Everyone please hug your pets and tell them you love them

[LynneSin]

I was checking out a neighborhood here in Wilmington and I met this elderly man out walking his beautiful doberman (fawn color). Well, he wasn't really walking, he was sitting on the street corner with his beloved pet. He was telling me about how this was his second doberman that he has rescued and all about the different colors of dobermans.

But this was his last weekend to be with his beloved pet. The dog was about 15 years old but she had malignant cancer and was going to be put to sleep this Monday. He postponed doing that so he could spend one last weekend with this wonderful animal.

I tried to hold back my tears but when I got in my car I just started to cry. Why can't our pets live as long as we do. I just hope I get a long life out of my Abbott & Evita

:cry:

[ronnykmarshall]

1. I'm gonna go do that right now.

That's so sad.

[Darth_Kitten]

2. will do....

:hug:

[Individualist]

3. I'd have cried too

Just gave my Honey (persian cat) a hug.

[NJCher]

4. no, it's not

I wish I had some magnificent human being to take me out of my misery if I ever have cancer that can't be treated.

I agree it will be hard for the human, though.


Cher

[LynneSin]

6. I'd hope the same too, but it was just so sweet

that he was doing all this stuff with his pet for one last weekend.

[bratcatinok]

5. I love on my critters daily and sometimes it's

hourly. After my pup was hit by a car I realized how quickly it can be over. Thankfully my pup survived and is doing great now!



My baby

[barb162]

27. whoof, whoof, cutie

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. I had a "last supper" with my cat

The cat I'd adopted as a kitten when I was in college lived to be very old. Other than a little arthritis in the last few years and some hearing loss, she'd really been quite healthy until her last few weeks of life. I took her to the vet and they said that her liver was shutting down. They hydrated her and said that they didn't know if she'd make it through the night, but I figured we might as well have one last night together. Then I took her to the vet the next evening and had her put to sleep. She was 22. I was 44. I'd had her half my life.

[VOX]

15. Similar story here. Got a kitten when I was 19...

Had to have her put down when I was two months away from 40. Very healthy cat, and quite valiant during her last week.

I still miss her.

Thanks for giving your cat such a loving home for so long. :toast:

[napi21]

8. I don't know why dogs & cats don't live as long as people, but

I do rescue volunteer work for Bichons. After hearing every stupid reason on earth why someone doesn't want their dog anymore, you get to be happy they don't. Some excuses I've heard are: I'm moving and can't take the dog, I just got new carpet and I don't want pets anymore, I'm too busy and the dog always wants attention, he's getting old and I don't want to spend $$ on a vet.

Yes, give your pet a big hug, and then say a prayer for all the poor pets that are really not wanted.

[faithnotgreed]

13. amen.

[Tangledog]

32. Napi -- how many Bichons are there around?

I think I've only ever seen one on "Dogs With Jobs" (my favorite television program). The only breed-specific rescue farm around here is for Rotties.

I'm still trying to figure out how our Shepherd/Husky/mutt, who is incredibly affable, ended up at the city pound and then at a shelter. Apparently he was disposable. I don't even like to think about it. I already hugged him a few times today and we went for a couple of walks.

[VOX]

9. My cat's only 4, and I'm so tightly bonded to him that I'm already...

worried about when he'll be gone. Is that neurotic, or what?

Thanks, Lynne -- this bittersweet story is a good reminder to enjoy what's here now!!!
:hug:

[flvegan]

10. Our pets pine for us...

Living as long as we do might mean them outliving us. Imagine your pet's grief in that you'd never come home, never come back.

This fella did a great thing, both for him, and for his dobie.

I'm gonna hug all 16 of my dogs. 5 are "mine", 11 are rescues up for adoption. I hope they all find homes with a person or persons as great as the man in this story...

[faithnotgreed]

18. hey - ive meant to tell you thanks for what wonderful work you do

with animals. its beautiful and i thank God for people like you.

ive got 4 rescued cats and live in an apt. wish i could take more....

[flvegan]

24. Thanks. Nothing positive is ever easy...

Such as having 4 rescued kitties in an apt. Thanks for taking them in!!!

But we all do what we are driven to do. My organization right now has dogs that were:
1. Used as bait for dog fighting;
2. Bred, and then starved when the puppies didn't make it;
3. Kept in such a state that they got heartworms, and left untreated, which would've died a horrible death;
4. Victims of domestic violence (one boy was thrown through a glass table, as the boyfriend was mad at his girlfriend).

Not tooting any horn, just giving examples of compassion run amok.

It matters to them.

[barb162]

25. wow 16

that is amazing, you are wonderful! Do you have a big back fenced yard?

