Trista -- Re: Not a great start on the vacation

[Guest guest]

Ohhh, Trista, I'm so sorry. You had Oreo for a long time, didn't you?

Parvo is a horrible thing to see take a dog. We had a young dog (Tuff), not yet a year old, who died of Parvo. Awful, awful thing. He died in the car, outside the Vet's office.

Why wouldn't the Vet take Teddie??

We buy the pet vax and other meds at a feed store. We're not allowed to do the rabies vax ourselves, though the town puts on a rabies clinic each year and charges a low rate. That's a good thing for those who need it.

I am really, sorry to hear you lost your Oreo and Teddie, and both in a week's time.

Hugs to you, Steve and your boys,

Challis

Not a great start on the vacation> >> >> > Hi all,> >> > This is the first week of my and 's vacation together, and we

were> going to spend most of it with my mother and sisters, with our cat Agnes> (she can't be left a home without a "cat sitter" for that long, and> vacation time is usually a time when finding someone with the time on> their hands to take on cat sitting responsibility is hard or> impossible). We were going to leave this past tuesday. But on Monday> evening, when we returned home from an afternoon visit with 's grand> mother at the assisted living center where she lives, Agnes greeted us> looking tired and being short of breath. Other than that she didn't seem> to be suffering or in pain, and she was sort of her old self (only> dampened a bit). We hoped that it was just a result of the warm weather,> but worried that it was rather a sign that her weak heart was giving up.> We decided rather quickly that in any case she couldn't go on a

train,> and she could even less go by car (not a car loving> > cat, that one...). So we decided that I should go as planned, and> that should stay behind for a couple of days until Agnes either got> better, or 's sister could come and stay with Agnes.> >> > There is an Animal Hospital locally, but it is not a very well renowed> one, and, more especially, during Agnes last stay there they almost> managed to kill her due to incompetence and neglect, and when we did> take her home that time we promised her to never, ever take her there> again, no matter what (yes, I know, she's a cat, what does cats know of> promises, but it felt important to us to keep that promise), so we> decided to, if it should prove necessary, try and get hold of a> veterinarian who does home visits (we only know of one is this area who> does),

or, as a back-up alternative, if he was out of town or something,> take her to a smaller local veterinarian clinic.> >> > When we spoke on the phone on Tuesday evening, said that Agnes> was no better, but that neither was she any worse. Things changed during> the night, though, at 4 in the morning, called to say that Agnes> had woke her up by coming to the bed, and that she seemed particularly> worse off, however still not in pain. We decided that should call> the veterinarian as soon as he opened for business, to let Agnes go to> the eternal sleep. But before that could take place, Agnes went there on> her own. At 6 am called to say that Agnes wasn't breathing anymore.> 's sister came to help her give Agnes a nice burial, next to Agnes'> cat companion Thotmes, who died two years ago, and to clean out

Agnes> food and water bowl, and her litter box, so that didn't have to do> that herself.> >> > Knowing about Agnes heart condition it was in a way expected, but> somehow we both believed that Agnes still had many, many years in her> (she would be 12 years old this month). That was never very realistic,> and was probably just wishful thinking, but it still meant we were taken> by surprise even though we shouldn't have.> >> > Now we are both back home, and trying to get used to not having Agnes> around anymore. We are, however, grateful that she - the most> home-loving cat there ever was, refusing to take as much as one step> away from the house if she could help it - got to die at home, and not> in a veterinarian clinic, and that it was so relatively quick and> pain-free.> >> > We will

most likely get a new cat, but we want to wait for a while, so> that it really is a new cat, and not an Agnes replacement.> >> > Anyway, that's what's happening in our lives at the moment.> >> > love> > /Reb> >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Anne. I really hope so. I'm not sure what I believe about

pets in the afterlife. It just doesn't make sense that

their " spirit " ends, when their body dies. I felt so bad looking into

his sad little eyes, before they took him back. I cried and my oldest

bawled all the way home. He is still having a hard time, since

losing his gma. I'm going to show him that poem about the bridge.

hugs, Trista

>

> I am sorry about Teddy - two at once is a deep blow - just know he

was surrounded by your love and knew you were trying to help - that

meant a lot to him - he was also met on the other side of the bridge

by Oreo

> Trista -- Re: Not a great start on the vacation

[Guest guest]



I have had to put down special ones many times - I have also been with friends when they did it - the only part we have to remember is that they aren't in pain and they are safe now - they are in the meadow and having a blast - except you aren't there - now take care of you and the little one

Someone said "suffer the little children to come unto me " - face it there is no difference between two legged and four legged children - I am god mother and gamma to many

Trista -- Re: Not a great start on the vacation