This has been a summer of mixed blessings. At the end of June, CJ's body gave out. X-rays showed a series of compressed discs in his back which the vet said were due to degenerative hip disease--he was throwing his weight forward to keep pressure off his hips, humping his back in such a way that the discs pushed together. I had to make the difficult decision to have him put down.
Where I live, we're fortunate to have several area vets who are affiliated with
Lap of Love, a network of veterinarians who offer hospice and in-home euthanasia. Dr. Brent Martin responded to my call and helped CJ pass over the rainbow bridge while Samara and I held his big body and sang to him.
In late July, my beloved cat, Oliver, died in my arms. One minute he was up on the cat tree, the next he was on the floor gasping and then he was gone. Consensus was that he'd somehow gotten into poison, what kind we'll never know. His death was mercifully quick but emotionally devastating.
For several weeks I'd get up in the morning expecting to see my charming loudmouth on the garage roof outside my bedroom window waiting to be let in or CJ's big cinnamon brindled body stretched out on the dog bed in the living room wagging his tail as I made coffee. Their missing energy/presence was palpable. Poppy kept sniffing at the blanket CJ lay on when I took him to the vet and nosing my bed where Oliver held court. We all sensed the empty space which had been filled so recently by these two lovely animals.
I waited for Oliver for 17 years and am a adherent to the theory that a house is not a home without a cat. Cats have always been my first choice for pets. Soft fur, huge purrs, and the comforting warmth of a furry body curled up on my lap... I started looking at adoptable cats at my local shelter--listening to my heart, visiting to see if there was a special spark between me and another purr-buddy. No one captured me. Figuring I wasn't ready, I slowed down the search deciding that the right cat would find me. I never once thought I'd consider another a dog... until I saw Kas' picture.
Something about his floppy ears and goofy posture just called to me. And let me be honest, with CJ gone, Poppy has turned her energetic attentions on my senior beagle, Jimmy, who simply doesn't have the size or tolerance for her unabashed terrier nature. What if another big blockhead were to come into my life?
Stay tuned as the story continues...
