An Arf-Arf Here and a Meow-Meow There... E I E I O!

[specious_reasons]

New kitten has arrived. So far she’s been a bit timid and had a bad experience with the puppies, but has been warming up to the family.

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[Crumb]

[LarsMac]

We have a bunch of barn cats.
There's an old Tom that roams about town. He porked a little Calico that hangs around the barn, and she dropped about five females.
Those all reached age, and he porked them.
We're trying to round them up get them to a vet for fixing, but all the vets within 100 miles, or so are cattle vets, instead of cat vets.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by specious_reasons

New kitten has arrived. So far she’s been a bit timid and had a bad experience with the puppies, but has been warming up to the family.

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[ChuckF]

We've scheduled PuppetteF's final vet visit for next Wednesday. She's having a lot of mobility problems and we don't want to wait until she's unable to walk. It's uncomfortable for her to squat to pee and poop. We're also worried about her falling and hurting herself such that we have to take her in on an emergency basis, which would be just awful for everyone.

She still has a champion appetite. So she'll have a big juicy hamburger for breakfast, and the vet will come to the house in the afternoon.

She came to us when my husband was still practicing at a vet clinic, and her family brought her in to be euthanized. She has Addison's disease and was in Addisonian crisis. For the first and so far only time in his career, he got them to agree to surrender her to him instead. The first thing I heard about her was "this dog is a total lemon." We never thought she would be with us this long - over 7 years (where did that time go??). But she made it through the Addisonian crisis and finally made it to her real home and her real dads.

We're not sure how old she is; the low estimate is 13. She's a tough old stinky hound dog with a ton of medical problems. She sheds by the pound. Her pill calendar and poop schedule run our life. We've spent thousands of dollars on her. We have to clean and powder her goopy vulva a couple times a week. And we'll miss her very much.

[vremya]

Hugs to you and your husband, and PuppetteF too.

[slimshady2357]

Way to give her a great 7 years Chuck.

Getting old sucks ass.

[ChuckF]

That is done. Very peaceful and (I hope and believe) easy for her. I am mildly shattered but will be fine. She had a good day. Slept in, a big breakfast, and the whole family went on a short walkie with lots of smells and 2 big poops. She came in and settled in for a nap and had some good dreams. I like when old dogs are young in their dreams, and go running in their sleep after they can no longer run while awake. Then it was time for a hamburger and the big nap. We could all wish for such a death.

[Stephen Maturin]

Originally Posted by ChuckF

We could all wish for such a death.

But, of course, we can't do something similar for the humans we care about because "sanctity of life" and all. Where the "sanctity" comes in is something of a mystery. Is it the sucking of air? Metabolizing food? Shitting and/or pissing? Or is it the grand Galtian precept that any living human who has a penny or two left for the healthcare and/or long-term care industry to pilfer must be kept alive - misery notwithstanding - until the theft is utterly complete?

In any event, I am very sorry for you guys but also glad that, thanks to you, PuppetteF had such a great run during her final 7+ years.

[davidm]

Originally Posted by ChuckF

I like when old dogs are young in their dreams, and go running in their sleep after they can no longer run while awake.

A lovely sentence. Reminds me of the description of the old man’s dreams in The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway.

My condolences for your loss.

[BrotherMan]

PuppetF was a good dog. The best. Whatever history brought her to your door is forgotten. She lived her best life with you. I'm happy she lived what years she had with you there. I'm always sad to say goodbye. Our best furry friends are the only reason I want to believe there's something more beyond the mortal coil.