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I cant remember the last time I was this excited to publish a newsletter. The economy stinks, health care can be hard to come by and people are losing their jobs and homes at an alarming rate, all reasons I wanted to publish an uplifting newsletter for the beginning of 2009.
This idea came to fruition during a holiday gathering when we were remembering family pets. Talked turned to my beloved Zeke, a rat terrier I took in when he was just 6 weeks old.
From day one, Zeke was a ferocious little dog who loved to play. He could run for miles and still come home primed for a game of fetch. He was a nervous bundle of energy with little tolerance for cats or any other animal brave enough to breach his territory.
However, every time a migraine headache would burrow into my skull, Zeke would become reverent, climbing up to smell my head until he identified the painful spot. He would then gently try to lick the pain away, lying next to me as he nestled his chin on the sore spot. He would lay there for hours, refusing to move until I arose, feeling better.
While Zeke was special in my life, I figure he is not the only amazing animal to be there for someone living in pain. I decided to reach out, hoping to cull stories from others with FM, CMP, GWS, CFIDS, MCS and other painful conditions.
My hope is the following stories can make you feel good, if only for a few moments. Perhaps they will help someone honor a fallen pet, or they may inspire someone to give a home to a loving pet that can change their lives.
We at the FMS Community want to thank everyone who sent in a submission, for without you, this newsletter would not be possible.
With that said we urge you to avoid unscrupulous breeders, adopt shelter pets and always spay or neuter your pet to keep the population under control.
Below you will find unedited, true stories of people and their pets. Enjoy!
Jane Kohler
1) I sometimes think that my pets help keep me alive! If it weren't for their company and love I would not have been able to tolerate my CFS/ME for the last 20 years.
I live alone and they are my constant friends. My little toy poodle MAKES me get UP and take her out
for "potty walks" and gives me loving kisses when I have no one else that will. My cats even come and
sleep on my chest when I am feeling really low...
Some how they know? Normally cats are aloof but I have one special one that hugs close to me and
calls to me when I leave the room. Not having any kids or family that need me, my animal friends fill that hole in the heart.
My companions also make me get out to the grocery store cuz even if I am low on food, I can NOT have food for them, so they FORCE me to get out of the bed/house to run some errands...It IS getting harder, but I wouldn't have lasted this long w/o them and their love.
Bodieangel
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2) COTTON'S TAIL
My four legged friend is more then just a pet. She is a loving spirit with whom I have the blessing of sharing this journey of life. Cotton is her name. It reflects both her inner spirit and outer appearance. She is white. She is a mix of a highlander westie and maltese.
She is an angelic presence in my life with fibromyalgia. She will stretch along side me when I'm doing my stretching. First thing in the morning she reminds me to stretch because she will do her downward dog as she comes from the bedroom to eat her breakfast. She will stretch often throughout the day. She loves to stretch with me and by doing this she keeps me intuned to my own body.
When I'm not feeling well she is there cuddling up to me in bed. She will lick the parts of my body that ache. However most of all she is there next to me expressing unconditional love. How blessed I am to have a friend like Cotton.
She loves when I do reflexology on her little paws. She will lay on her back, eyes heavy, and fall into a deep dream like state. This little dog is more then a pet, she is a tail wagging, barking, fun loving angel in the body of my friend Cotton. Cotton, I thank you for being a part of my life. You are a special spirit sent from my divine creator to help me live life to the fullest. I will always love you and be your " Mommy".
Reverend Kurt Fondriest
Chicago IL
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3) In 1990 my son was killed in a terrible accident. Id been without a dog for three years and my cousin suggested I try a small dog. Id always had Newfoundlands. As if it was meant to be, in my town of 650 people, someone I knew had a litter of Bichon Frise puppies. I went to visit and chose my dog, naming him Marlowe. From the moment Marlowe came into my life he was my shadow, always sleeping on my bed, or right next to it but also ready to go riding in the car with friends and go for runs in the fields, especially in the snow.
