I have had the pleasure of knowing so many animals, but these guys will remain with me forever.
I want to say goodbye to Whitey, the cat I found myself with after I moved in with my dad. He died while I was away for Christmas. I only had a few months with him, and when I catnapped him when I moved out of my dads he became an entirely different cat, no longer terrified of strangers or loud noises. I'm glad that I could provide him with a few months of peace after years of neglect, and will miss waking up to him chewing my hair, or laying with his back against mine. Although I wish I could have known and been with him for his twenty odd years, I cherish the time I did get with my little old man. White Persian, December 20, 2006,
Princess, you were my ninth birthday present, my first and only dog, and you loved my mom more lol. I hope you fun with our romps in the woods, and catching rats in the chicken coop. I'm sorry your last year was spent in pain, and I'm sorry I got so frustrated with you. If I'd had my way I would have sent you off sooner, but it was not to be. We all miss you, and Toto misses you dearly, but now you can run like you were meant to and are no longer confined by your bodies injuries. Shepherd/Husky mix, October 13th, 2005
Ghost, you were my little baby, my little grave-robbing pitbull cat. I dreamed about you before I found you on the floor, your mother not knowing what to do. I dealt with your smarts, and your midnight leg pounces while I was sleeping. I loved that kink in your tail, and how handsome you looked in your spiked collar. I miss watching you sleep. I know it was you who ate my betta, and I miss watching you climb the ladder to the top bunkbed. I don't know why you took off, or why you wouldn't get close when you came back, but you didn't deserve to be found on the road like that. August 2003
Kiki, I know how scared you were when I managed to catch you and bring you in the house, but my mother loved you, and you were my sleeping buddy. You helped bring Thunder out of his shell, and you brought into the world Ghost, Jack, Abby, Quarter-Bit, Shriver and Nameless. I miss the mice you'd bring, and the comfort you brought. I'm sorry we didn't know about that bag of silica in the garage until it was too late, and I'm sorry we couldn't have had you with us longer. 2003
Thunder, I knew you when you were born, and I wish that things had been different, but at least the last months of your life were spent with us, and you could finally go outdoors and enjoy life outside that room you were locked in all those years. I wish I could have saved you sooner, but it proved impossible. Miss you Thunder Kitty. Norwegian Forest Cat, May 2000
Hip-Hop and Big-Bop, you two were inseperable. Knowing you guys, you probably thought it was hiliarious when I thought your hopping and bouncing around meant you had rabies. But you were the first ferrets I'd ever met, and did you guys put on a show. I loved playing in the creek with you two, and showing off your sleep-like-the-dead act to visitors. Mom loved you too, even when you killed her leather slipper, and ran off with things. Hip-Hop, you were always the rowdy one, but you could be a sweetie like no other, even when you did manage to hide out for a week under Jason's bed. Big-Bop, you were always laid back, always ready for an open lapping and friendly hands. And both of you I'm sure loved being the first and only rodents Princess was not allowed to kill, I know you did the way you'd walk under her legs and grin. Miss you little superballs. Big-Bop 1997, Hip-Hop 1998.
And this goes out to the unknowns. You guys I loved and lived with, but never knew what happened to you.
Gin, Jim said you ran off, but I'll never know. I loved you even then, and I wish he'd never taken you that day. Lab mix, 1990
Oscar, you went out with us into the woods, and gave us a final look, one we didn't know meant goodbye right then, but could feel it's importance. I still don't know why you just left, but I know you had your reasons, because you would never have left us like that unless you knew it was coming. You were a great dog. Husky mix, 1992
Storm and Calvin, I don't know what Jim did with you guys really, he said a farm, but I can't trust him. Storm, I met you when I was five, and you were the coolest dog I knew. You were so gentle despite your size, and you protected Jason and I when we needed it. Calvin, you were gorgeous with your curling fur and sleek black body. You listened so well for being so young, and I wish I could have taken you both, but it wasn't meant to be. I hope it was a farm you went to, and that you lived happily ever after. Storm, Golden Retriever, Calvin, mix, 2000
Nameless, you were taken without us knowing, and I can only hope that they loved you, and that you are okay. Calico 2000
Shriver, I gave you to her thinking she'd take care of you. I was wrong. When you ran away from her I hope you found someone who really loved you. Dilute calico 2005
And to the ones who are still with me, I want to say ahead of time how much I love you guys.
Toto, you were a demonic oreo when I met you, cute and sweet on the outside, evil within. God only knows what your life was like before those people found you along that highway, and before we found you. It only took us a few years lol, but you finally turned into the sweetheart we knew you really were. When Princess got hit you screamed right along with her and I, and you always could always be counted on to protect her when she was her most vunerable, and I know how much you miss her. I can still picture you girs out in the woods, Princess a wolf, and you looking all the world like a bear cub trundling after.
Jack, you were adorable as a kitten and you still are, even with the heft. You can always be counted on to lift peoples spirits, and a paw when they step over you. When we almost lost you I was so scared. I can only hope that you stay with us, and that we can be half the cat you are.
Kali, it took us a month to get you in the house, and even longer to get you to let you realize people aren't going to hurt you. Once we pet you you turned into putty, but boy did you shy away from our hands until then. Now you let strangers rub you all over, and I'm glad we could bring that into your life. and while it freaked me out, I thank you for that dead robin in my bedroom, I know you were just trying to feed me, and thank you for the nightly facials, I don't think my skin was ever exfoliated that well before.
Dog, we just brought you into the family recently, but you wormed your way even into my heart. Despite my distressing months spent with the dog from hell, you brought me back. I hope that we can help you with the problems you have, and provide a better home than the one you must have had before they found you in the woods.