I'm needing some commiseration today...

[hamsterjill]

I had to have a stray kitty euthanized this morning. It simply hurts my heart.

He was a gorgeous Siamese-looking, strikingly handsome sweetheart. Obviously had been an owned cat because he loved to be held and brushed. I noticed him hanging around the neighborhood about 10 days ago, and finally got him trapped over the weekend and into the vet this morning. I could tell from his wasting little body what the combo test was going to show. He was having a hard time eating and was lethargic. No identification of any kind.

Sure enough, he was positive for feline leukemia and from the looks of things, in an advanced stage. And although I absolutely hate having to be judge, jury and executioner, a peaceful exit was the most compassionate thing I could do for him.

Just a stray that someone probably threw out when they found out he was sick. Just a stray cat that no one will miss....except me.

I didn't have him long, certainly not long enough to form any type of meaningful bond. Certainly not long enough to be affected by the pathetic little "mew" and certainly not long enough to have SO HOPED that I could pick him up from the vet today with some explanation about why he wasn't eating, why he was skinny, and some wonderful, simple medication that would take care of everything. Instead, I'll go home tonight knowing that he saw his last sunrise this morning.

So, we've all been there, right? We've all cried tears of pain over one that wasn't really ours, right? One that just needed some love?

So, no need for long explanations. No need for words of thanks for someone only doing that which she knew needed to be done. I'm not looking to be appreciated for that. Just tell me that you understand.

And for heaven's sakes, please take care of your pets.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. .

:hug:

[hamsterjill]

4. Thanks!

I recognize your user name and know you to be a serious animal advocate yourself!

[glinda]

2. YOU ARE A GOOD SOUL. This was very sad but you did a caring thing. Sorry for your loss.

[hamsterjill]

5. Thank you.

Yes it was a very sad morning.

It hurts to think that people can throw animals out on the street, just like they do their garbage. It's certainly nothing new, but it's rampant in certain parts of our city.

I keep hoping that one day mankind will become a little more enlightened.

[haele]

3. You gave him a little love and comfort at the end -

:hug:
That's a good thing - the best thing. He would have had another few weeks to a month of loneliness, confusion and discomfort, and you gave him a few days of "home" which is what he probably wanted most of all - to go "home".

It's okay to cry.

Haele

[hamsterjill]

6. I hope he felt at home...

I agree with you in that most, who have known a home, merely long to return to "home".

[FloriTexan]

7. Its a hard thing to do, but

doing the right thing is sometimes not the easy thing. :hug:

[yellerpup]

8. Never is easy, even when it's the right thing to do.

Even if you barely know them, even when it's the only choice. :hug:

RIP baby kitty.

[japple]

9. You gave him the best gifts of all: love, care, compassion,

and a release from his sick body. I know he is grateful to you for being with him and helping him to leave. It doesn't take long for these sweet souls to wrap their furry little selves around your heart, and I know you are in pain.

My heart goes out to you. May you find peace and comfort in knowing that you made the right decision. :hug:

[virgdem]

10. I know that this is very difficult for you..

but you did the right thing. This poor cat was sick and hurting, and you gave him 10 good days he might never have had otherwise. I think that you can be at peace with yourself that you did what you could for this cat and alleviated any further suffering.

[ceile]

11. I know exactly how you feel.

Last summer, right after I put down my baby of 11 years, we had a very sweet tom cat roaming our street. Gorgeous, silky black fur with yellow eyes....he loved to be petted-he'd roll over and show you his belly. Also at this time was a small female on the street who I was bonding with. Anyway, we went out of town for a few days and decided that if they were still there when we got back that we would take them to the clinic and have them fixed and get their shots. This would have put our cat total at 4, but these two were just too sweet to let go. Well, the tom looked like hell when we got back-runny eyes, his head was scratched to hell (I thought it was mange) and was very lethargic. I took him to the vet and they monitored him for a few days, but he had to be put down. We were very upset even though we never really got "know" him. My fiance cried when I took him in because he had a feeling what the final outcome would be.
But on a happy note, the female, became cat #3. Her name is Grace and she really helped me heal after losing my girl. Her nickname is Crazy-she is a handful.

[ginnyinWI]

13. she's a beauty

I can see why you couldn't resist another addition to your household.

[njlib]

12. Same situation here

I was trapping, spaying/neutering/vaccinating the crew who showed up at my house almost 3 years ago. The first two, Kingsford & Piglet, tested negative and were able to be fixed and released. The third, Pooh, was positive and the vet spent 20 minutes on the phone with me until she finally convinced me he'd die a slow painful death in the "wild". The fourth, Roo, was positive, too and that's when I told the vet "Fix him and make sure he's there for me to pick up after work. I can't go through this again". Since he couldn't be released, I put him in my basement because I've got two dogs and two cats upstairs and couldn't have my other cats get sick. At this point, I had already been watching the group interact with each other and Roo was the caretaker of the bunch, they all loved him. I couldn't just take him in and leave the rest outside, so one by one, I re-trapped Kingsford & Piglet...and Baby, Piglet's daughter! Thanksgiving '06 was when they all came inside. My Roo boy fattened up nicely and everyone seemed to become very comfortable being inside, lounging on their couch, snuggly beds, and condo all day! He made it a little over a year. He had been losing weight, but would still eat and use the litterbox. It got to the point where I was cooking for him, giving him supplements and vitamins, and the other three were constantly snuggling him. I went downstairs to give them breakfast on 12/4/07 and found him. He must've been feral all his life because he never let me pet him, so I sat on the floor with him...have to stop now because I can't see the screen!

Now, Baby is the one I have to keep an eye on because the vet said she's got it, too. So far, she's fine, just a delicate little girl. Although, the lion in her comes out when Kingsford gets on her nerves! She, and her mother, can growl like Cujo when Kingsford gets too "handsy"! He can be a real pain in the ass when he wants to and I know he misses Roo. They used to do RAGING BULL...both would be flopped on their sides, big bellies hanging out, and they'd "box" in slow motion. It was the funniest thing! They all miss him...I think he might've been Piglet's son from a previous litter. The girls both have been very depressed since he's gone and that kills me!

Anyway, you did the right thing. I don't understand how anyone can just "dump" their pet. Providing comfort and care to an innocent creature in need and helping to ease their suffering is ALWAYS the right thing to do!