In 1994 I had a virus that turned out to be CFS and Marlowe took it upon himself to become what I called My Nursie Dog. He never left my side. From that time until the day he died, he was my protector and my comfort. It means so much to have a small warm body curled up against your back when you sleep. He even went beyond.
Whenever I went into the bathroom, he would lie by door until I came out. I began to call him Greyfriars Marlowe. If you dont remember the story of the little dog who, after his master died, slept and lived on his grave for fourteen years and was eventually buried just outside the churchyard in Edinburgh Scotland, check Wikipedia. Its a moving story and mostly true. They say we sometimes have a special pet who connects with us more than any other, no matter how much we may love all of our pets. Marlowe was that for me.
I had always felt unable to go to the vet with a pet who was at the point of having to be put to sleep, but in Marlowes case he had earned it. In the end of June, 2007 my dear old Nursie Dog was at the end of his life. He lay limply on my lap, wrapped in a blanket, as my sister drove us to the vet. The vets were wonderful and were allowed to spend as much time with him as we needed. They checked with us each step along the way, but there was no question hed already been dying as we drove. I held him and stroked him and spoke softly to him, telling him how much I loved him and what a difference hed made in my life. His passing was incredibly peaceful but I miss him now and will always have tears in my eyes when I think of that day.
Now, sometimes I think I see him from the corner of my eye, or hear him scratch on the door. I wouldnt be surprised if it was him. He never could leave my side. Ive had many special dogs, and I expect Ill have many more in my lifetime, but my little Marlowe will always be my soul mate. From the beginning, it was meant to be.
END (500 words exactly)
Thank you for letting me write about my beloved dog. Taffy Todd
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4) Having had CFIDS for 15yrs now, and especially severe in the past few years, I spend about 90% of my life bedridden, I think that at several points in the past few years that I might have just given up fighting so hard had it not been for my special "Baby", my 7 yr old Shih-Tzu, Peety. Such unconditional love I have NEVER had in my life. And SHE has been put thru so much, in the last year I was hospitalized 8 times, (we had NEVER spent a night apart) and was placed in 2 ALF's, moved 5 times. EVERY night, when I'm ready to TRY and sleep, I just tell her it's time to snuggle & help Mommy sleep, and she climbs on my pillow & curls up next to me, I put my arm around her & often that's the only way that I can relax enough to sleep. When I can't get up, and/or hurt a lot, I tell her that I'm sorry Mommy feels sick today, but that she ALWAYS makes me feel better just being with me, and I get kissed allover! She has her own website, where I wrote her a "Tail" of Devotion, which was published in a book describing the special bond between people & their pets. The link is:
www.dogster.com/dogs/307238 I truly believe that she has given me the will to keep on living, I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRL WITH all my heart!
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5) I used to take Duchess, my Rottweiler, to the nursing home to visit my Mom every week, starting when she was an eight week old puppy. She was a big hit with the elderly and could even win over those who, at first, were afraid of her. She would slowly walk over to them and place her head under their hand. Then she would gently raise her head until the persons hand was resting on it. That was all it would take to get them to start petting and loving her!
I am disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivities which means I get sick from exposures to many different chemicals. Somehow Duchess grew to know this and now always tries to protect me from exposures. The first time it happened, I didnt understand and scolded her. She had growled at the security guard at the nursing home when he was walking towards us. She had always been friendly with him before so I thought it strange. Then his cologne or aftershave hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately became nauseous and dizzy and had to go outside for fresh air.
It happened again a few months later at a car dealership when we had our truck in for maintenance. This time it was a fellow dressed in army fatigues and I could smell his strong scent a second after Duchess started to growl. We went outside to the picnic table area to wait. Thats when I figured it out! Now I know that if Duchess growls at a stranger, it is a warning for them to stay back and for me to get away!
