R.I.P. Champ

I'm back dating this to when he passed...

It is hard to believe it has only been three years since Champ joined our crew at the farm.

Champ came into Tabby's Place while I was still working there from a local business, Champion Tires. The business was already caring for several ferals and when two more were abandoned there, it was just too many, so they brought the two, one boy and one girl, over to Tabby's Place for us to intake. The boy, however, tested positive for FIV and the room their for FIV babies was already full (one cat too full, actually). Norman, my FIV+ feral, had recently lost his best friend, Buddy, and I thought maybe the FIV status and no room at Tabby's Place was a sign I should take this semi-feral boy to be Norman's new friend. With the permission of my mom, that's exactly what I did and I named the rough looking white cat with gray spots "Champion".

Ever since that day in June of '08, Champ really has been Norm's best bud. It was often pretty common that if you saw one, the other wasn't far away - in the leaves by the drive way, under a bush in the garden, in the garage or wandering the property - they really did become good friends.

This winter, I thought we were going to lose Champ. He was really snotty and although he was never a stunning cat, he seemed extra rough looking - not cleaning himself, gross nose, etc. However, I got him on some antibiotics and he really turned around. Since then, I'd be steadily pulling his mattes out. He'd talk sometimes in protest, but that was rare. He really was such a good boy...

Recently, Champ had been spending time in the leaves keeping cool with Norm, wandering the property, eating a lot and following Weenie around (she didn't appreciate his "puppy" love and would often smack him). I will say that having Weenie out during the day gave me some really good nights recently. I'd go out to find her and in order: Diamond, Champ and then Norman would show up. I'd give them all an extra handful of food and some pets if they wanted them. I loved this nights (aside from the moments of worrying where Weenie was until she'd show up to go in).

Champ got slow his last week or so. I thought his mouth was bothering him and I was really unsure of what to do. I couldn't decide if I should put him through the stress of taking him to the vet or just letting him be. He was so happy with Norm. I didn't want to upset him, stress him and maybe make things worse.

I found Champ's body under the pines on the hill down to the lake. Although I hate the thought of him passing without me assisting him by mercifully putting him to sleep, I like to think Norm was with Champ to the very end and he didn't pass alone.

Here's a collection of photos of Champ...

R.I.P. Champion...

One More Post About Mr. Bones

It is a Dogs On Thursday day and I felt the need to write about Mr. Bones since I have posted about him before when he was heading home. Mr. Bones actually had a blog going himself about the journey to his new home from across the country. After years and years at Best Friends in Utah, Bones finally found a home of his own! He has resided there for a few months in adopted bliss, being loved and very spoiled ~ as he definitely deserved!

I am so sad to be writing this, but I just recently found out that Mr. Bones passed away a couple days ago. Apparently he was doing poorly for several days and he was finally let go today ... but not before one last phone conversation with one of his biggest fans, Joyce M of the Jersey Girls, so that she could say goodbye. Mr. Bones' ashes will be returning with the Jersey Girls to Best Friends in a few months so that he will be placed in Angels Rest to rest forever in the place where he was loved for years.

Rest in peace, special boy. You were loved by so many and we are so thankful that your mom found you to give you a forever home before you passed. You're in our thoughts, Bones.

Nora

Wednesday night I was stressed at work. I was in a rush in order to get done with work and then home so I could start the vacation I had planned out for the week.

Things were going so well with me working with two of the newer people. Yea, B's been a volunteer since long before me, but she's young and still getting used to actually being an employ, I think.

B was working out front while I was working with D in the suites when a girl came in with some stray cat. I did exactly what we were suppose to – referred the girl and her brother away, to a vet actually since they said the cat looked bad. They also said they had nothing to keep the cat in, so I went and got one of our cardboard carriers set up for them to use.

When I went out to the girl's car to put the cat in a carrier and finally set my eyes on her, the cat looked beyond awful. The conclusion to all this was D on her way to the emergency medical facility we use with the cat after I spoke to my boss and had the girl sign the cat over.

Here's Nora on Thursday after a night in the care of the emergency hospital:


Sadly, "Nora", as she was named, died peacefully in her sleep under medical care a little over 24 hours later. She had a list of things severely wrong with her and at least she was under a great deal of supportive medical care. She had the chance to be comfortable when passing.

My Buddy ...

I lost Buddy Thursday night. I had to take him to Dr. John's to put him to sleep. He declined basically over night, I think, so I left work early Thursday to head home and check him out myself ... he didn't even come when I called him, was definitely not himself and was wheezing when he was breathing. He had a lot of fluids in his lungs apparently, Dr. John said the best we could do would only buy him maybe days.

I'm heartbroken! They're all special - all the ones you rescue, the ones you keep (or who just won't leave you!) ... but Buddy really was a once in a lifetime kind of guy. I'm just heartbroken ... and I still have no idea how the hell I'm supposed to function without my flame-point man.

Let me talk a little more about this guy to explain why he was so great.

First off, he was damn handsome! Everyone referred to him as "that white cat" when really he was a flame-point Siamese. His coloring made him an even odder match up with Norman, his best friend, FIV+ boy also from behind a Sleepy's store and just about the biggest dang, long-haired black and white cat you can imagine. Massive, dark Norman and tiny, light Buddy were quite a pair! Quite a pair ...

Buddy came from behind a Sleepy's mattress store. A super wonderful woman named Karen L had to make lots of attempts to trap him because that task just seemed impossible. I had promised to take him because I have a love for flame-points and we had no real barn cats at my parents' place at the time. So, when he ended up being Feline Leukemia positive, I still didn't see the big deal in taking him - I figured we'd keep him until he got sick (which probably wouldn't be long) and then put him to sleep. In my mind, that was better than just euthanizing him like just about everyone thought we should do. Seriously, you should have heard the crap I got for having a FeLeuk+ barn cat, but he was happy and that's all that mattered to me!

