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We save them from euthanasia, dumped
at shelters, where no one wants them. Once they're here, a few special
souls who walk this earth open their hearts and homes to them.
The people who adopt senior animals and lavish them in love in their golden years, are our heroes. Because all too soon, they must say so long.... |
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Sweet Connie We had only known her a week. Maybe a little more. We met her, when she was dumped at a shelter and faced her end there. We believed we could offer her more. Certainly, more time. IT was not to be. Connie had only lived in A.A.R.F.F., with the other senior dogs, for a few days. Everyone, dog and human alike, had already fallen in love with the old girl. She was so sweet, how could you help not to? But she began to fail quickly and was rushed to an emergency veterinarian where she was placed on round-the-clock fluid therapy. By morning, she was gone. |
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The pain we feel for the old
and infirm, the less-than young or perfect who are left at shelters
everyday haunts us. But it is also what fuels us to DO something about
it, and save as many of these beings as we can. But sometimes we fail.
No matter how much we care, or try. And that, hurts us deeply. We always think that "once they're here, they'll be o.k." or "with enough love, enough good food, care, doting and petting," or...or...we, maybe naively, believe good will come. And we have so many reasons to believe this, to invest in these old animals. Take Jack and Rover, two old boys who were dumped together. How heartless can people be? But they've grown, we think, even younger since they've been here. They, like so many of these seniors, prove to us day after day how they can thrive. So we will miss Connie. And mourn her, especially for what we never knew about her. For never having the chance to learn. But she is free now. And we know in a better place than this world. And we hope one day, we will see her again. |
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Sarah fought so hard, she just didn't want to give up. Read her courageous story, here. |
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We never thought this guy
was ever given a chance. A fair shot. Until he met Melanie. The only problem is we never knew, meeting his angel would be in his last year on earth. Bomps came to Pasado's A.A.R.F.F. program as a senior, maybe 10, we'll never know for sure. His "Mistress" decided he wasn't worthy of keeping when she discovered she was pregnant. And such a loss for her, too. Bomps, as we soon came to find, would give you hugs. No, no, we know - when you pick up a cat and they put their arms about your shoulders. He did that, too - but he literally HUGGED you. Wrapping his paws around your neck and hold on. He also had the wonderfully annoying ability of nuzzling your ear and roaring a purr that we're sure, would cause hearing loss over years of loving. But sadly, years, was something Bomps didn't have. |
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This week Melanie, the
founder of Misty's Kitty City at A.A.R.F.F. (named for a beloved cat)
said goodbye to Bomps. Mel took Bomps in when life in Kitty City just wasn't what he needed a year or so ago. He had been diagnosed with early stage kidney disease and then mouth tumors erupted. It was one thing after another. Bomps arrived at Mel's and joined the motley crew Mel had developed - she had already taken more than few of our other needy seniors into her lovely suburban home. |
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One of our lasting
impressions of Bomps, and Mel, is when we had the pleasure of having a Pasado's brain-storming meeting at her house. Decrepit cats, like Clementine, who threatened to leave this earth more than a few times already, walk unsteadily, and talk and talk. At around Noon time, everything would stop because one needed sub-Q fluids, another an insulin injection, and two or more, their special food. Mel's frig was loaded with fresh salmon, vitamins, and other nutritional concoctions that kept these ancient cats still lively, purring, and eating. Sheets and towels covered beautiful Persian rugs and billowy sofas. These cats could go where they like, lay where they like. And enjoy a 180 degree view of Puget Sound, Mt. Baker, a giant volcano that looms over the Seattle area, and the Cascade Mountains. Mel's home sits at the top of a mountain of sorts and the views are spectacular. They have no idea how good they've got it. |
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And then Bomps would appear.