There was another incident at a friends apartment. Duchess and I were in the living room while my friend was in the kitchen. She forgot about my sensitivities and opened a container with some strong chemical. Duchess smelled it first and ran over to where I was sitting on the couch. She jumped up with her paws on my shoulders and pinned me to the back of the couch, next to an open window. She had never behaved like that before! Suddenly the smell became obvious to me too and as I was starting to feel nauseous, Duchess ran for the door whining to go out. I followed her outside to the deck and we stayed out there where it was safe.
Ive always known dogs had a great sense of smell and that they could be trained to help people in various ways. However, Duchess learned this protective behaviour on her own and I am very grateful that she did! I always feel safe with her around!
Bonita Poulin
Canadian Coordinator
GLOBAL RECOGNITION CAMPAIGN
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
and other Chemically Induced Illnesses, Diseases & Injury
affecting civilians and military personnel
www.mcs-global.org
More coordinators needed!
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6) After seeing a story about people with Fibromyalgia using the Xolo dog as a living "heating pad", I decided to do some research. It turns out that Chihuahuas are also good for generating warmth, and, according to the ADA, an individual that is covered under the ADA, such as us with Fibro, can train their own service dog. Even better, we can take our service dogs anywhere - to work, to cafes, on public transit. So I began looking around for a Xolo or Chihuahua.
Two months ago I rescued a Chihuahua mix from our local shelter and began working with him. He is now my service dog and goes to work with me everyday. He lays in my lap for hours, generating warmth, but more importantly, inducing the production of my own natural endorphins. I can't imagine working without him now - I have gone from needing a Vicodin pain pill every 2 to 3 hours, to only needing 1 or 2 per day! After 10 years living on pain pills, it is amazing to have a clear mind again, to have more energy, and to feel this good, all due to my little dog.
My name is Tara and my dog is named Chico.
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7) Hamster Therapy
By Danielle Greene
One year ago a friend gave me a baby hamster as a gift. I am bedridden with M.E. so my first reaction was: You have GOT to be kidding. And also, Im not 12 years old why a hamster?
My friends response was, Oh, just keep him for one night and try him out. If you dont like him, I will take him back. My friend told me that I needed the company since I lived alone. And she also promised to come over and wash out the cage once a week since I was too disabled to do that.
Well, I was skeptical. But I agreed to try the little fella overnight and immediately fell in love. He was so cute! A honey colored Golden Sirian, only six weeks old and a couple of inches tall. I remember looking down at him in his trim wire cage. He sat up on his hind legs and accepted a slice of apple, which he held in his hands and munched, while regarding me sleepily with black, button eyes. I think I was hooked right there&
Hamsters make great pets for folks with M.E. they sleep all day and are active at night. Similarly, I lie in bed all day, and get more active at night, too. So now I have company and dont feel so strange Im not the only one who is in bed while everyone else is up and about!
My hamster cage resides beside my bed. During the day I sometimes hear him snore softly. Or he wanders out of his little house and has a snack. Its nice that hes not too active during the day because otherwise I think I would be overwhelmed. Hamsters are enormously energetic at night sometimes running up to eight kilometers in a single evening! So after I finish playing with him and need to go to bed, his cage gets moved to the couch, where he spends the rest of the night. From my bedroom, I can hear his exercise wheel going like mad, if I lift my head from the pillow. It's nice to know theres a little being in the house with me...
At first I thought I wouldnt be able to handle the duties of keeping a hamster scooping his cage out every day, chopping the vegetables he eats, and moving the cage every night to the couch. And he moves so fast what if I couldnt hold him properly and he escaped?
But it all worked out fine. That first month we established our routine. In the evening after he wakes up and gets out of bed for the night, I push myself out of my own bed to clean his cage and play with him. At first the activity was hard. But as the weeks went by, my health happened to improve so I could do the tasks more easily. It became my physical therapy, or as I called it, my hamster therapy!
