Departed friend of mine
TRIBUTE TO SPIKE
Hello, My name is Jenny, and to start I would like to thank you for such a fantastic source of comfort with your newsletter, it lets me know that there are so many other people, who just like me, feel so passionately about their animals.
My story is the same as most, I loved and lost one of the best friends, that I was so fortunate to have.
Spike was a whippet cross terrier, my little man, my friend and my confidante. He was 16 years old, when I made the heart wrenching decision to have him put to sleep. His back legs no longer functioned properly, I was having to help him go to the toilet, and when he looked at me, I could see the pain in his eyes. Spike passed away a year ago today. I know I made the right decision in my heart, but I miss him so much it hurts. Just to have one more cuddle… one day.
He was the first person who I went to when I came in, and the person who licked me goodnight, my little star.
I got Spikey from a blue cross animal shelter, it was a toss up between Spike and another dog, so I took both of them out together. Spike hid behind my legs, while the other dog growled at him. My decision was made, “I’ll have Spike”, I said, with a massive smile. I took Spike on his first walk that night, and he came across another dog, Spike’s hackles raised and he growled for all his might! My own little con artist!!
Spike lived with me at University, he came to my Rugby matches as the team mascot, more people were paying attention to Spike than watching me play! That’s the type of dog Spike was, everyone loved him. I’ve been very fortunate to have lovely friends who humour me when I’m having an “I miss Spike day”.
I must say how thankful I was to the Vet who dealt with my situation, a kind, Caring person, who didn’t rush me, and let me hold Spike and talk to him as he passed away.
I was recently given a passage called Rainbow Bridge, I don’t know if you have featured it before, but it is exactly what I hope and pray for, and gives me a glimmer of light in my darkest times. I hope it may help other readers too.
Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies who has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…..
I look forward to that day.
Jenny Flinn. (26)xx
Having a cuddle!
TRIBUTE TO POLO
Dearest Polo,
I wanted to write you this letter, as I’m sure now you can understand what I say & how I feel about you. I hope you like this & enjoy remembering the great & lovely times we had together.
I found you hiding behind the chair. Trying to stay out the way from your boisterous brothers & sisters, all 8 of them. I peered round to see where you’d got to & you were looking straight back at me. I knew then that you were what I was looking for. Your name was Charlottes Delight but I was going to call you Polo. You were the smallest of the bunch & the most timid. I chose you because I didn’t want a troublesome dog that would eat my house. We said goodbye to your brothers & sisters & left to start your new life. You were on the back seat of the car travelling home & you were crying a bit. I was telling you that it was just for a short time & that you had nothing to worry about. Still you cried & whimpered. It was your first trip anywhere after all.
Your first night was going to set the tone for always. I went to bed, leaving you downstairs. You sat at the bottom stair & started to cry & cry your best cry. I couldn’t stand upsetting you so I came downstairs & slept on the sofa to keep you company. I did this for 2 nights as you put in a repeat show. On the third night, I carried you upstairs so you could sleep on the bedroom floor. That wasn’t enough for you though; you started the crying act again & attempted to climb on the bed. It was too high for you but you kept trying. It seemed that you weren’t going to give up, so you were lifted onto the bed. You trudged all over us & came up & licked my face to say thank you. Then you curled up & went to sleep. Peace for all. The pattern was now set for as long as you could manage to climb on. The trouble was that you got bigger & bigger & demanded more space than was really available. You always had the strength to push us aside when you wanted more room to stretch out. We usually protested but you never listened, just groaned & pushed harder. You were always let off & accommodated & we loved you for it. This was one of your thousand little ways that made you beautiful.
On the second day, I took the day off work to stay with you. We played all day. It was sunny so we went into the garden to look around. You found a broom & started to bite the bristles so I joined your game by moving it around. You started to chase it & growl your best growl. I took your first photos this day. You looked so proud & regal. You knew you were special. I did too. We bonded this day & I knew then that you loved me the same as I loved you.
