permanent memories of pets whove passed on?

i had a cat who died 2 or 3 years ago who had been in my family for years. he was 20 when he died. i have a scar on my arm from when he was sitting with me and got spooked. that was when i was 19. i look at the scar now and just giggle and say "oh skippy, you were a good cat". anyone have any similar stories?

 

I don't think I have any permanent scars that are pet related... however I do have a whole mess of pets running around in my mind.

The first pet I ever had was a poodle... best friend I ever had... (inlcluding out of the future pets)... I picked him out of a litter at a pet store when I was like 5 or 6 years old, and had him til he died of old age... The first and only pet I 'bought', every other one since then has been a rescue of some type.

 

All of my hamsters and gerbils, will never forget my Golden Retriever, died from cancer at only 4 years of age.

 

i dont like to think ill ever forget my pets that ive had and passed away. but one that clearly stays on my mind is a black really furry cat i had since i was born called pudsy. she literally followed me everywhere that she could, came to when all the time and generally seemed like she looked after me kind of thing. however a couple of years ago, some people in my street at the time poisened all 6 of my cats that i had, so i watched her pass away. never forget her though..xox

 

That ^ is about the saddest thing I've read...someone poisoning all 6 of your cats. dear God. That is when it comes in "handy" to believe there is a special place (in hell) reserved for those that have and would hurt innocent animals, as well as children. To me, having been a life-long animal/nature lover (with cats, in particular), what you've described would have been an absolute nightmare, and I can't say I would have been strong enough to allow "natural karma" to take place. nuf said there...

Re that original post - I had a very special girl (kitty) that was killed in the road the day before my son's birthday last year; but, she did make it to our driveway where she passed. She was 3 yrs old and I can still remember how she would feel my face with her enormous paws, real sweet touching with her claws completely sheathed. She liked to do that at least once a day.
Bittersweet memories.

 

I just lost my dog Tia 2 days ago. And damn she has left a big hole. She died in my arms. Everything was fine that day, I got up and went to the bathroom. And tia waits for me on the bed like normal. We go downstairs and do what we do everyday. Then about midday she starts losing her balance with her back legs. I phoned my brother to take me and Tia to the vets. Before my brother could get to me (and he lives 10 minutes away) she became worse rapidly. I sent my kids out with there mum and sat with Tia begging her to get up. It seemed like we was there for hours. I can still see her fighting to the end, the stubborn dog wouldnt give up. Then that look in her eyes, I knew she was gone. The best dog I ever had. I am not an emotional fella either but you got me stumped there dog. I cant quit sopping for love nor money.

 

.........:grouphug:



Cheers Glen.

 

I've seen lots of old friends die over the years but right now our old girl is giving all the signs that she's not much longer for this world. Not kean to walk out much, her food's not eaten whenever the plate hits the floor, just stuff. I think this is going to be hard because before, our animals were part of a pack, adults children and animals. They all got along as best they could - but this is the first animal that has had our sole atention. Has a special place in the big scheme of things!

 

That was actually rather difficult to write.

 

We have 2 older animals, that give all the signs of being in the august of their lives...and I can so feel your pain...cause I feel it, too (almost before it is that time, ya' know?) When we got these animals, neither was young!
I just can't imagine life without Jack or Buddy, as they've been part of the pic for 7 yrs and 6 yrs. respectively. We/ I love them, just that simple. They are part of our/my life...and it's just seems harder this time around for me, too, to accept two of my special friends are aging. Maybe because we've been through a lot, and I don't really have that resiliency of youth, turthfully, whatever...it is what it is.

The next animal I get I want a parrot - I want something that is gonna outlive me...and yes, I would be willing to be selfish like that.

 

We've had so many fur babies over the years and I remember them all. Some passings were more difficult than others, especially when the pet belonged exclusively to my kids and they'd cared for them during their lifetime.

Now we have just three. Harry, my little dog, Newt, a stray cat my daughter brought from uni about 8 years ago and Remy, a little rat who wasn't wanted anymore. Wonderful creatures all of them. I think a house is so dead without animals and I know our lives wouldn't be half as rich.

 

I have to agree 100% with you. As I posted earlier my dog Tia passed on recently, She left a big hole. The kids where miserable, then four days ago our youngest child who is aged 1 started asking about Tia. (Tia was her playmate they where as thick as thieves) I could'nt take it anymore, I switched my computer on and started searching. And the very first dog that came up on my screen, was a dog called Tia. Coincidence I know, she was the same breed just a different colour. And sadly her owner had recently passed away. I ended up with her, the kids are full of joy again. The dog is as daft as a brush. It was abit to soon for me as my emotions are still raw. But the daft dog is groing on me. The original T will never be replaced, it's just good to have laughter in the house again.

 

That is so great, and maybe not just a coincidence. Much joy and peace to you all.

 

I've never been given any scar's from a pet before but I do have a few great memories. Particulary with my first dog, a German Shepard called Cam. I was about nine or ten, laying on the grass with him in a backyard, I had my head rested on his belly and I was looking up at the sky. I remember asking him what he thought cloud's were made of, and I'd make up my own answer's.

I went for a walk with my mum, dad, sibling's and some aunt's and uncle's through a rain forrest with Cam in Tasmania too. Back then I would have been 7 or 8. We were walking and he was walking ahead of all of us along the trail. Every few meters or so he would stop, and look back as if to make sure we were still following.

And I remember the day he had to be put to sleep. He was ten at the time and so was I, he'd suffered from arthritis for a while and was starting to loose control over his bowel movement.

I went into the vet with my dad on the day and stood with dad as the nurse gave him the injection, and I can still remember how my heart broke when I watched his eye's close and he just seemed to fall asleep. I remember my dad telling him that he was sorry, and the nurse took Cam's collar off of him and gave it to my dad. I have the collar now, and keep it safe in a large chest filled with childhood stuff like clothes and toy's.

 

I must humbly say, this is a very cool thread, renewing my faith in humans. Anyway, I simply wanted to remind you good people, that they, our loving critters are and always will be with us both here on earth and in heaven above and I truly hope to meet you in Dog Heaven someday...