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8) I have a chocolate Labrador named Beau who has keen sense to my moods. When I am in pain he wants to cuddle, or he will just put his head in my lap and look up at me as if to say, "Can I help?" If I cry, he climbs up my lap and licks away my tears. If I laugh, he comes running to make sure it is laughter and not crying. Just his loving presence improves my well-being. He is such a comfort to me.
Barb Brindley
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9) My name is Ann. I had two doggies, my furbabies, named Abigail aka Abernappies, cause she loves to sleep and Roscoe aka Roscoe D Dog, owner of the house.
Abby was my constant companion. She would cuddle next to me all the time. Where ever I went in the house, she was there. She loved to give me little kisses and loved a good petting in return. This could go on all day, if it was her choice. This gave me comfort and helped my pain.
When I was hurting a lot, Roscoe could sense it and would come up to me with a "what can I do Mom" look on his face. He would give me a kiss and a body rub.
Our pets can sense our pain and other emotions. They do not judge, only love.
Ann Gourieux
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10) I can not imagine a life without my cats. They know when I am hurting and they become
my constant companions. Lou makes my life so much more bearable with his purring and
comfort. I pet him and I feel so much better. The most important is if I am having a bad pain
day and I am laying in bed, they come and sleep on the bed with me. They do not sleep on the
bed usually but they must know I need them. Bud and Lou know when I just do not have the
energy to pet them and they are okay with me just resting my hand on their back. I believe that
anyone who battles chronic pain should have a pet with them that can comfort. I do not need
studies to know what my cats give me and I give them. Life is bearable when I have my cats with me.
Angela Kosolofski
2 cats, Bud and Lou
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11) 16 months ago, a friend of our adult children moved, and couldn't keep her boarder collie, Brodie James. Brodie immediately attached himself to my husband who suffers from Fibromyalgia and Epstien Barr. This worked out perfectly, since my boarder collie Tonka had helped raise Brodie from a pup (he puppie sat) so now we each had a dog who was predominently ours.
From the time he came to stay, Brodie has been a large lap dog. He loves to snuggle with my husband, and sleep beside him during his naps, usually snuggling closest to where my husband hurts the worst. My husband's flares have lessened, and the walks we take with the dogs have helped him as well.
A couple of months after getting him, Brodie suffered a siezure, caused by the abuse he suffered at his former owner's boyfriend's hands. My husband picked him up and craddled him until he had recovered from the siezure. The two became insepperable after that. Brodie's siezures only occur every four to five months, so are very infrequent, but my husband is always close to hold him through them. Brodie in turn, stays close to my husband, and when the flares are bad, finds away to maintain constant physical contact with him, which seem to shorten those episodes.
To see what these two have brought into each others lives is incredible. the best thing we ever did was saying yes to bringing Brodie into our family (and rescuing Tonka from the shelter, so we got to know Brodie and his owner) Brodie has made my husband's life sooo very much richer and healthier.
Sincerely,
Karol A. Rawlings
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12) I have two cats, and one is very special. She will lay close or on the parts of me that hurt the worst. If it is my legs she keeps them warm, plus the weight helps alot. She is a very hefty cat, sometimes I can't stand for her to lay on me so she will lay next to me and just sleep while I rest. She has been known to get between my hubby and I when my pain is almost unbearable at night, when she does, the pain eases and I can sleep again,. She doesn't get up or move until I do no matter the time of day or night, she also has to be in the bathroom with me when I take a shower she watches over me like a mother hen making sure I am safe and as painfree as she can help with.
Thank you for the privilage of telling you about Oreo, she is a very special cat whom at times I get angry with because she is under foot but if I stop and think about or let myself feel I know the pain will be getting there to the point of no return.
Nadina Barton
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13) Hi,
This is a great idea. I have two stories. First: I seem to relax more and slow down when I play with one of my cats and that helps me and eases my stress which eases my fibro pain. When we had our puppy, just taking him for a short walk or having him near me did the same thing.