And he'd own the room. When we met him he was scrawny and depressed. Seeing him at Mel's was like seeing a different cat: thick fur, bright, beautiful eyes, but the hugs, were still the same. When Melanie found Bomps wasn't eating and didn't respond to what vets had advised, she rushed him to an emergency clinic. That night she told us "Before I let them take him, he hugged me, longer than he'd ever hugged me before." She was afraid that he was telling her something. And he was. An ultrasound revealed Bomps had cancer that had spread throughout his abdomen. He was placed on pain-killers. And Melanie took him home. She wanted him to be in the bed he knew, when she said goodbye to him. The following, is what she wrote to us the next day... |
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"Dear friends, Late last night, we said good-bye to dear sweet Bomps. When I brought him home from the vet clinic in the afternoon, I put him in his favorite easy chair near the warm fireplace. Soft music was playing and the room was very cozy. He purred ever so softly at first. He was happy to be home from the hospital, if only for a short while. And then he grew quiet. Donna arrived and we sat with him, petting him, talking to him, tears rolling slowly down our cheeks. Bomps gave us signals that he was already in the process of letting go. His behavior was completely different from the night before when we visited him at the hospital. Just 24 hrs earlier, he was present and "with us" - much more so than our visit the previous night. He had seemed slightly perkier. He purred, he let me hold him, and he responded well to our voices, touch, and just being with him. Towards the end of the visit, he reached out his paw and placed it gently on my hand. He squeezed my finger tightly - but he did not extend his claws. Now I know he was saying "My friend, soon it will be time for me to say good-bye." Dr. Siegler arrived later in the evening. He settled in with Bomps in the easy chair and began gently massaging his head and body. Bomps stretched out and relaxed - something he had not yet done since we arrived home. He knew the one who could finally release him from all pain had arrived. We continued petting him, talking softly to him, and comforting him until he let us know it was time. And then Dr. Siegler gently put Bomps to sleep. Eventually it was time for Dr. Siegler and Donna to leave. As we all walked outside into the crisp night air, we were completely surprised at what we saw. After days of torrential rain, the midnight sky was clear. The stars were brilliant and the moon was shining brightly. It was as though the heavens opened the sky to allow Bomps' spirit to soar peacefully and freely. My house is very quiet today. It is so hard to believe that just a week ago he was running up and down the stairs and giving me big bear hugs. I will miss his affectionate ways, his constant "talking", and seeing him happily sprawled out in his favorite easy chair. My sincere thanks to Pasado's for saving his life one year ago. Bomps brought me so much joy and taught me so much - words cannot describe. And I am forever grateful to Donna and Dr. Siegler - two gentle angels walking the earth who selflessly give to the animals. Thank you so much for all of your support during this difficult time. Mel" |
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Today, Melanie was back at
Misty's Kitty City to help the others who still live here. Despite her
loss, she had to begin the road to recovery and the best way, for her,
was to be with the kitties. Pasado's staff got together and bought a
scraggly crabapple tree. It promises to bloom beautiful pink blossoms in
Spring, but right now, it doesn't look like much. Leafless branches
desperately held on to one, lone red crabapple. We adorned it, as best
we could, with ribbons. We stopped Mel, in the middle of cleaning litter pans, and brought her outside Kitty City to present her with the meager gift. She wept. So did we. We all hugged. And then one of the dogs who joined us, lifted his leg on Bomps' tree. And we laughed. |
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This Spring, new life will
bloom in Bomps' honor, with a little extra fertilizer to help. Run free,
sweet Bomps. You'll see your mom again one day, |
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Harvey - rescued from a shelter before he was euthanized, he spent his last months in the arms of angels. |
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We only knew you a brief
time... As many prepared for the celebration of Easter, an innocent dog found
herself
scheduled to be put to sleep the same week.
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Thursday morning, Betty
lost her fight to live.
Betty suddenly lost mobility in her rear legs. She was also refusing food and water, so we rushed her to the veterinarian. After a day of x-rays, she was observed overnight, placed on fluids and steroid treatments. The next day, there were no signs of improvement and the x-rays revealed that there were serious issues with her spinal cord. We didn't think it would be fair to put such an old gal through the stress of surgery. We thought it kinder to let her go.
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Since she arrived in April, Betty lived with Claire, Pasado's Sanctuary
Director, who provides the one-on-one "home" care the oldest-of-the-old
require. And at the fragile age of 15, Betty certainly qualified. During
the day, she laid outside on a grassy slope, and snored. Although deaf,
she'd lift her head to watch a hummingbird pass by. And she always
enjoyed her breakfast and dinner. When we rescue some of these older animals, we feel they just "give up" once their beloved guardians are no longer with them. As much love and care as we can provide, it still doesn't make up for the voice, the smell, the sight, of their "owners". But we know, in our hearts, she felt loved to the end. And we know, wherever she is, she is happy now. |
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Goodbye sweet Gus... |
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Autumn arrived at
Pasado's and was here only a short time when Phyllis, a volunteer, met
her and fell in love. Although she had just lost a long-time love of
hers last summer, she took the chance and brought this senior girl home. Shortly after they were together, Autumn was diagnosed with cancer and it was learned that it had already spread throughout her body. We were devastated by the news. And heartbroken for Phyllis. A few weeks later Autumn died. The following is from Phyllis.... "Winter arrived here
early - cold and bleak. The last days of autumn |
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Sweet Polly was only
at Pasado's for a short time. As an older girl, we didn't know how much
time she had left. And then we found out she had a tumor on her spleen.
It's always tough to decide what to do in a case where an animal is
elderly - Polly was 12. Do we put them through surgery? Or let them go?
Our surgeon truly felt that she could still live a good life if she had
the surgery. So we appealed to all of you to help. And you did. Jessaca
J. paid for the surgery. And Pauline, Nicole, Sue, Lisa, Karleen, and
Margaret donated for her after care, which included acupuncture for a
spinal problem. We had such high hopes. Polly went through the surgery
well but, in recovery, her heart stopped beating. Despite heroic
measures on behalf of our surgeon, it was not to be.
Polly joins our many loves with whom we never had enough time. We hope we will see them again. |
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