My Loving Pet

My loving cat Snowy disappeared for 2 days and finally came back home looking a little beat. I thought that maybe he got caught in someone's garage and had just recently gotten loose. Snowy was really thirsty and drank anxiously from his water pan on the front porch. Snowy's eyes look a bit strained and tired and he was a little weak… I thought that it was because he might have been penned up for a couple of days without food and water. After Snowy drank from his water pan, I offered him something to eat but he didn't seem interested in eating… maybe it was because of all the water that he had just drank.

I took Snowy inside for the night because he was so weak and it was starting to get cold outside. I took Snowy and placed him in his old bed near a warm heat register. I placed some food and water next to his bed in case he decided to eat during the night. I went upstairs to bed for the night. The next morning I went downstairs to see Snowy… he was lying upright on his stomach with his eyes closed. I spoke to Snowy and stroked his back. Snowy opened his eyes and then he let out a weak meow as though he was still pretty weak. I kept talking to Snowy and stroking his back. Snowy looked up at me with his head swaying slightly from side to side as though he had difficulty keeping his balance. I got a can of tuna, his favorite, and place some in a saucer in front of him. Snowy licked at the tuna oil a little but he did not attempt to eat the tuna. I knew that something was seriously wrong and I checked Snowy from head to toe but I could not see any injuries. Snowy did lose some weight in those two days but he should be hungry and strong enough to eat his favorite dish of tuna. I left the food and water right next to Snowy hoping that he would eat some of the tuna. I left Snowy alone hoping that he would eat after I had left.

About an hour later I went back downstairs to see if Snowy had eaten any of the tuna… he had not touched it. Snowy again looked at me but this time he let out a painful sounding meow. I knew that it was time to take him to the vet. After contacting several vets I finally found a vet that had an opening to see Snowy. I rushed Snowy to the vet and finally got Snowy examined. The vet asked me how old Snowy was… I told him that Snowy was 12 years old. The vet said that Snowy was severely dehydrated and that his body temperature was about 8 to 10 degrees below normal. The vet said that he had Snowy put under heat lamps and he was also given an IV to get his liquids up to normal. The vet said that a blood test was needed and that it would take about 30-45 minutes before they would have the results. I told the vet that I hadn't eaten breakfast and that I would get something to eat and that I would return in 30-45 minutes.

After getting a bite to eat I returned to the vet and waited for about 10 minutes before the vet returned. I could tell from the vet's facial expression that it wasn't going to be good news. The vet said that Snowy had severe renal failure and that it was amazing that Snowy was still alive. I asked the vet what kind of treatment was needed to get Snowy back on his feet. The vet looked down at the floor and said that Snowy's chance to survive was very unlikely and that he could only make Snowy comfortable until he passed or that we could have Snowy put down peacefully and painlessly. The vet said that Snowy is suffering and it would be best to have Snowy euthanized. I asked if that was the only option… the vet said yes. I just couldn't say anything… the vet said that he would get the consent to euthanized papers to me for signing. I said if there isn't any other way… the vet said Snowy was in severe pain and that it was the only humane thing to do. With a heavy heart and tearing eyes I said alright… I don't want Snowy to suffer. When the vet returned with the consent form to euthanized Snowy, I looked at the form through tearing eyes and with a heavy heart I signed Snowy's death warrant. The vet asked if I wanted to be present during the process… at first I told the vet that I couldn't watch them give a lethal injection to my dear pet Snowy but then I didn't want Snowy to be frightened and alone. I followed the vet into the room where Snowy was waiting. When Snowy saw me his eyes perked up a little and he let out a weaken painful meow. I could barely hold back the tearful emotions that were building in me for my loving Snowy. The vet prepared the lethal injection and turned towards me and Snowy. The vet asked if I was ready… I said not really as I held and stroked my poor Snowy. The vet administered the lethal injection and Snowy flinched a little. I held Snowy and it seemed like a lifetime before I felt Snowy go limp… I began remembering how I first got Snowy. Some children came running up to me one summer day years ago while I was out for a morning stroll. The children were yelling that there was a kitten dying nearby in the park. I followed the children to the park and they pointed to a small white ball of fur in the bushes. It was a small white kitten that was afraid, and weak from hunger. I remember how I picked up the little white fur ball that started meowing. I remember taking this poor little kitten home and feeding him. My thoughts were interrupted when the vet said that Snowy was gone. The vet took Snowy from my arms and placed him in a white cardboard box. I took Snowy to my car and placed him gently in the front seat next to mine.

