Baggers
Practically Family
- Messages
- 861
- Location
- Allen, Texas, USA
I haven't been very active on the forum lately, but have been very hesitant to explain my absence to anyone here. Doghouse's post prompted me to break my silence.
My wife and I were parents to two very wonderful cats, Momcat, and her "daughter" Buddie Louise. Momcat came to us as a stray 17 years ago when we were still living in an apartment, and before we could get her fixed she fell under the spell of what must have been a very handsome suitor, and before long Buddie was born.
Long story short, they lived with us for many happy years. Having decided that we were both too immature to have children, Momcat and Buddie became our kids. No major decisions were made without weighing how it would effect "the girls." The thought of giving them away merely for convenience sake would have been abhorrent to us. We had made a commitment to care for them and would never think of repaying the years of companionship, smiles and unconditional love they gave us by casting them aside. I know that most people treat pets as disposable because they're "just animals," but we are not that way.
About 18 months ago we had to put Momcat to sleep. The feline leukemia that had been in remission since she had "adopted" us finally flared back up and her kidneys were failing due to old age. And we had to make the same terrible decision for Buddie about two months ago on New Year's Eve, due to what the vets were sure was a carcinoma in her chest. We would have paid anything to save her and her mother, but in both cases there was no possibility of treatment. We could only end their suffering. We had decided long ago that we wouldn't let the vet do it our absence, and both times we were in the room when it happened, looking into their eyes and whispering soothing, loving words into their ears as they slipped away from us. Losing Momcat was terrible enough, but Buddie's death hit us harder than anything we had ever experienced. It was like a delayed one two punch that almost paralyzed us.
The house is empty now. We feel their spirits are very much with us and always will be, but right now that isn't much comfort. We gave them the best lives that we could provide, but damn, they were our best friends and it's just not right that they have such brief ones when compared to humans. I apologize for baring my soul, but the bond between the four of us was (is) very strong and half our family is gone and we are still struggling to cope.
I just can't understand people who think pets are simply objects of convenience.
Night night, girls. We love you.
My wife and I were parents to two very wonderful cats, Momcat, and her "daughter" Buddie Louise. Momcat came to us as a stray 17 years ago when we were still living in an apartment, and before we could get her fixed she fell under the spell of what must have been a very handsome suitor, and before long Buddie was born.
Long story short, they lived with us for many happy years. Having decided that we were both too immature to have children, Momcat and Buddie became our kids. No major decisions were made without weighing how it would effect "the girls." The thought of giving them away merely for convenience sake would have been abhorrent to us. We had made a commitment to care for them and would never think of repaying the years of companionship, smiles and unconditional love they gave us by casting them aside. I know that most people treat pets as disposable because they're "just animals," but we are not that way.
About 18 months ago we had to put Momcat to sleep. The feline leukemia that had been in remission since she had "adopted" us finally flared back up and her kidneys were failing due to old age. And we had to make the same terrible decision for Buddie about two months ago on New Year's Eve, due to what the vets were sure was a carcinoma in her chest. We would have paid anything to save her and her mother, but in both cases there was no possibility of treatment. We could only end their suffering. We had decided long ago that we wouldn't let the vet do it our absence, and both times we were in the room when it happened, looking into their eyes and whispering soothing, loving words into their ears as they slipped away from us. Losing Momcat was terrible enough, but Buddie's death hit us harder than anything we had ever experienced. It was like a delayed one two punch that almost paralyzed us.
The house is empty now. We feel their spirits are very much with us and always will be, but right now that isn't much comfort. We gave them the best lives that we could provide, but damn, they were our best friends and it's just not right that they have such brief ones when compared to humans. I apologize for baring my soul, but the bond between the four of us was (is) very strong and half our family is gone and we are still struggling to cope.
I just can't understand people who think pets are simply objects of convenience.
Night night, girls. We love you.