The second story is this; I am convinced I have a miracle cat. One of my cats will sit on my lap almost all of the time I am relaxing on the chair in our family room. She always stretches and pads her paws and finds a good spot to lie down. One day my left leg was really throbbing and she jumped up on my lap and after stretching she began to pad the section of my leg that was hurting the most. She then settled on that muscle and slept. Within about 4 minutes the pain in my leg was gone!! She usually sits on my lap and not on one of my legs, so I was convinced she knew!!
Annette
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14) Phoenix
I had adopted a Bassett Hound mix from a dog rescue group which brought dogs up from Leland, Mississippi. Leland was one of the places stray dogs were deposited following Hurricane Katrina. The
added animals were overwhelming the town's shelter and resources. I began to volunteer with the rescue. I had experience working with animals and had worked for a veterinarian, I fostered the
puppies and dogs with special needs. A new batch of dogs was due to come up from Mississippi on Labor Day weekend of 2006. I was told I would be fostering a puppy named Mickey with healing burns
on his back. I would be fostering him until he was healed and ready for adoption. I had not seen any pictures of the puppy and did not know any details about his injuries. My first aid kit was
stocked and ready.
Mickey arrived Saturday morning. He was about 8 weeks old and a black Labrador retriever mix. The burned area on his back was recently closed, and covered the length of his body and partially
down one hip. He also had a cloudy left eye, he also had a corneal injury to his left eye I learned after a visit to the veterinarian he was burned when he was about 3 weeks old and probably the result of abuse. He was an old man in a puppy suit, very sweet and a bit reserved. He slept snuggled next to me each
night, he knew to ask to go outside to potty. We bonded quickly, he went everywhere with me. I began calling him Phoenix, he seemed to like the name coming happily the first time I called him.
I tended to Phoenixs burn using a soft brush to massage in Vitamin E cream. Baby sunscreen was used to protect his skin from the sun. I applied ointment to his eye 3 times a day. As he began
to feel better, Phoenix became more playful. He eagerly learned basic obedience, quickly moving to the next behavior. I began training him more advanced behaviors. In time his burn healed,
some of the scar is covered in white hair. He still requires sunscreen on the open areas. He also has a corneal scar and will always have problems with his night vision and depth perception.
Phoenix is now my Emotional Support/Service Dog. He still sleeps next to me each night, though at 75 pounds he has his own side of the bed. He is wonderful on bad days allowing me extra time to
get out of bed. He allows me to cuddle and hug him anytime. He is a willing listener and snuggles close when I am down. Some days I wonder who rescued whom.
Di in Pennsylvania, USA
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15) I have a mixed breed rescue dog, Baron, who has been my life saver on days of pain and depression. With the many symptoms of Fibromyalgia, he just seems to know when I am at my worst. I am one of those, who suffer the debilitating pain. When I am at my lowest Baron senses it and seems to need less from me; Less walks, less potty breaks, less playfulness.
Recently in a very bad flare-up, I was crying for days. Id had a bad holiday and nothing could snap me out of my depression and weepies. My meds were increased, I was sleeping more, had no appetite, and nothing helped me shake off my depression. Baron would come into my room and sit and wait for my invitation to hop onto our bed. Some days, I just didn't care. He would lie patiently on the floor next to the bed.
One day in particular, my legs were giving me a harsh time with muscle spasms. Baron sensed it from my frequent yelps of painful stabbing pain. Finally, he jumped onto the bed and laid down right beside me, contorting his body so, that he straddled my legs. The warmth of his body against my legs seem to soothe them. Eventually, my pain decreased. He laid in bed with me all day, as I watched movies and slept. He never left my side. Baron, I think is my guardian angel. I am forever grateful that by rescuing him, maybe, I was rescuing myself!
Shelley Echtle
972-564-4849
North Texas Fibromyalgia Support and Meetup Group http://www.meetup.com/North-Texas-Fibromyalgia-Support-Group/
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16) Over the years I have had many adopted cats and dogs they all were, and are special to me....
