Pawprints in the snow, searching, circling,
looking for food and shelter. Tracking you wasn’t easy, they stopped
at the street.
Where did you come from? How
did you find me?
Pawprints up the steps leading to my door, searching, searching for love. I wasn’t home; my heart filled with sadness and frustration at having missed your visit – again. Where did you go? Did you find a temporary haven? Did anyone look at you with love and ask you in?
Pawprints in the mud. I watched as you searched frantically for the plate. I didn’t know you could barely see. Hunger made you frantic….your cry cut through the noise of the engine. I put the plate down in another, safer place. Once again you cried, demanding to know where dinner was. I moved the place to its regular spot and watched in sadness as you gobbled quickly, to fill your empty belly before someone chased you away.
Pawprints on the newspaper, mud everywhere. You bang against the sides of the crate, demanding to know why you are here. You sniff, trying to sort the smells directly in front of you….food and water. You snuggle inside the box, protected and safe. Finally, you sleep, the sound of human voices flowing around you like a stream around a rock.
Pawprints on my heart and my soul….I
look at your empty crate, the bowl of kibble still
full, the water half gone, and the sadness overwhelms me. The pawprints
are filled with tears that overflow.
I see your fur, matted, tangled and dirty; your
ears notched and sore; your half blind eyes that couldn’t see very far
– I couldn’t even tell what
color they were – all I saw were your pupils, opened wide to
draw in the light. How could someone not love you? I had such
wonderful
plans for you, to help you regain your
dignity and self –respect. You didn’t give
me time; the disease took you away, before I could show you love
and trust, before I could
hold you on my lap and let your big purr wash over me like Spring
rain, before I could comfort you and let
you know you were finally safe.
Pawprints across the Rainbow Bridge….see the others? I’ll bet your eyes are golden, and you can see forever. Your coat is silken and shiny, your ears whole and clean. The others wait to guide you to safe haven, to wait for us when once again we will be together and I can finally hold you and feel your purr rumble against my heart.
His name was Ashes; he was a grey
cat. He was the sweetest, kindest, most loving cat a person could
ever ask for.
Ashes got his name when he and his
friend Blaze (a dog who later was adopted) came into the Washington Humane
Society. Ashes and Blaze had saved their owners from a house fire.
Both animals had been burned badly and it turned out Ashes would be scarred
for life. Because of that his owners didn't want him or Blaze anymore.
Ashes fit right in with the rest of the animals. He was loved dearly.
On December 8, 1998 Ashes started
going downhill very quickly. He fought the battle of life until God
told him not to fight anymore.
Ashes just goes to show how smart, brave,
and affectionate animals are to their owners.
May we all have a special place in our
hearts for this brave hero, Ashes.
With love and respect, Washington Humane
Society Staff.
Sparky April, 1994-December, 1998
Four years ago, at the very end of a cold December, 1994 , Sparky
and his sister, Dinky, came into the Animal Shelter at Homer, Alaska, where
I volunteer. Although he was gray tabby with white, and she a calico, it
was apparent that they were siblings--the same age, the same snub noses,
the same yellow eyes, the same shaggy coats--even the same swirl of white
down their faces. They were dirty, skinny and badly ear-mited. I'll always
remember, after I put them in the empty cage and started pouring dry cat
food from the storage container into a dish, turning to see those four
golden eyes staring at that cat kibble like it was the Holy Grail. When
I put the bowl in their cage, they attacked it like they hadn't seen food
in weeks, their little heads bumping together over the bowl. I think it
was then that they won my heart, poor little rag-a-muffins. They had been
left behind by a family that moved and a neighbor had been feeding them
(obviously not too often). I'm just so glad he went to the trouble to catch
them and bring them to us, rather than just letting them starve or freeze.
I took them home to join our cat family a few days later--she was the long-haired
calico that I'd always wanted, and Sparky was special not only for his
big polydactyl feet but his sweet personality. What a pair they were! Dinky
in her harlequin coat and Sparky, with his big white feet, looked like
they had escaped a circus. Their people-loving personalities and manic
antics belied the desertion and hardship that lay in their past. Dinky
was a bossy little thing, but Sparky was just a lover, always ready for
some lap-sitting and petting. I like to remember how his coat shimmered
in the sun when he ran across the yard during a daily outing, how he enjoyed
his hours of exploring the woods around our house. I could trust him to
stay close, so allowed him more freedom than some of our other cats get.
