Silicon Graybeard lost his pet cat- it died in his arms while they were both asleep. It causes me to tear up, thinking about it. I hate losing a pet, and thinking about the day when either my pets or I will lose each other makes me want to go hug them. I believe that the Oatmeal summed it up best with this cartoon.
“He is my best friend, and I am his, but he will go to his grave having never known my name.”
Hug your pets. There is no love as pure as the one between a pet and his human.
11 Comments
SiG · March 3, 2025 at 11:31 am
Thanks, DM. That cartoon is wonderful – and enough to trigger another shower of tears.
Crazy Chootowl · March 3, 2025 at 11:34 am
Prayers all around to those who lose their furry friends. Last Monday we lost my wife’s cat of twenty-one years. It is difficult to watch them wither away and suffer through dementia at the end. Take a lot of pictures, write a lot of stories, and remember all of the good and bad times. They will be waiting for you to rejoin them some day.
Stealth Spaniel · March 3, 2025 at 12:11 pm
+1 million.
Chutes Magoo · March 3, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Ya Man!
SoCoRuss · March 3, 2025 at 1:18 pm
This brought back so many memories took me a while to write this.
If I have to choose how either of us go. I choose that way. If we can go at same time together, that will complete the cycle…..
I never had the good luck to have a pet go in their sleep it was always, the trip to the vets.
My son lost his 13 year old lab last year, he died after a bath lying out in the sun and probably licking his balls also. A better way to go.
I did my best to explain how lucky he was no matter how much it hurt, by having it happen more naturally. Because I will always be haunted every day of my life by the ones I have lost.
I just hope when I go they are all at the Rainbow bridge waiting for me to come play and explore.
nones · March 3, 2025 at 2:07 pm
In all my life I have had 7 dogs. The first dog came along when I was 5 or 6, I am 73 now. #1 and #2 both died of heart worms, #4 I had to put down at 10 years because he was eaten alive with arthritis. #5 was an ornery terrier mutt that lived past 17, #6 was another terrier mix shelter dog that made it to 12+ before we had to put him down due to cancer, #7 is a Jack Russel and misc shelter dog that we have had for 1 1/2 years. I love #7 as much as I did all these other dogs and I will surely cry more for his loss than I did when my father died. Dogs just don’t live long enough.
What about #3 you may ask. Well, #3 was what I called a vindictive shitter. That dog copped an attitude when we brought a little kitten home that my wife wanted. I was driving a Mustang at the time and I took #3 with me in the car when I went to Publix to buy cat food. When I came out of the store I find that #3 had taken a dump in my car, between the bucket seat and the hump down the middle. It took a spoon to get it out. That dog dumped in my shoes, on our bed, in the bath tub, on the couch. I couldn’t leave that damn dog alone in the house for as long as it took to walk out to the street to check the mail with out it conjuring up a turd and depositing it somewhere that I never would have guessed. Damn dog pushed every one of my buttons and one night I had had it. I have #3 by the throat and my .38 in the other hand and I am going to finally settle the score. My (then) wife pleaded for me not to do the deed and I finally relented. Good thing too. I probably would have shot myself in the hand. The next day I met a man that said it was a good looking dog and I asked if he wanted her. he said yes and I loaded her into the bacck of his car ahd he drove away. Gone. For. Good. I did not cry for losing #3.
Backwoods Okie · March 3, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Lost my Bobo 2-6-24. Man do I miss him. He was a Chihuahua. Coolest dude I’ve ever known. Reading stuff like this brings the memories back. Damn, I miss him
WDS · March 4, 2025 at 10:36 am
Every hole I ever had to dig for a pet left a hole in my heart.
SoCoRuss · March 4, 2025 at 1:05 pm
I agree and unfortunately they don’t ever really heal.
Jean · March 4, 2025 at 11:15 pm
July2023
Late at night, in early July, somebody dumped a mother dog and her four little month and a half old puppies out by our place. The next morning, our neighbor found the mother and two of the pups near the road. With the help of our dog, Ruger, we found the other two puppies in the 60 acre field next door. He found the bush they were under and pointed it for almost half a minute. He is a border collie, not a pointing dog. He then introduced himself to the puppies. Todd walked up at that point and introduced himself to the puppies. He handed me a puppy when I finally got there and we took them to the water at our UTV. All of a sudden, we were their best friends, ever.
The puppies were healthy, but their mama was little more than skin and bones. Additionally, she showed evidence of having been beaten rather badly.
Since our neighbors are very experienced in different sorts of critter rescue, they took on the care of all 5. A day or so later when we went to visit and see how all were doing, the mama dog came over to me and fell into my lap. I stroked her gently and spoke quiet words to her. She stayed there a long while. We could see the scabs on her face and neck. Patches of fur were missing from her neck and legs and more.
Over the next couple weeks, she began to fill out a little as the neighbors weaned the puppies. She needed a home and we decided we would see if she could stay with us.
She knew nothing of cats nor chickens, except as something to chase and probably eat.
She was afraid to play with male dogs.
She was frightened of the broom and the shovel.
She did not know about not pooping in the house.
Despite all that had happened to her, she is a bonnie little lass. Thus, her name is Bonnie. We guess she is part border collie, part lab. She is guessed to be about a year and half old.
So let the learning begin.
I put a dish of food in front of Kimber, the dairy colored lioness. Bonnie approached and Kimber told her in no uncertain terms that “You might get my food but it will be tough to eat when I rearrange your face.” Quietly but firmly Kimber taught her not to mess with cats.
I would take her on a leash when I did the chicken chores. At first, she was all predator. Gradually, she has become accustomed to the chickens and now looks to be following Ruger’s example of ignoring them. Both dogs get an egg for breakfast and Bonnie’s coat is no longer rough and dry.
At first, when we would throw a toy for her, she would look confused. Ruger helped her understand what toys are for.
She would watch us play with Ruger. It was heartening to see her start to join in.
Ruger taught her to make the play snarly face. He spent much time gently teaching her that he is really a big puppy and all he wants to do is play. He will never hurt her.
She would jump the fence to go next door to see her pups. I would walk over with the leash and bring her back home. No yelling, no punishment. Just a treat for coming to me. We make semi regular walks to the neighbors just so she can see her pups and this has calmed her greatly.
On August 8th, Kimber went out to hunt in the early morning hours and never came home. She was 15years old with one lower fang left of her teeth. She had brought in every kind of critter from mice to rabbits. Her kill rate on gophers was outstanding. She and I had hunted together. She celebrated the deer I shot in 2019 by singing songs of meat to me. She walked the 160 yards to the other house with us or just because that is where she wanted to go. She would walk the perimeter of our 20 acres with us. It was her joy. It would not surprise me if she wanted to go this way, rather than get old and sick and weak. What ever got her has probably got a few scars now. We miss her very much. Bonnie has helped partially fill the gaping hole in my heart.
Bonnie is trying so hard to be good and learn all the rules. It is a complicated task. Ruger has made much of it easier and now he has a very fun playmate for his efforts.
Bonnie keeps learning, and so do we. And I still sing to Kimber.
beaner49 · March 9, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Watch this and not have your heart break
https://youtu.be/SA7T0j1KAVM
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