I loved taking you for walks in the park. You made lots of friends & became the star attraction. You ran so fast after your friends & made me a proud dad. You loved to strip ivy of the trees & you did on every one we found. It was funny to see all the effort you put into this. You wouldn’t stop until it was all gone or out of your reach. It made your gums bleed sometimes so I would stop you. It was that look of disappointment you sent me when I made you walk away. I knew there would be other days to finish the job. Squirrels were what you loved best though. As soon as you caught sight or heard one jumping around in the branches, you got into hunting mode. Ears pricked, eyes skyward, searching for movement. Running to the tree that you thought it was in, jumping up, trying to climb the trunk & chewing the bark. You made me laugh all the time. You also loved walking around the nature reserve. There were rabbits & other animals for you to sniff out & chase. I used to tell you that they all came out when you were there to tease you & run away at the last second. I knew you wouldn’t catch them but I’m sure you thought you could. There were the lakes that you also enjoyed. Some were shallow so you could wade out, dipping your head into the water for a drink. So far out sometimes that you’d have to swim. You weren’t the most confident swimmer so you’d turn & head back to shore. On the hot summer days, these were great times together. I’ll never forget them.
You were lucky enough to have your Nanny to stay with everyday when I had to go to work. She loves you every bit as much as I do. Nothing was too much trouble for her even though you pushed us all to fit around you. You remember she spoilt you rotten & was even softer with you than me. Granddad did too. He loved you even when you were barking at the people walking by. We knew you were trying to protect them both.
We had thirteen wonderful years together. You were always on my mind wherever I was & whatever I was doing. You were always my first consideration. You filled my life with a quality that I’ll be lucky to find again. As you became a senior lady your body couldn’t keep up with you. Try as you did, your running & chasing days were over. You put in such effort to stay with me. You have left me now to go to a better place, where you are young & full of energy. Your ever sparkling & smiling eyes looking around for mischief. Chasing butterflies & squirrels & making new friends. I hope you won’t forget me while you’re having all this fun, as I will never forget you & our life together. Today is a sad day without you. All the days from now on will be sad days. I miss you so much. I LOVE YOU POLO. Goodbye my sweet girl.
Mark Hornett
Service of Thanksgiving for Creation
and
2005 Animal Blessing Service
at
All Saints, Wokingham, Berkshire
will be on
Sunday 9th October, 3pm
All welcome:
2 legged and 4 legged
Refreshments for all afterwards.
Further details and town plan
From Marcelle Williams
Tel: 0118 978 9782
A true story
This was told to me by a professor of a university faculty licensed by the Home Office to perform experiments on animals. The lab ordered a rat, as they had an experiment they wished to perform. The rat duly arrived, a beautiful white creature, whom they named ‘Melanie’. ‘Oh no…’ thought the professor and the technicians; ‘she has a name – we can’t kill her now.’ The experiment was abandoned and the rat was taken to live out the rest of her life in the home of the technician who had become fond of her.
It gets better……….
The faculty decided to rescind the licence and carry out no more experiments, as the professor said: ‘It’s humans we’re into.’
Debby W.
‘THE POWER OF ONE’
Departed Friend stall at the Luton Volunteer Fair
Market Hill, Luton, on 8 June 2005
held to promote the work of voluntary organisations
A TRIBUTE TO 4 LOVELY CATS
I would like to tell you about some of my cats, starting with Susie. I found her through a post card ad on a pet shop. She was a tortoiseshell aged 8 weeks and her owner bred Siamese. Susie’s mum somehow had made “friends” with a Tom, making Susie a X -bred Siamese. She was a bright kitten, chasing butterflies and generally enjoying life; this was in 1986, she was full of life. In 1997, Susie had her first dental and was fine after it. In 1999, her appetite was poor, so in July 1999 I took Sue back to the Vets. Another dental was advised and carried out. Poor Susie; when I collected her, her face was very swollen. I took her home. She had been given tablets which she was unable to take, so the very next day she had to go to the Vets for a pain killing injection; this was on a Saturday. The next day she was worse, so a friend drove us to the Emergency Vet, who told me Susie had a tumour which had broken down during her last dental. Altogether she lived 4 days after her op., each day with injections until I knew I had to let her go. I was heartbroken and cried bitterly. I have blamed myself for letting her have a second op., but I honestly thought she would make a full recovery. I have never really got over losing her. She was 12½ years old – dearly loved………