Now, I'm glad he had those sweet summer days. Maybe I should have noticed
how out-of-breath he got when he was excited, or how he would flop down
to rest after a short chase. I don't think it would have made much difference
in the long run. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure last Thursday,
and died Monday afternoon. Our vet thinks the heart problem was congenital,
because he was so young. His big heart was his downfall, but he leaves
a lot of friends to mourn him and remember him. He was a loving soul. Sleep
well, little guy. We'll always love you.
Little guy, you were so brave as you left
us.
It hurt to see you go so young but we could
not let you suffer.
We loved you in the short time we knew
you.
We will dream of you running free at the
Rainbow Bridge.
Your Moms, MaryAW and Cara
His hair was long, his fur was
grey,
his eyes were blue when he came
in that day.
He acted tough but his life had
been rough,
so I don't blame him for acting
that way.
In his heart there was love but
in his eyes there was fear.
If he could have spoke English
he would have said
"I don't want to be here".
His actions soon changed, but
his life would end,
it broke my heart when I lost
my friend.
His first, but last kiss he gave
to me
will stay forever like roots
on a tree.
I will not forget my "Silver
Boy"
the one to give me that love
and joy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Silver Boy was a cat at the Washington Humane Society. He was
brought in because he was too old to be used as a breeding cat. Silver
Boy died from F.I.P. The last memory I had was when he gave me and
my mom his first but last kiss. Silver Boy was between ten and sixteen
years old. He was a purebred Seal Point Himalayan. He was abused
by his owners and it took about three months for him to really trust us.
I miss him a lot and hope he likes it better where he is.
Carol and Erin Long
Silver Boy left us February 16, 1998
I don't remember a lot about my days before the shelter. They gave me a chance to enjoy life before it was my time to go. In my last months I had nothing but love, gentle hands, kind words, good food, warmth and a secure place to sleep. Pat took me home and kept me safe. Then I was allowed to pass over to the next world with the dignity of a queen. Do you know when we animals cross the Rainbow Bridge we are given a greater ability to understand humans? Our eyes are opened and all the sacrifices people made for us, all the love, all the tears are seen with clarity. My humans were so good to me, especially Pat...I can never repay all that love, except to say I'll be waiting here for you in the land where old kitties are made new again, and every day is sweet.
Pat Renaud and Shelter Staff at WCHS
"I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay." source unknown
TRIBUTE TO OUR TINY ANGELCAT
Little Tux crossing the Rainbow Bridge on tiny legs that never ran.
His tail held high, he sees bright colors, and hears the sound of other
animals playing.
Turning to look behind, he remembers the kind hands that held him,
the smell of Tabby, White, and the litter mates.
The abandonment is forgotten.
Love so brief is not less deep, our sweet baby.
You will always live in our hearts!
Your moms, Tabby, Anne, Carol, Amy, and Mary.
You brought so much love and beauty to this earth, sweet girl.
Hubcap was someone's special pet at one time: he was neutered and well socialized. When we got him at the shelter he'd been attacked by another animal. He was treated by a caring vet. We kept him in the office at the shelter, in a cardboard box. He was sweet and friendly to everyone, despite the harsh turn his life had taken. Sunday he went into shock. An infection had traveled to his brain. We were told he had slim chances of survival and he was suffering so! We relieved his suffering by giving him a dignified and easy death. In his last days he had nothing but love, and in his last moments he was petted, kissed, and prayed over. I asked St. Francis to carry him over the Rainbow Bridge where I'd meet him someday. Maybe some people think the shelter animals are the flotsam and jetsom of the pet world, but WE love them all. Each one is special. Each one is worthy. Please spay and neuter your pets...shelter work would break your heart. Goodbye, Hubcap. Good cat.
Your friend, Mary AW
Mary AW and Shelter Staff at WCHS
I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.
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Spay and neuter your companion animals. Leave breeding to
responsible, knowledgeable breeders. Every year approximately fifteen million
fine dogs and cats are euthanized in America. This is no way to treat our
best friends, so when it's time to adopt a new family member, go to a shelter
and SAVE A LIFE. Thank you for visiting my home page. MaryAW (Animal Woman
to my friends)
Who says animals don't have souls?
They take a part of ours when they leave. (Source unknown)
© 2009 Animal Woman maryaw at iowatelecom.net