The last couple of years have been a bit difficult for me.
- DECEMBER, 2009 – Caleb has tumor removed from his intestine
- JANUARY 1, 2010 – went into hospital due to a cat bite on my foot
- FEBRUARY 25, 2010 – Clark euthanized (11 years old)
- MARCH 19, 2010 – Charlotte euthanized (9 years old)
- JULY 30, 2010 – Cammie euthanized (15 years old)
- AUGUST – SEPTEMBER, 2010 – me back in hospital for 5 surgeries, including a skin graft
- DECEMBER 10, 2010 – Chase found dead (7 years old)
- FEBRUARY 12, 2011 – Chaz euthanized (12 years old)
- MARCH 11, 2011 – Colin euthanized (rescued from the street 1998 – adult cat)
- APRIL 22, 2011 - Caleb euthanized (15 years old DOG)
- MAY 21, 2011 – Cagney rescued from the street
- JUNE 14, 2011 – Charlie euthanized (12 years old)
- JUNE 24, 2011 – Cissy euthanized (16 years old)
- NOVEMBER 11, 2011 – Claudia euthanized (rescued from Animal Services 2005 – older cat)
- NOVEMBER 28, 2011 – Campbell has all teeth removed
- DECEMBER 12, 2011 – Colt euthanized (8 years old)
- JANUARY 12, 2012 – Courtney euthanized (13 years old)
- FEBRUARY 16, 2012 – Cordelia euthanized (14 years old DOG)
- FEBRUARY, 2012 – Cashew (kitten) + Contessa (about 1 year old) rescued from street
- JUNE 29, 2012 - Chandler euthanized (13 years old)
- AUGUST 2, 2012 – Crockett had all his teeth removed
- JANUARY 9, 2013 – Cassandra having surgery to remove all of her teeth
While I know that most, if not all, of these animals would have died long before had I not brought them into my home, my life and my heart, it stills takes a toll. My own health struggles helped erode my coping skills as well. These were choices which I made and, therefore, are mine alone to bear.
My apologies to friends if I've been more short tempered or less communicative in the past couple of years. It's not always easy to exude sunshine and roses through personal trials and tribulations.
Oh Connie, I can't even imagine coping with so much loss. It's been SOOO hard for me just dealing with Sputnik's illness, I can't even contemplate how you've had the strength to carry on through so much hardship - let alone just the physical strength to care for so many animals.
ReplyDeleteOf course, mating season has begun here and this means that the yard is filling up with random felines. I think because I'm in the middle of the block and have no dogs, my yard is the kitty superhighway. I keep telling myself "they have homes... they have homes" although I'm sure some don't. It just breaks my heart to even think about those babies out there fending for themselves.
In the broad scheme of things I know that Sputnik is one of the lucky ones. I brought him in 11 and a half years ago, and he's been pampered and loved every minute since. And even in his illness he's getting the best medication money can buy (literally - his pain meds are running $80/week!) I know that if he hadn't wormed his way into my heart all those years ago he'd surely have met his maker years ago, and under much less comforting circumstances.
But knowing that is such cold comfort, as I'm sure it is for you knowing how much good you've done for all of those precious creatures.
I really am in awe of people like you, because I know that I just don't have it in me to care for, and to suffer the loss of any more homeless babies than I already have. Your emotional strength amazes and inspires me. Thank you so much for the work you do and for being willing to make yourself so emotionally vulnerable on behalf of so many otherwise homeless ones.
Please know I'm thinking of you and wishing you the very, very best.
xoxoxo,
Cat
Thanks Cat. We do what we must, but it keeps getting more difficult to get back up each time I get knocked down. There just isn't much "bounce" left in this old body of mine. Good news, though, Cassandra came through her surgery really well. She was ready to eat as soon as her feet hit the floor yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Denver is having unseasonably warm weather too. It's early for mating season. Aren't there any TNR groups or low cost spay/neuter clinics for folks to use in your area? It's ridiculous that so many people are so clueless and don't get their cats & dogs fixed and keep them inside! All my fur kids came to me due to the irresponsibility of other humans.
Give Sputty an extra hug for me.
Actually, it's been really cold here up until the past week or so when it's been in the 50's. I could be wrong - I'm just going by the parade of cats and the vocalizations going on outside.
DeleteDenver actually does have a great TNR organization, the thing is... it's gotten politically difficult lately. We have a HUGE feral cat population, and most are infected with FeLV. So generally they require a FIV/FeLV test for a low cost spay/neuter and then you have to have the cat put down if it tests postive.
Of course, at the same time, in my neighborhood most people just let their cats run wild and don't use collars or ID tags, so it's nearly impossible to tell who's a pet and who's a stray. And there have been cases of people being sued for trapping other people's pets. AAAARRRRGGGG!!! So basically if you're gonna do it, you've gotta be secretive about it and be ready to face angry neighbors and/or destroying lots of cats because they test positive. And at the moment, that's all more than I can deal with.
Sigh.
That is coping with a lot of loss of precious family. So much to bear. Connie, sending you a hug from Oregon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hug.
DeleteMost of the cats & dogs joined my household within a 2 - 3 year period. I had several litters that I ended up keeping because I wouldn't put them back on the street.
As Strayer will tell you, FIV is spread among intact males. If only people would fix the boys there would be a 2 fold benefit - less FIV & many fewer kittens. It's generally cheaper to fix males too. Obviously females should be spayed too. Let's just all admit - HUMANS ARE STUPID! At least it seems that most of them are. And the sane ones (those who are compassionate) are called crazy. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI just had to take Chaka (Colt, Crockett & Chase's sister) to the vet. Her left eye was gunked up yesterday morning, so I wiped it with a washcloth & warm water. I didn't much of her last night. This morning the eye was gunky again & inflamed. Her iris is prolapsed past the cornea. The vet is holding out hope that the iris will recede. If not, he'll have to remove her eye. I think I'll just stay on the ground & crawl under the obstacles that are stacked up on my path. I'm thinking I must have been Genghis Khan in my previous life. Pay back is a bitch.
ReplyDelete