And now to talk about one of my dearly loved cats whose name was Becky. She was advertised in our local Safeway aged 8 weeks old, free to a good home. She was a long furred marmalade kitten who loved the outdoors no matter what the weather, happy and healthy. I had her in 1992 until 15th October 2004. When on the Friday she vomited a little, I took this to be a tummy upset. On Saturday she drank a little water and I thought this might be a good sign, but on Sunday morning, she collapsed completely and I rushed her to the Emergency Vet. She had kidney failure and an abnormal heartbeat. I had no alternative but to have her put to sleep. I haven’t got over her loss as yet. She used to love the Summer as we have a lot of flowers with green foliage and Becky tucked herself in these to keep cool on very hot days. Becky, I will never forget your loving ways. Becky was just over 12 years old when put to sleep. God bless you Becky………
I must go back in time to 1974 when my husband worked in our local park. In the Summer of that year (July) a lady policewoman found a cardboard box with 4 lovely kittens. The owner was never traced so the only conclusion to come to was that they had been dumped, possibly by someone going on holiday. Three were found homes; the 4th, a little girl, my husband brought home. A little black kitten with brown mixed in her fur. We named her Blackie, a happy lively kitten who enjoyed chasing butterflies, and playing as kittens always do, and so she grew up. Time passed when Blackie, grown up, used to follow my husband, who used to go to the local pub for crisps etc. along the narrow footpath to the front of our house and partly up the hill. Halfway, Blackie would go through a gate and wait for my husband to come back and then follow him home, keeping to the pavement and then the narrow footpath home. Blackie used to be an outdoor cat and we would leave her out and she would come running to meet us. We went out one Saturday afternoon and let Blackie out as usual. On our return, Blackie was unable to meet us. We soon discovered why. She had been attacked by greyhounds and was lying dead at the side of the footpath. She was 12 years old. It took me a year to find out what happened to her, and I will never forget that dreadful Saturday. I never let a cat out since when I am going out………
Now I will move forward to 1st November 2004. Fluffy, my smoky grey X-bred Persian who was advertised on a card aged 8 weeks when I had her, was a very quiet kitten: placid, I would describe her; no trouble to look after at all. She used to put her front paws on my shoulder when she wanted to be picked up. When she did this, she would be sitting on a small table the cats like. She never scratched anyone. Just after Fluffy’s 14th birthday, she had lost some weight so I took her to the Vet who gave an injection. She had fallen several times. The Vet said hyperthyroidism could be the cause, so I hoped all would be well. I was wrong. On Wednesday 3rd of November she was fighting for breath so we rushed back to the Vet who said she could die of a heart attack, and my only option was to have her put to sleep………
One other thing I would like to say to readers of DF. Please take lots of photos of your cats. Much to my regret, I did not do so.
Mrs M C
YOUR LETTERS ……“ *
Dear Debby,
Thanks for the Newsletter. I had forgotten that you were going to print my email with a picture of Ollie. Seeing that picture of Oll just reminds me what a beautiful, dozy animal he was, and that I still miss him. I think you work very hard producing the newsletter, and it is really worthwhile.
I hope that you and your family, both human and feline are fine and lazing in the sun when you can.
Bobbit (three legs and too curious for his own good) has now poisoned himself twice this year! The first time it was lily pollen, and the second time with metaldehyde – slug pellets. Fortunately on both occasions I whipped him straight off to work as soon as he showed signs of illness. The slug pellets have left him with slight liver damage, but my boss reckons it will not cause him many problems. That cat leads a charmed life – he’s already used up three lives and he’s only just turned two years old. I wonder if cats have guardian angels?.Goodness knows what he will get up to next, I may have to get him a cat muzzle to stop him. I think he was a flower arranger in a previous life, every time there are flowers in the house (not lilies of course) he takes them out of the vase one by one and places them in the middle of the carpet. Strange animal….
You mentioned lily poisoning in the Newsletter, do you want to put this in the next one. If cats and dogs roam, they are usually not daft enough to eat slug pellets, but they may eat something that has eaten a poisoned slug e.g. a bird.
Signs of Slug Pellet Poisoning – THERE IS NO ANTIDOTE FOR METALDEHYDE POISONING.
§ Abdominal pain
§ Vomiting whilst moving (as if trying to get away from the pain/vomit)
§ Restlessness, unable to settle
§ Excess salivation/drooling/saliva dripping from chin
§ Temperature below normal
It is vital that the animal has immediate veterinary attention.
Look after yourself.
Best wishes, Judith Williams and gang of 6
Thank you so much for the extra copy of Departed Friend which I have today forwarded to Mary. I feel now that the links and bonds DF has come to create, has produced a feeling of special bonding between DF readers at a time which is so vulnerable and emotional to them.
All our love, Ella &Flossie
I received issue 19 of D. Friends. I was very pleased with the memorial to Muppet. It was a fitting tribute to her, so thank you for placing it in your magazine and thank you for sending the magazines to me.
