Comments on: One Monday Night

By: Jennifer Moore

Jennifer Moore — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:02:38 +0000

SheltieMom, I’m with JJ72. It’s hard to know when a vet is bad and when not. Sometimes, people just make mistakes. Sometimes, they are just plain bad at what they do. Sometimes they just don’t care. You just can’t know ahead of time, so don’t beat yourself up. I’m sure your Chloe knew how very much you loved her.

~Jennifer Moore

By: JJ72

JJ72 — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 13:16:12 +0000

Sheltie Mom, you did nothing wrong, and couldn’t have known that the vet was incompetent…I’m positive your Chloe knew you were right there in the next room, and was comforted by that.

Jennifer, thank you for this special story…I had to make the difficult decision for my sweet cat a few days ago due to her rapid decline from renal failure…she’s been battling it in the end stage for a year. It was the first time I was with a pet during the euthanization process and it’s very difficult though I know it was painless for her.

By: Nora and Rufus

Nora and Rufus — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:28:32 +0000

Oh, Dear Sheltie mom. I completely understand. If Rufus (my awesome Aussie) goes before I do, I will cry forever and a day. I will be destroyed. I want to outlive him because I would never want to leave him alone in this world and I am afraid that no one will take care of him as he should be taken care of. Your Chloe must have been a wonderful girl.

By: Sheltie Mom

Sheltie Mom — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:28:38 +0000

I lost my heart dog on June 13, 2006. It was one of the worst days of my life. I had no idea how sick my girl was when I took her in to a new vet. (My old vet had retired). The treatment from the new vet killed her even though I questioned what she was doing. When the clinic was closing at the end of the day, I was told I would have to take my sweet Chloe to the emergency. This vet would not stay over closing time. She died at the emergency clinic 2 hours after I got her there from pulmonary edema, from the IV the vet should never have given her, with her heart problem. I was not beside her when she passed. She was alone in a cold, lonely cage while I was in the next room. I will never forgive myself for trusting the incompetent vet with my baby. I still cry all the time a year and a half later. It was so traumatic and this is hard for me to write about my sweet Sheltie who was always by me and supporting me.
~Sheltie Mom

By: G in INdiana

G in INdiana — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:49:46 +0000

Having had many species die in my arms, I can tell you once they are knocked out, they do not know you are there. You don’t have to stay until they draw their last breath if you can’t. Just doing the right thing by being there and making sure they don’t suffer anymore is enough. I do stay but I can readily understand why others cannot it. It is very hard.
RIP Grimalkyn, I hope the catnip is fresh and the sun shines brightly on your path.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:50:46 +0000

Thank you for sharing your story. Your words touched my heart in such a personal way and have helped me come to grips with so many of the thoughts and feelings I’ve been having.
I hope you find peace in the knowledge that you provided a good and loving home for Grimalkyn. I’m sure he knew how much he was loved.

By: Elderta

Elderta — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:01:17 +0000

Thank you very much for this article. Your Grimalkyn reminds me of my Zanzibar. From birth to death, June 5, 1994 - January 26, 2006. The anniversaries are the hardest.
Here’s my baby girl: http://tanyatanya.smugmug.com/.....2#54135951
I miss her.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:16:07 +0000

I know exactly how this woman feels although I have always stayed till the very end with all of my pets when they have had to be put to sleep. I just couldn’t bear the thought of their last few moments spent with no family members there to hold and comfort them. I also have their ashes in urns and redwood boxes and when I die, it is my wish that all of our ashes be scattered together.

By: CarolPW

CarolPW — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:55:15 +0000

Jennifer, this reminded me so much of Tweezer (diabetic cat, 21) it had me crying too. The main difference is that with Tweezer it was congestive heart failure that got her in the end. It was also obvious she was ready to leave, a stark contrast to the times she fought back from insulin shock and diabetic comas (her thyroid alternated between hypo and hyperactivity the last 2 years, making the diabetes hard to control).

I find it comforting to be there when they are euthanized, because I feel a great deal of peace (when they are ready to go) seeing that they have been given the blessing of relief. Itâ€™s also nice if you have a vet who hands you a box of Kleenex and leaves you alone when you loose it afterwards, and a staff who will bill you later.

By: Jennife Moore

Jennife Moore — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:56:37 +0000

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I’m glad that my very first article for Itchmo was such a help to so many people.

Damien, your beautiful photo was the very best tribute you coule have paid Grim, as was the help you gave me in caring for him when he was still around. You are wonderful!

Mittens, I cannot imagine losing more than one at once! Wow. My heart goes out to you, and I honor your work for the animals. We have 9 other cats, and the biggest thing with which I came away from this was a deepened affection for those who are still with us.

Cheryl, good for you for continuing to share information with other animal lovers. I try to do the same. Luckily, my family was not affected by the pet foods that were eventually recalled. We feed Purina, a brand my family has trusted for generations, along with a brand which my wonderful boyfriend introduced me to, Flint River Ranch.

To all of you, thank you for making this new writer feel welcome! This is very humbling!

~Jennifer Moore

By: DMA

DMA — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:44:09 +0000

I totally agree with MLO only I did burst into tears at work! I lost my wonderful girl, Cheli in ‘06 and I still miss her EVERY DAY! Thank you for your touching story.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:36:01 +0000

My thoughts and prayers are with you Jennifer during this time of grief…when you have a pet for it’s full lifetime, it really hits home, as it is a major thread in your life.
I currently have a 21 year old cat as well, who has been in my life longer than any man, (lol). I almost lost her to kidney failure from the petfood recall, but due to alternative measures, all symptoms are at bay. I try to share my information with other pet lovers, so that both pet and owner can have a happy and healthy life, and learn some old secrets about how to keep certain illnesses away.
My heart feels your pain, and know in time another little furry friend will find a great place in your heart.
Cheryl
www.purplecircle4pets.com

By: mittens

mittens — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:10:28 +0000

i had 4 cats die this year-all from complications of old age. you dont think about it at the time you bring them into your life- all of them were rescues obtained from various people over the course of a year- but all my cats were about the same age. so they all ended up dying about the same time thankfully all close to 20 years old or older. still, i just about lost all contact with human emotion when the second one died- i numbed out from necessity i suppose. then i turned it into a comic routine- bring one cat to be cremated, pick up the last one brought there. i think i horrified a lot of people but it was clearly a coping mechanism for such a lot of loss at one time of my dearest companions- the only constants in what had been previously a very turbulent life.

they all knew when it was time to go- each one sat on my chest for about a half hour before going off to hide and die which is their want. i funneled my grief into rescuing my new cat friends and they have made all the difference in the world for me during the past pretty sad year. saving a life can be about the best remedy for losing one. my girls always accepted each new stray or abused cat i brought home- i know they’d approve.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:22:22 +0000

Thank you for sharing your very special story about your Grim. Having been a reader and poster here I have often told others that this hollow hurt we have after our loss is that we are truly lucky to have that special connection with our 4 legged friends that not all ever have! Having just lost my beloved Jessica, I had to repeat that to myself! It is very helpful and healing to be able to talk about this and having Itchmo has made it possible for me.
Also best wishes on your future articles here!

By: Damien

Damien — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:56:19 +0000

Congrats on your first article for Itchmo, hon!

I miss Grim a lot every time I see his photo. He was a real pal.