozen water.  At the coldest times, everyone is urged to come inside, though some steadfastly refuse.  I have one cat who I consider totally “mine”, who eats all his meals on my front porch, lives in a custom-built cat house, and gets regular veterinary care, but even on the coldest nights dislikes staying indoors for more than perhaps an hour.

This does involve lots of effort and expense, and hundreds of cans of food, and hundreds of pounds of dry food.  I am well-known at my local veterinarians’ office, and they have a special program just for neutering “my” cats.

I would like to think that everyone would have access to a wholesome meal and clean water and a safe, warm, dry place to sleep, but I know that is not the case.  Here in our little corner of the world, we do what we can.

(By the way, the classic “Wayfarer’s Dole” is dispensed at “The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty” in Winchester, England, founded in the 1130’s, and consists of bread and ale.  Though 25 men currently live there full-time, I do not believe most travelers are offered a place to sleep.)