Miss S Roberts
Dear Debby
Many thanks for DF copies already received. You are reaching out to so many people. The copies you send me are passed on and gratefully received…
I have put people in touch with you direct and they are so touched and grateful to you for the quick response to help them.
At this end, we feed the ferals nightly and have taken in a poor limping cat (see advert. below – ed.) who had an untreated broken leg (on the elbow) so nothing can be done now by the Vet. He has a cauliflower ear and needs ear drops as there is no ventilation because of the swelling and bent over ear. Had him neutered and he has a lovely gentle nature, but must have been a street cat all his life, and not attended to when injured. How? There are many and they know the time I think, or the sound of the car. We go around Bradford 3 late at night. No it’s not safe, but the cats need food. The drug dealers are out day and night round here.
Our oldest cat Marmalade has not been well for weeks and has been on medication and Hills ID diet food, chicken and fish, so has taken a lot of nursing. She has an enlarged liver, could be cancer, maybe not, but the treatment is the same says the Vet. They have done well for her, antibiotic injections and Vitamin B and anabolic steroid. She is comfortable and responding to treatment. I hope she has many more peaceful comfy months. I will have to let her go I know if she takes a turn for the worse. We have to suffer so they don’t.
Please send loving thoughts to her for me, she is tortie and white, very old, short haired and a gentle nature. If only people were the same.
We hope to remove some day to somewhere quiet and safer.
Love, Pauline
WANTED
Proper loving home
for
MINTY
the lame cat
Eardrops and treatment will be needed,
plus a secure, large garden
If you can provide for his needs
and would like to take him on,
please contact Departed Friend by letter,
phone or email
and I will forward your details to Pauline
The Service I organise here (see advert. on page 2 for the Service of Thanksgiving for Creation and 2005 Animal Blessing Service – ed.) is not a ‘children’s service’ it’s for all ages. There is always a serious address about animal welfare.
I have spent a great deal of time in the past year writing to the press about the hunting ban which should have gone through years ago… I have written to the Home Secretary about badger baiting which still goes on though unlawfully and to the Russian Prime Minister about bear hunting – leaving cubs to starve or be sold as ‘props’ for photographers in the streets of Moscow!
Marcelle Williams
Dear Debby
I would like to thank you for all your help and support you have given with the Restrict Fireworks to Licensed Displays Only Petition**. I have received and collected over 73,000 signatures so far.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I have not had time to organize the presentation of this petition for the month of June and I have also been advised that more people would be interested in this petition if it was presented in November i.e. MP’s, TV and Newspapers. So I have decided to continue to collect signatures and extend the closing date until the end of September 2005.
Teresa Kulkarni
**FIREWORKS PETITION
which seeks to prevent danger and nuisance to People, Property and Animals by restricting fireworks to organised displays only at fixed times; including garden fireworks in the restricted category; restricting the decibel limit and making it illegal to use or possess fireworks without a valid licence.
For petition forms, contact Teresa Kulkarni at
1 Methuen Avenue, Kings Lynn,
Norfolk PE30 4BN
or
tel: 01553 775461
or
download from website
http://freespace.virgin.net/nichols.k
or
Have you ever wondered where certain well-known phrases and sayings come from? For instance:
‘What female heart can gold despise?’
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize;
Nor all that glisters gold.’
ODE ON THE DEATH OF A FAVOURITE CAT, DROWNED IN A TUB OF GOLD FISHES
‘Twas on a lofty vase’s side,
Where China’s gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers, that blow;
Demurest of the tabby kind,
The pensive Selima reclined,
Gazed on the lake below.
Her conscious tail her joy declared;
The fair round face, the snowy beard,
The velvet of her paws,
Her coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet and emerald eyes,
She saw; and purred applause.
Still had she gazed; but ‘midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream:
Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue
Through richest purple to the view
Betrayed a golden gleam.
The hapless nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first and then a claw,
With many an ardent wish,
She stretched in vain to reach the prize.
What female heart can gold despise?
What cat’s averse to fish?
Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretched, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
(Malignant Fate sat by and smiled)
The slippery verge her feet beguiled,
She tumbled headlong in.
Eight times emerging from the flood
She mewed to every watery god,
Some speedy aid to send.
No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred:
Nor cruel Tom nor Susan heard.
A favourite has no friend!
From hence, ye beauties, undeceived,
Know, one false step is ne’er retrieved,
And be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize;
Nor all that glisters gold.
Thomas Gray (1716 – 1771)
Filed under: No. 20 Sep '05