But two of my cats were just little miracles....
Sadly we lost our Ivan( aka, and always called.. Beau,Beau by me, he never answered to Ivan, and we forgot this was his first name,,,!) ...due to illness, he was an orange tabby stray who appeared on my front porch one day and refused to move! At the time I had 4 cats and one beleaguered old dog! I told my daughter not to feed him, name him, or let him in house!! this is how we acquired Elmo, a lovely black and white stray...
With Elmo it was okay to feed him,but dear hubby said no more inside cats! well this was okay for a while until we heard there might be a hurricane headed our way,"mom can we just put him in my bedroom until then?" I told her you better not let dear dad see him then....
Later when dear dad came home from work, there was Elmo, washing his little cute face in bedroom window for all to see! well I thought he was cute, hubster not so much! So hubby was determined no more!! of course Elmo stayed until he passed away....
At this time we also had an orange long haired cat named Murphy, who I secretly think was sending messages out to every stray cat in a 5 mile radius to come to our house to eat!!
He was gorgeous,but not too bright, would lie in street and let school bus run over him!! all the little kids yelling at driver you killed the cat!! he did this several times and finally they knew he would survive... sadly we only had him for 5 years with visits to vet every two three months, because of little seizures he had, he finally had a heart attack and died, I loved that little rascal, and I changed vets after that...it was noted by first vet in same practice that he had a heart murmur, and never mentioned again! could they have helped him? I don'tknow,but they never seemed to do much and with 5 cats at this time we paid them plenty.Elmo was his special buddy.
..
We had to be very careful that the little no-name stray didn't sneak in...
One day I let Murphy in and he made his way to his favourite spot on couch where he snoozed the afternoon away, fast forward to hubby coming home and a couple of oaths about a cat??? I was hollered at for letting little no-name into house!! I swear to my dying day! I truly thought this was Murphy!! I just saw an orange streak go by! as we all had been sneaking him food, including dear dad!! it was pointless to throw him out! anyway he avoided any door to outside like crazy for months!! We had previously taken him to vet for shots and to get fixed... we found out he was about 2-3 yrs old and neutered and much later we found out the cat belonged to neighbours who tossed him out to fend for himself... I have my suspicion Elmo belonged to them too!
This thrown away cat,skinny and unloved, was to be my salvation. At that time I was dx with severe FMS/MPS, Chronic Fatigue, Osteoarthritis and degenerative disks I felt abandoned by all my friends who I could no longer do things with, and my family just didn't get it!!, and along came BeauBeau!! he just would curl up beside me on the bed and purr and love on me when I was literally at my darkest hour, he seemed to sense when I was in despair or hurting so bad, he would be by my side wherever I was!! he was a constant presence ...3years later, sadly he caught some virus and several visits and overnight stays at vets just couldn't pull him through...the vet even tried CPR on my beautiful boy! but it wasn't meant to be,he died in my arms, and my heart just broke in pieces... I try to remember him, and not mourn him ,always!!
The comfort and peace you get from just petting a cat and the numerous ways they show their love is too complicated to put in words but so easy to understand, a child knows ....
Our old cat, our very first cat,Oscar , was 13, he was ready to go,but we had to sit up with him all night and let him know it was okay to leave us....I pray there is a heaven for cats and dogs
It was about this time that Miss Molly came into our lives..
Molly is a tiny grey/brown Tabby with the Maine Coon features.......the aforementioned dear hubby was outside weed whacking when he came into the house and said come here I want to show you something?, outside in the tall Pampas grass was a tiny kitten, eyes not even open, Like a small child I was like ....Oh! can I keep it? I had been so despondent over losing two of my cats that hubby was thrilled to find and save this little precious thing, weighed about 10oz...