When we first got him, he was a total freakin nightmare!! He's lunge at you and spit all the time - I hate that combination. No matter how much experience I have with cats, that crap still scares me. Buddy got out after only being locked up for a few days (the manner in which that happened is still suspicious) and was just gone ... gone for good, I thought, until my sister's one friend who lived a couple houses down said, "Hey, think you can catch this cat for me? It's a white cat that's been hanging around." I looked at him and said, "That's no white cat, he's a flame point ... and, yea, I'll catch him - he's already mine." :) I caged him up for a more appropriate amount of time for him to get used to his new home, me & feeding schedule and the boy never left again.

After several months, he started to be a lot nicer ... he'd hang around more when other people were around, talk (like a Siamese!) and rub up against me every so often ... but go to try and pet him and he'd swat at you! It was always a test I did, mostly while he was distracted by eating, until one day he didn't swat. In fact, Buddy kinda leaped up on his back legs a bit to push his head further into my hand ... and from there it just progressed to the point where Buddy would come dashing at you when you called out his name and he'd follow me all over, running with me or whatever and just roll belly up right in front of your path if you stopped for a moment cause he'd want his belly rubbed. He liked to watch while we were working outside (a very good supervisor while putting up barns and fences) and there was no car safe from him leaping on it to check it out - he actually used to sleep on my dad's covered Camaro convertible the winter before we had Norman too. And FeLeuk+ and all, we had Buddy for several years. Him and Norman, the last couple years have just been the best of friends too - rubbing up against each other, laying in the sun together and snuggling to the point where they'd squeeze themselves both into a tiny, one-cat-sized heated bed!

Buddy was just exceptional! I mean, even the tattoo I got of his paw print has a story behind it. Look at my foot and it's a little silly if you know much about cats and their behavior. I have one smooshed up, tiny, pissy paw print and one relaxed, spread-out paw print ... the pissy one if from my HOUSE cat and the relaxed one is Buddy's. He was just so chill while I inked up his paw and got prints for my tattoo ... I guess, I'll admit that I got it knowing he would probably be the first I lost since he was FeLeuk+ ...

Did I mention I've never lost any of my cats before? Cause that's true. I've lost ones while doing rescue, yea, and a couple family dogs in my lifetime too, but I never really had a cat until I was 16, so she's still fairly young herself and I'd never lost one of my own until Buddy Thursday.

My mom kept asking what we should do (and I knew when I saw Buddy ...) and Dr. John asked what I wanted to do with his body (I brought him home. Truly, I kinda wanted his ashes, but couldn't bare the thought of him going in a trashbag to wait in a freezer for that ...) and then my dad just kept asking where I wanted to bury Buddy. Too many decisions for my broken heart that day ...

I've kept myself distracted the last couple days ... cause when I think about it, I just start crying. I hung out with friends Thursday night and all Friday to keep from being home to not notice Buddy around. When I left my parents' to come back up to my apartment today though, I said goodbye again. I had my parents bury him in the front garden ... he used to walk through it a lot to jump on the cars, sit by the front door or greet you as you came out, so that spot seemed appropriate. My mom got this slab I've had for awhile now (since we lost Honey & Ellie) that reads: If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. She put it over where we buried him and I put one of the pink/purple roses from my garden by it. I started crying again ...

If you read all that, thanks for listening and learning about him. He was amazing ... and I'm hoping that he'll be waiting for me at the bridge like all my friends keep telling me.


I Loved You Best
by Jim Willis

So this is where we part, My Friend,
and you'll run on, around the bend,
gone from sight, but not from mind,
new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on, I'll find the strength,
life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,
but they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
take with you this...I loved you best.

Sammie

Today we lost our Sammie at the sanctuary, Tabby's Place.



Last night Sammie was not doing so well. He was very picky when we were feeding him, which of course is always a concern since he's diabetic - we needed to make sure he ate before he got his insulin. We ended up giving him beef baby food which he licked at.

Today apparently he was having trouble breathing and was taken to the emergency vet hospital we use. Tests were still being done there when I had my break between shifts, but apparently he was doing very poorly - suffering from either congestive heart failure or/AND some form of quick forming cancer mass in his chest, I believe. Angela referred to Sammie as the "come back kid", but it seems he met his match today. Jon and Ginny went to the hospital to be with him when the decision was made.

I'd refer you to his page, but I'm not sure how much longer it will be up on the site. He's been with us about three years and I'll put a few words up about how Sammie came to us:

Since Sammie is diabetic, his health depends on careful monitoring of his eating and behavior, as well as administration of insulin. Unfortunately, Sammie was owned by an elderly woman whose health was fading. She was not giving Sammie the attention and care he needed and his health (and, in fact, his life) was in jeopardy.

To make matters worse, the owner's daughter was strongly suggesting that Sammie be put down, since her mother was not able to care for him properly. Fortunately, a kind neighbor intervened on Sammie’s behalf. While she couldn't take Sammie, herself, she called us and pleaded Sammie's case. As usual, we had a long waiting list, but the woman said she would be happy to visit Sammie regularly, to keep an eye on him and administer his insulin, for as long as it would take for his spot to open up. We were very happy when Sammie was able to finally join us at Tabby's Place.

Sammie
1993 - January 18th, 2008
Forever Loved, bud

Ah, geez, I had to just go back and put everything about Sammie in past tense ...

On a good note, though, Candice is cancer-free! The mass we removed was apparently inflammation, some form of extreme tonsillitis, which Dr. C was amazed to find out - good news, but amazing since it was so awful looking. Candice is on antibiotics now and will have the teeth she needs pulled out on Monday.