Animals in Spirit

If the previous post didn’t convince you, I have two more quick stories.
Many years ago after my first cat, Pyewacket, passed, I was lying in bed talking to my Mom. I felt a cat jump onto my bed and in my lap. Not only did I feel Pyewacket, but both my Mom and I heard his bell on his collar as he made the leap!

A few years ago, my Aunt and I brought one of my very dear ferrets, Boo Boo, to the vet for his final visit. I brought his two favorite toys to accompany him on his journey. They were two life sized ferrets, whom at one time made ferret-like noises. Seconds after BooBoo’s passing, one of his toys still in the carrier where we left it, squeaked. The Vet nearly passed out! It was a very bittersweet moment. BooBoo was saying goodbye for now.

Pyewacket

Mr Boo Boo Bear

 

Spike confirms Tumblina crossed Rainbow Bridge

Image from Gary Patterson's "Family Tree"

My cat, Spike, has been sitting atop my printer for the past few weeks, since Tumbie’s passing. This is a new spot but not something extraordinary, right?
So I thought until tonight. When he sits on the printer he stares intently at a Gary Patterson print I have called “Family Tree”. The print is of a tree filled with various comical depictions of cats. Tonight he put his face right up against the print. So, I like most kitty moms, ask him what is he looking at. He continues to stare. I then spontaneously say, ‘is Tumbie sending you a message?’ He instantly turns around jumps off the printer to join his brother, Stevie, in my lap. Once in my lap, I look up at the print again and there, where he had pressed his nose, is a depiction of a kitty who looks a lot like my Tumbie leaping in the air chasing a butterfly! I started crying b/c when I wrote my blog the other day, I wrote I hope she’s chasing butterflies, something she could never do in life.
So my little girl is here and wanted to let me know that.

 

Rest in Peace, Tumblina

Tumblina at play

I am finally coming to terms with the recent unexpected loss of one of my kitties. Tumblina passed away on February 29th, 2008. She was probably the most gentle, patient and dainty little kitty I have been blessed knowing.
Tumblina was found in a Bronx park at 4 weeks of age. She was rescued from a group of children who were ‘playing’ with her. She was brought to the hospital where I was working at the time for evaluation.
Like her brother, Bee Bop, found three weeks earlier, Tumbie was diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia. This disorder is caused when the mother is exposed to the panleukopenia virus (distemper) while pregnant. Both kittens were unable to walk upright. Tumbie always took her time and was better coping with her disability than her brother. BeeBop was always in a hurry…
Tumbie enjoyed playing with feather toys; loved catnip and belly rubs and revelled in the affections of the men in her life. Yes, she was a flirt. She was a mothering kitty: she let kittens, including Spike and Roary, sleep in bed with her. She even let ferrets cuddle up!
She groomed BeeBop; tolerated his complaints; and suffered through his ‘landings’ and inappropriate bed arrangements.
She was patient with me. She followed me gently requesting to be fed. She would look up at me and gently meow from her bed, to say hello or make me take a moment to stop working at the computer and get down in her bed to share some love.
All of her housemates loved her. They often shared space with her and even played with her. They understood her disability and played to her capacity.
I, my family and her housemates miss her terribly. She was a very special soul. She quietly dealt with her illness, probably days before we knew she was sick. She looked at me one day as if to say, “I just can’t eat but I’ll try for you”. That was a Wednesday night.
Thursday we went to the hospital. She enjoyed that car ride over the bridge. She commented often. Her eyes were bright, her tongue was sticking out slightly, as it often did and she was smiling. Friday night she called to me; she passed with my arms around her and Joe’s arms around me.
My little angel returned home. I believe she visits us; I feel her close. She knows her brother will always need her. Until I see her again, I hope she is running and jumping over that rainbow bridge. I hope she is chasing butterflies.

 

Dogs of War – Not Really a Happy Story

When you get right down to it, this story of a royal marine rescuing stray dogs in afghanistan is downright depressing.  His kindness is no match for 700 years of war and cruelty against animals and humans.   It is good to know that someone, somewhere, has compassion for these defenseless little things.

 

No More Pacifiers

Toddler dog keeps swallowing his pacifiers until he requires surgery.

 

China and Melamine

According to Time.com the Chinese are going to continue to have problems with melamine.  Everyone of course assumes that the Chinese actually care.  They really don’t seem to.