Penelopesslave

Thank you for making her last months here special.

I am so sorry. Annie is a beautiful dog.

I feel so horribly sad, yet I am so grateful that I got to meet Miss Nellie when she was still spunky and happy. I am so so so sorry.

I am so sad hearing this news. Diane, I loved the pics and stories you posted of Austin. He was a special boy.

I am so, so sorry for your loss of sweet Shazam. I wish I could have met her-- from your posts here I know she was a real character! If you need anything, Angie-- even just to hug a hound or talk-- please just let me know.

My heart just broke when I saw this thread. Goodbye, sweet boy. We will all miss you so very much!

Judy I am so sorry for you and your family on the loss of your precious boy. I think many of us looked up to him as a true example of the big heart and fighting spirit of these greys, and looked up to you as an example of what unconditional love and a gentle touch can do to help heal damaged bodies and lonely souls.

Some of you know that I am a poet. I wrote this poem about Napoleon about three months ago-- it seems kind of negative, but in truth it is a kind of celebration of his wildness and unpredictableness. Animals teach us that we have to understand and occasionally embrace chaos, and DoG knows that Pole was a very effective teacher of this lesson. On Dreaming that My Cat Is the Devil Not surprising, really, considering those huge paws or the backwards bend of your haunches, or the translucent crescents of your claws, or how I awoke with your sour, meat- tainted breath on my face, and the weight of you like a sickness upon my chest. Then your orange hair, only a shade lighter than my own, and the pornographic pink of the pads on the bottom of your feet. Mostly, though, I think it is how you purr on my lap for hours and allow me to love you, then turn, teeth bared, and make the blood on my hand no kind of warning.

Pole, I am so sorry that your last hour on earth was so horrific and painful. You were always a fighter, and I know that if the fight had been fair, you would have won. I wasn't expecting you to come into my life. When that ex-boyfriend of mine tricked me into visiting the house where you were living, I was mad at first. When I saw you being carried around in the mouth of a 150 lb. Akita I knew that you were a special cat. After I heard the story of your feral upbringing, and the 6 homes that had rejected you for being "too wild," there was no way I could have left you there with the Akita. Even after you moved in, we existed in an uneasy truce for a couple of years before you decided I was OK, and you became my cat. You rode almost 1000 miles in a UHaul with me when I moved from FL to PA. When you escaped at a gas station in NC during that move, I thought I would have to stay there. I was so happy that after an hour you sauntered back over to the truck and jumped in, looking at me as if you were saying "OK, I have had that adventure, what is next?" You made friends with all of my neighbors in all four of the places we lived in in Pittsburgh. My landlady "borrowed" you for a week to hunt mice in one of her other properties, and you came home fat and sassy and full of yourself for being such a good hunter. Sometimes you got into stinky situations, but you NEVER once let me give you a bath. You helped me learn that love doesn't always come in pretty packages, but that I should be grateful anyway. You also taught me that we should all be true to our natures, even if others disapprove. You loved to sleep in Penny's bed, and sometimes even kicked her out of it, even though she weighed 60 pounds more than you. You had sass and attitude. You were my Punk Rock cat. I will miss finding your orange and white hairs all over my black clothes, and your stinky cat-food breath on my face in the morning. I hope you will be Miss Kitty's bodyguard at the Bridge the way you were here on earth, and I hope you will be mine as well when that time comes. I miss you, you little terror. You were a true friend, and a special companion.

We would never flame you for taking some much needed time to grieve your sad losses. I am so glad to hear about all your other animals and say thank you to you from them. You obviously have a huge heart and great compassion. I hope you heal soon and that the scars, while never gone, will not be too large to bear. Much light going out to you, Britty, Odie, and the little foal.

Goodbye Suzi, it was a privilege to have met you last year at Dewey. Hugs to the Waddells for taking such good care fo this special little soul.

Today is the first anniversary of the day I had to put my beautiful little black cat, Miss Kitty, to sleep. She was 12 years old and suffering with kidney failure. I loved her so much-- she came from a shelter in New Orleans as a tiny baby and I hand fed her for a month. She helped me get through college, grad school, four moves, three boyfriends, and the death of my best friend. Miss Kitty, I miss you still and I am crying as I write this. I can't wait for the day when I will be able to hear your motorboat purring again!

I am so sorry to hear about Spade. Know that you gave him the greatest gift of all in the end.

Last night I felt something walking over me just like my bridge kitty used to do. I put my hand out and there was a warm place on the blanket, like she had been sleeping on it. They are always with us!

I made a donation in my cousin's name and gave it to her for an Xmas present (her border collie/Sheltie mix has had two operations for cancer). THey sent her a nice card as an acknowledgement and she told me she liked it better than any regular present I could have gotten her. Donations would also make good birthday presents for animal lovers!

When my kitty had to be put to sleep last year a dear friend and fellow kitty lover sent me this book. It's actually a kids book but it really comforted me. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney There's also another book called "Angel Pawprints" that is filled with poems and stories by people who have lost their pets. It's a really beautiful book and a tribute to those pets and their owners, and it was comforting to me to read those and know I wasn't alone in my grief. You can also find it on Amazon.

What a terrible tragic thing for you and Justin. Don't blame yourself-- Justin wouldn't blame you, only thank you for the precious love and kindness you shared in your short time together.

Penny asked me to add these to the list: Chez Garbahge: The best restaurant in town. It's an all you can eat smorgasbord, and every day there is a different menu! Only drawback: this restaurant closes when Mom comes home. Casa de Catfood: A great fast-food joint. I stop there several times a day just to pick up a little snack. Easy to grab and run when mom's not looking.