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Pasado's Story
Pasado Newsletter
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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. |
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... |
"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. |
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.
An old black dog with myriad medical problems, the shelter had
already decided that she was not ‘adoptable.’ On the 11th of
April, Betty was entered into the shelter’s computer as "euthanized". Two days
later, as a volunteer at this shelter recalls, she received the surprise
of her life - and Betty's:
Betty was alive!
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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
have been the last days for Autumn as well.
Following a very sad summer, what a wonderfully colorful season of life
it was with her.but as brief as the changing leaves.
I have yet to fully understand the purpose of our short time together -
I only know that we were meant to be together and feel lucky that we
were.
I am so grateful for your continued support and thank you again for
being our "matchmaker"." |
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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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