[flvegan]

26. Fluctuates

From 13-19 at a time (dogs). The back yard is fenced, but not as big as I'd like it (when is it ever). I'm lucky to have a house that's ideal with 3 different "yards" to let the dogs out in (front, back, side) as well as a split plan in that even inside, everyone gets lots of love and exercise. Even dogs that don't, well, "get along" can be out at the same time, thanks to steel "baby gates" and whatnot. There are also 5 dog parks in my city, which I abuse regularly. I get more than my tax-dollar's worth to say the least.

Admittedly, most of the time, there are one or two pups on crate rest due to heartworm treatment or recuperation due to having been hit by a car, etc. They spend most of their time quietly (though I spend my downtime on the couch with them, specifically).

I'm really not wonderful, just able. Thanks, though.

[bratcatinok]

34. I disagree with you.

You are wonderful. Lots of people maybe able but they don't follow through on their ability and you do. That makes you wonderful in my book.

I wish I were able, unfortunately due to my disability I'm not. The most I'm capable of doing is helping my ex-mom-in-law with her feral cat colony. I wish I could do more because my babies have brought so much joy and love into my life.

[barb162]

11. My cats get loved to death

but they don't give a shit; they just want me to open the door to be on the deck and watch the birds.

But you are absolutely right; when my one cat was diagnosed with cancer last year and I was told he had one good month left, I basically devoted my life to that baby that last month.

[meti57b]

12. My beautiful sweet four-year old cat ....

suddenly started looking thin and having trouble breathing. We rushed him to the vet, turns out he had some sort of "mass" as large as his whole abdomen. I couldn't feel it because it just felt like regular cat stomach.

Biopsy was negative, sonogram didn't look like it was FIP. The vet did a 3 1/2 hour surgery and about one hour into it, she sent someone to tell me she found a tumor. She removed the tumor, removed a small bit of the intestine and removed the "mass". She said there was some of the tumor that could not be removed.

So, my cat has cancer. It sounds like he won't live long. She sent something to the lab to determine exactly what type of cancer it is. She is talking about chemotherapy. Right now, I am still feeling good that he survived the surgery.

This is the beautiful little cat you see in my avatar. Please send healing thoughts.

[barb162]

21. Oh.'ll say a prayer for you and your baby both

I hope you don't get news like I did. My 8 year old cat had a large "mass" near the pancreas and they were 99.999% sure it had already spread to other organs. They advised against surgery (I had him to 4 different specialists, board certified oncologists, internists, etc) and all suggested I just take him home and keep him comfortable. The oncologist figured chemo with a new drug they use in humans for advanced pancreatic cancer MIGHT buy him possibly a year. I finally made the decision not to do it as he was hating going in the car more and more and more to the point when he heard my cars keys he ran from me. A suggestion...You might want to join the yahoo feline cancer group...totally excellent and these people really know a lot. Give your baby a little chin rub from me.

[meti57b]

36. Hi, thank you for the info. I'm so sorry to hear about your little cat.

My little guy for the time being is still getting 24 hour care at the vets recovering from the surgery. He looks comfortable and is breathing comfortably now. The next step is to get the analysis back from the lab on exactly what type of cancer the tumor was. Then we will be finding out what kind of treatment is available, how distressing the treatment would be for the little guy and how much time it would get for him.

Thank you for your reply and also for the info on the Yahoo group.

[barb162]

37. let me and us know what the vet(s) say, okay?

chin rub for brave little pussycat, meow

[LisaLynne]

40. I'll be thinking of you and your little guy. nt

[UrbScotty]

14. Hugs for all

:hug:

[dolo amber]

16. I will do just that

Of course, I'll have to pry my 10 month old unaltered pug off of the bulldog he's now incessantly humping to do it, but I'll do it. ;):D

[DBoon]

17. My pitbull gets a belly rub

his second favorite thing after treats

[skygazer]

19. They live just long enough

so that we can't live without them. At least the dog had a loving human who let her go gently.

[fugue]

20. I dread that day

I've had my dog (see my avatar) for only three years, but now that I telecommute, we're together almost constantly.

I arranged for him to go to a doggie event without me last week. The apartment felt so empty. . . . (I'm told he had a wonderful time, though.)

I'm glad the dobie had a good home all those years. I, too, wonder how anyone could part with their animals. The evening I got my dog from his previous family (Sept. 23, 2001, 7 pm), he cried all night, begging me to let him go out (that is, back to them). I wish I had had a video camera, so I could have a film to show people when they're thinking about giving up their dogs. "OK, but first watch what your dog will go through . . ."

