As a way of saying thank you to those of you who responded to my heartbreak in the last few days and to those of you who will discover this wonderful site soon, I would like to share something that might help when our world seems so empty and sad.I read a wonderful book by Martin Goldstein D.V.M. called the The Nature Of Animal Healing. He is called the Michael Jordan of pet care and for those of us with surviving furbabies his advice is invaluable, however his chapter entiltled "The Death of a Pet" is particularly comforting. I cannot reprint the entire chapter here but here are a few examples:
" The bond between some owners and their pets might seem spiritual to one reader;to another it might seem emotional, or just instinctive. To my mind, though, the ways in which animal spirits appear at death and beyond are so tangible and vivid that I have no doubt, personally, of their existence. Doubt if you like, but I'm telling you: they're THERE.
All pets die. All pet spirits, I truly beleive, fly freely when they do, into a sphere we can't begin to understand or perceive; in time they reappear in other newborn pets. And if we , as the stewards ot those newborn pets, can feed them well and take care of them, we can ease their journeys through this next life, as they, with their utter delight in the world ease ours.
Death, for most of us, is the hardest reality that we have to face. Because animal's life spans are so much shorter than ours, their crossing over offers us the most extraordinary lesson, one we learn with every pet as we ourselves age. It may be that the most profound benefit of having a pet is that we come to understand better the experience of death, and, perhaps, lose some of our fear of it in the process. When our pets die and other pets come into our lives, the lesson becomes that much more inspirational, one that truly calls for celebration: death, our pets teach us, is necessary for new life to appear. Both for our pets and, eventually, for us, too.

Sorry for being so long winded and I hope that I have not broken any copyright laws by quoting these passages but if this can help just one person I will be happy. Please let me know if any of you have read this book, and am I the only one who would give her eye teeth to have a vet like this?

Miss Mew aka Mizzie, sleep well sweetie, no words can express how much I miss you ***oo Nicole

WOW! do I LOVE that!! Thanks so much for posting it!

A poster here wrote that her vet told her that "they stay with you until they know you will be alright"<-------something else I just loved reading!
Thanks again for a beautiful passage--I read it TWICE and I am going to print it out. It is beauuuuuuuutiful!

Thank you Nicole:

Reading that made me feel wonderful......I loved all of it, but................

I especially enjoyed and identified with the Quote:



For myself, I must say, that after our beautiful tortie calico, Ernestine was put to sleep on 2/7/2004..........I WAS ADAMANT... I DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER PET.........NEVER, NEVER, NEVER AGAIN........... ONLY TO LOVE, AND THEN TO LOSE!!!!! I JUST COULDN'T FATHOM IT!!!!! I REMEMBER GETTING SOMEWHAT (forget the "somewhat"), ANGRY WHEN BEN WOULD EVEN "SLIGHTLY" BRING UP THE SUBJECT.......................
"WELL, MAYBE, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.........WHEN YOU'RE READY"..........

My response, "when I'm ready??????? I'm not going to be ready..........I don't want to love anymore......Don't even talk about it again......"

Ernestine was born in April, 1984.....and, she was put to sleep on February 7, 2004.....
Yes, she and I spent A LIFETIME TOGETHER......I was 23 when I "bought her" for $10.00, at a pet store in Boston.... (that was for the cost of her shots), in June, 1984.

I'll tell you...........IT WAS CERTAINLY THE BEST $10.00 I EVER, EVER SPENT IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

Ben became "Ernie's wonderful, permanent daddy in March, 2001"....

Going back to that wonderful quote, (from that book I must purchase.....);
I remember clearly that the SILENCE IN THIS HOUSE WAS DEAFENING..........AFTER OUR SWEET ERNESTINE HAD GONE TO RAINBOW'S BRIDGE..........

I never thought that SILENCE could be so strange............

There was no sweet furkitty waking me up, wanting food, wanting to be petted....... We had no litter box to clean. There was no more "head-banging", nor were there anymore "wet-nose kisses"....
No sweet lil' Angel comforting me if I was sad; or, vice-versa..........
Oh, the list was endless....

In the grocery store, I cannot tell you how awful/strange it was to go by the pet food aisles, and not purchase anything......No Fancy Feast..........no treats...... Nothing.....

It wasn't long at all before I started looking at all the various shelters in Massachusetts, and seeing ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS FURKITTENS AND FURCATS THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED A HOME............ I MEAN, THERE WERE SOOO
MANY...............