I drove home with Snowy near my side while I wiped away the tears that could not be held back. After we got home I took Snowy from the car and walked with him in my arms to the back yard that he had enjoyed so much. I placed Snowy on the ground and I went into the garage to get a shovel. I decided to dig his grave near the Hostas plants that he used to playfully hide behind and pounce out at me while I was working in the yard. After digging Snowy's grave it was with a heavy heart that I placed him gently into his final resting place… I always thought that Snowy would outlive me… Snowy's passing seemed all too sudden… Snowy is gone forever but he will never be forgotten.

These few words written about my pet and friend Snowy were through tearing eyes… but my memories of Snowy will always bring a gentle loving smile to my face.

Dedicated to my loving pet and friend… Snowy.

You have my deepest heartfelt sympathy. Been there quite a few times and the hurt is enormous. Only way I got through it without taking antidepressants was to get away for a while each day so I wouldn't keep seeing him/her. Our back yard is a solid grave yard now. Hang in there. You will see him again when the time is right. Typed through tears.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Snowy was certainly beautiful. I hope it helped you to write about your experience. Sometimes putting it into words brings a measure of healing. I also had to put a cat down, and she died in my arms. An experience I still remember vividly. My dog, McCoy, (my avatar) is 16 and has a lot of health problems, but he still doesn't think of himself as old. He wants to be young! I can't think about what may happen sooner or later. Sometimes through the pain of loss, we have to concentrate on the blessing of having known our pets and the joy we had with them. May your pain fade into thankfulness.

Here's one more for the road: I'm glad you told us about Snowy and shared your photos. What a handsome guy!
I'm also grateful that you had the guts and sense of duty towards your kitty to stay there with him while the vet gave the injection. I've been there too, as have most of us responding, and while every cell of your being is screaming NO! you realize you are setting this little soul free. You helped Snowy take that step without the fear of being alone in strange surroundings.

Our lives are vastly enriched by caring for animals. That you feel so much pain tells me you are a very good person. I hope that Snowy is not the last cat to know your love.

My Loving Pet

My loving cat Snowy disappeared for 2 days and finally came back home looking a little beat. I thought that maybe he got caught in someone's garage and had just recently gotten loose. Snowy was really thirsty and drank anxiously from his water pan on the front porch. Snowy's eyes look a bit strained and tired and he was a little weak… I thought that it was because he might have been penned up for a couple of days without food and water. After Snowy drank from his water pan, I offered him something to eat but he didn't seem interested in eating… maybe it was because of all the water that he had just drank.

I took Snowy inside for the night because he was so weak and it was starting to get cold outside. I took Snowy and placed him in his old bed near a warm heat register. I placed some food and water next to his bed in case he decided to eat during the night. I went upstairs to bed for the night. The next morning I went downstairs to see Snowy… he was lying upright on his stomach with his eyes closed. I spoke to Snowy and stroked his back. Snowy opened his eyes and then he let out a weak meow as though he was still pretty weak. I kept talking to Snowy and stroking his back. Snowy looked up at me with his head swaying slightly from side to side as though he had difficulty keeping his balance. I got a can of tuna, his favorite, and place some in a saucer in front of him. Snowy licked at the tuna oil a little but he did not attempt to eat the tuna. I knew that something was seriously wrong and I checked Snowy from head to toe but I could not see any injuries. Snowy did lose some weight in those two days but he should be hungry and strong enough to eat his favorite dish of tuna. I left the food and water right next to Snowy hoping that he would eat some of the tuna. I left Snowy alone hoping that he would eat after I had left.