My boy is the best. I can't think of anything I wouldn't do for him.

Of course, what he wants right now is to go out, so I'd better do that.

*HUGS* to all your critters!

[samplegirl]

22. I kiss my cat & kittys all day long.

Everytime i get one in my lap or arms......i just love em up

[peacebuzzard]

23. Was doing just that, Lynnesin, in the middle of a storm w/ lights out...

the lights just came back on after an hour. Wind is howling and I am snug and safe here with Bella Rudy and Pal and Mikey, I hope, in the remnants of Ivan. I love my pets more than anything. Sad story about the old man and his dobey. I hate saying goodbye to my kids. My Jake died a month after 9/11; I miss him and all my other critters that went on. It is never ever easy. Hugs to all.

[curse10]

28. Stop making me cry Lynne!

:-(

[LWolf]

29. I did that twice so far tonight, and

I've only been home an hour!

There's one good reason our pets don't, hopefully, live as long as we do. When they go first, they are assured of a life well-loved, and that we will be there to make their passing as easy as possible. If we go first, they'll get farmed out to new families, if they're lucky. No guarantees that it will be a good match, that the new family will love them like we did.

I have a solemn promise to keep to my mom; when her time comes, hopefully not for a few more decades, I am to take all of her animals for the duration. Right now, that would be 4 cats, 2 dogs, and a horse to add to my 2 dogs, cat, hens, and 2 horses.

Still, I can't imagine spending my declining years with no pet; arrangements will have to be made!

[undergroundpanther]

30. I got

Three kitties all boys, Rustle is a big tawny tabby,with pink nose'n' toes,a warm fuzzy huggy teddy bear of a cat with a small voice who loves to wrestle,he's very outgoing and everyone who meets hin fallsa in love,Vinnie is my a black velvet wondercat with a talky mouth and he steals straws and is very bouncy and cuddly.Sparkle is my dimunitive smoke touched lynx pointed graceful singapura blue eyed beauty he loves to sleep close and he is a lap fixture,he's the loudest talkiest cat I got you wouln't know it by lookin'at him.Rustyle n Vin were rescues.Spark, he was adopted from a person who had a box of kittens at my partner's work.
I find when I go through suicidal depressions struggling with recovery from traumas,my kitties are my heros.Their hearts are huge and love is in thier eyes and touch. They are what keep me around another day when times are worst. I love them more than even my own life.They are truly my best freinds. I will not die on them.I don't care how it feels,I faced abandonment as a kid,and I am determined that they won't face what I faced..

[Nightowl_2004]

31. Thats heart breaking!

One painful memory that I have is when I was about 10 years old and we had to put down our beloved family dog, who was 15 years old. The poor guy was in so much pain, he howled all night long his last couple of nights and my mom (who was his favorite, she'd had him for 3 years before she met my dad and they started a family) made the call cause she didn't want him in so much pain.

Thinking about NOW, 6 years later, almost makes me want to cry.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. I've been hugging them ever since

I read that awful story about the abused puppy this afternoon.

My pets think I'm nuts.

[Bride of Cthulhu]

35. done every chance i get.

n/t

[gmoney]

38. "Please hug your KIDS/PARENTS/SIBLINGS/FRIENDS and tell them you love 'em"

Most people already show a lot more open affection for their pets than the people in their lives, and most pets get a steady stream of strokes and hugs and attention. I'm not saying pets don't deserve it, but there's very little need to remind most people to do so.

On the other hand, I know very few people who couldn't benefit from more hugs and affirmations of love from their loved ones. They may share a lot with their kids (for instance), but have a spouse, parent, sibling or friend that's kept at arm's length because of some grudge or slight, or even just an inability to communicate "that way."

Once these people are gone, they are gone forever. Is telling yourself "oh, they know I love them" really enough? Or can you reach out and tell them? Mend an old rift, close a communication gap, or just make a good relationship even better. Do THAT today, then hug your pets afterwards. Your pets will understand.


(Flame disclaimer: Yes, I know some situations are beyond repair, and people have been abused, disowned, etc. But doesn't that make it all the more important to reach out to the people that DO mean a lot to you? Also, I know that many people don't care properly for their pets, or abuse them, and there are many strays out there, etc. But I doubt those people can be saved at all...)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

39. I just gave

Hannah Rose, the dog, a good belly scratch and I gave Clarissa Marie, the cat, a long scratching session as well.

Sorry but the fish and the lizard just aren't as cuddly.

Poor guy.....we had to put Thunder (cat) to sleep this past December and it just about broke all our hearts to pieces. He was a good boy.