It was so sad......Lots of furbabies and not enough good homes.

A day or two later, I started making 'THE CALLS'.....(Example)... "Is Rosie & Violet still available????", etc., etc., etc..... I actually think I was possessed.....
If I was on the computer, you could be sure that I was looking through the pictures of furbabies at the shelters........ No question!!

After reading so many people's posts here at LS, I was thinking......."Gee, it's kind of early to even be thinking of adopting a new furcat, never mind even thinking of two".....

Some people would say that, "yes, it is kind of early..........you still have grieving to do...."

But, most said that, "it's totally individual......whenever one feels ready"......

So, Ben and I made an appointment with a shelter, about an hour away, and it happened to be 3/6/2004..... Our sweet Ernestine had been at Rainbow's Bridge just one month, on that day.....

*******I want to say that (yes, another very, very wise person on Lightning-Strike), said to me - (something like),
Adopting a new furkitty (or two) is REALLY such a wonderful tribute to the love that you, Ben and Ernestine shared together............******

It was something to that effect. That our love would go on.......

Ernie-Bird and I spent sooooooooooooo many years together, loving one another, always being there for each other......

Of course, SHE COULD NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER BE "REPLACED"...., and will never be "replaced"...

But, I had soooooo much love to give to another sweet furkitty that was in need of my love (and, of course,
Ben had so much love, as well------he had had furcats all of his life.)....

Needless to say..............I am SURE that Ernestine led me to this beautiful tortieshell calico (just like she was)..... Purring her head off like crazy............... Yes, "Ms. Lucy" was coming home with us.....(she adopted me...., but, then again...........it was pretty mutual!!!!!)

And, on the perch just above her was a handsome, shy, gray kitty...... His name was "Yoda"..... And, Ben really loved him. Ms. Lucy was 7"ish", and Mr. Yoster was 8"ish"...

We definitely DID NOT HAVE ANY NEED TO ADOPT BRAND NEW KITTENS.........

There are sooooooooooo many adult furcats that need homes, and unfortunately they are over-looked.....
To us, in our opinion, it really is a CRYING SHAME!!!! Kittens DO grow up....

We did not know right then, but we found out later, that these two were "part of a group of 6 furkitties" that lived together, and their "owner" (doesn't deserve to be called that)....., just DROPPED THEM OFF SAYING, "I don't want them anymore".........
We did learn that they had all been abused by this person!!!!!

So, I know that this has been an extremely long story, but............

And, that is what has happened here............

We made the long (one hour + trip home ----- had to buy some new "kitty stuff), and we drive home slowly and safely......
*****PRECIOUS CARGO IN THE BACK SEAT, IN THEIR CARRYALLS........*****

It was perfect !!!!!!!

Our family was finally complete, and we were sooooooo happy...

It has been seven months since Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster (Yo-Yo Ma.....or, he will answer to Lucy, as well.... ), have joined our family...... Actually, they both have so many different names.... I think that it's pretty normal...
Ever since I was a child, my furcats always has several names each...

Ben and I......we could not be more elated about our "furcat family"..... We are just soooooooo happy!!!!!

Thank you God! We are extremely grateful!!!!

God Bless you All..........and, if you're still awake, after reading this novel..... THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE....

Peace & Love to all of you,

Denise, Ben, Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster xo

Nicole,

Thank you for the quote. I was even looking at that book yesterday. I think it's a sign to buy it, so I will. I lost my baby in August and I plan to get another one sometime in the next six months so that book will come in handy.

Thanks,
Vicki (Stymy's Mom)

Thank you, Nicole. I've been wanting to get another book on the subject, and I think I'll get that one. The thoughts are very comforting, and coming from a vet, especially one as admired as he is, well, I want to read all of it.

(Denise, I liked your response. You are so right about all the grown-up cats. There are way, way too many, and the kitties do grow up. I'm working with a group here called Friends of the Animals and they mostly do spay/neuter and release, especially with the homeless, feral cats.)

Take care ya'll.
Love,
Marcia

I was going through some of the old posts that I found lots of comfort in. I hope this helps someone else. It really did help me and helps me now to read it again.
Marcia

Nicole, Thank you so much for telling us about this book and I might just look into getting it myself. We all need something to help with the sadness and void in out lives.
Ann