About an hour later I went back downstairs to see if Snowy had eaten any of the tuna… he had not touched it. Snowy again looked at me but this time he let out a painful sounding meow. I knew that it was time to take him to the vet. After contacting several vets I finally found a vet that had an opening to see Snowy. I rushed Snowy to the vet and finally got Snowy examined. The vet asked me how old Snowy was… I told him that Snowy was 12 years old. The vet said that Snowy was severely dehydrated and that his body temperature was about 8 to 10 degrees below normal. The vet said that he had Snowy put under heat lamps and he was also given an IV to get his liquids up to normal. The vet said that a blood test was needed and that it would take about 30-45 minutes before they would have the results. I told the vet that I hadn't eaten breakfast and that I would get something to eat and that I would return in 30-45 minutes.

After getting a bite to eat I returned to the vet and waited for about 10 minutes before the vet returned. I could tell from the vet's facial expression that it wasn't going to be good news. The vet said that Snowy had severe renal failure and that it was amazing that Snowy was still alive. I asked the vet what kind of treatment was needed to get Snowy back on his feet. The vet looked down at the floor and said that Snowy's chance to survive was very unlikely and that he could only make Snowy comfortable until he passed or that we could have Snowy put down peacefully and painlessly. The vet said that Snowy is suffering and it would be best to have Snowy euthanized. I asked if that was the only option… the vet said yes. I just couldn't say anything… the vet said that he would get the consent to euthanized papers to me for signing. I said if there isn't any other way… the vet said Snowy was in severe pain and that it was the only humane thing to do. With a heavy heart and tearing eyes I said alright… I don't want Snowy to suffer. When the vet returned with the consent form to euthanized Snowy, I looked at the form through tearing eyes and with a heavy heart I signed Snowy's death warrant. The vet asked if I wanted to be present during the process… at first I told the vet that I couldn't watch them give a lethal injection to my dear pet Snowy but then I didn't want Snowy to be frightened and alone. I followed the vet into the room where Snowy was waiting. When Snowy saw me his eyes perked up a little and he let out a weaken painful meow. I could barely hold back the tearful emotions that were building in me for my loving Snowy. The vet prepared the lethal injection and turned towards me and Snowy. The vet asked if I was ready… I said not really as I held and stroked my poor Snowy. The vet administered the lethal injection and Snowy flinched a little. I held Snowy and it seemed like a lifetime before I felt Snowy go limp… I began remembering how I first got Snowy. Some children came running up to me one summer day years ago while I was out for a morning stroll. The children were yelling that there was a kitten dying nearby in the park. I followed the children to the park and they pointed to a small white ball of fur in the bushes. It was a small white kitten that was afraid, and weak from hunger. I remember how I picked up the little white fur ball that started meowing. I remember taking this poor little kitten home and feeding him. My thoughts were interrupted when the vet said that Snowy was gone. The vet took Snowy from my arms and placed him in a white cardboard box. I took Snowy to my car and placed him gently in the front seat next to mine.

I drove home with Snowy near my side while I wiped away the tears that could not be held back. After we got home I took Snowy from the car and walked with him in my arms to the back yard that he had enjoyed so much. I placed Snowy on the ground and I went into the garage to get a shovel. I decided to dig his grave near the Hostas plants that he used to playfully hide behind and pounce out at me while I was working in the yard. After digging Snowy's grave it was with a heavy heart that I placed him gently into his final resting place… I always thought that Snowy would outlive me… Snowy's passing seemed all too sudden… Snowy is gone forever but he will never be forgotten.

These few words written about my pet and friend Snowy were through tearing eyes… but my memories of Snowy will always bring a gentle loving smile to my face.

Dedicated to my loving pet and friend… Snowy.

bruce, I am so sorry for your loss Snowy was such a beautiful soul, you took such good care of him and he will be waiting for you on the other side, I have been through this so many times and I still grieve for them.