Molly was bottle fed by us all. and I carried her around in my T-Shirt pocket! right next to my heart....she thrived and was my comfort cat, we even have photos of her lying on me,as I slept on my side after shoulder surgery, she, like Beau Beau before her , never leaves my side when I am down or ill....I am not sure words can explain certain cats behavior at these times, it is a magical feeling to belong to a loving cat! one that just loves you unconditionally,no matter what! we sink or swim together....
to this day under no circumstances will she go outside !! occasionally she will go on back screened in porch when I am there, until she realizes this is, gulp! outside!! Though much bigger and heavier she loves to sleep on dads or my chest,Yet recently when hubby had heart bypass surgery she was content to lie on top of recliner back ,right at his head, she seems to know when and where to go...If I am busy with handwork or reading she will lie on chair back...
For nearly 4years we have had another cat, that the neighbours brought us, is it just me? or is there this invisible sign that says abandon all cats here, in my front yard? they found him in a storm abandoned,tiny,eyes not opened, again we bottle fed and carried him around in Molly's little red sweater in our T-Shirt pockets...
Jimmy was a tiny cute miniature Molly,but this cat is so NOT Molly...he is demanding, wants out,wants in! constantly you're attending to his needs, too bad if you are reading . he squeezes himself under, over and on top of book to be petted and adored! in fact as soon as you are in middle of something, he is right in the middle!!...but come night time, or days when I am just too hurting to get out of bed, I hear the little feet scurrying to get in bed with me, get on top of me, or lie in my face,!!! he has the loudest purr of any cat I know, and had my three little granddaughters terrified! we fixed that, but is was hell on earth while it lasted, nothing would stop him!! he loved to stalk them and pounce! he loves to stalk everyone and pounce!! but little girls screaming just made him the man in charge!! he is the biggest pain in the rear! and yet he is also my comfort, he is not like the others, who could sense where you hurt, but he wants to let you know he loves you to death! even if it is 2 am and he is washing your face !! purring and loving all the time,
In a weird way, I think he senses my hurt, because I always say to hubby that the darn cat kept me awake and I hurt so much!! But maybe, just maybe,the darn cat knew I was hurting so much.... he follows me everywhere, sits at bathroom door with paws under door! as I type this, guess who is stuck to my side?...a little brown and beige coon cat named Jimmy purring away and keeping warm on my heating pad? he does have problems with who owns what??
I will let you decide, do I have an over indulged cat?or maybe I have another miracle cat? Molly thinks he is a brat!! will have nothing to do with him usually, but does condescend to share my bed with him...especially on cold days!! she's our girl alright...manages to outwit the little beggar on a daily basis...
All my cats were adopted or strays, they were neutered and fixed, get their rabies and their other shots and medical check up every year and we sometimes sacrificed other things so we could do this...
.We have also owned three of the most beautiful, loving Shetland Sheepdogs, the first one died at 13, next at 10 after a failed cancer surgery, and third one also developed cancer, after that we never got another one as we were afraid something here was causing the cancers? The old dog went to live with my mother in law when we were transferred overseas to Italy and we never had the heart or courage to ask for him back...Macduff who we had found a home for, was gifted back to us,and I was overwhelmed with the lady's generosity, she had other dogs and they all went to groomers every other week! pampered lifestyle they all led...poor Duffy,he was back with us... we were always dog people..LOL we were privileged to own Kyle, Maduff and Laddie and they were the sweetest loving dogs imaginable....
We have owned several cats over the years, starting with Oscar, Zeke ( my now daughter in laws cat that they could not keep when her mother moved) we actually found a home for Zeke,but to our amazement he was so bad! they brought him back to us, and he waltzed in the door like he owned the place! and had never left us. Murphy the rascal! a little orange stray we found at a yard sale! then Elmo , Beau Beau, Molly then Violet, who we renamed Morgan, a gorgeous silver Siamese cat with violet eyes that we adopted at pound to be a friend for Molly.said she only belonged to a little old lady....they forgot to mention she hated cats and dogs and kids!! took me six months to get her out of hiding, and she finally escaped outside, though they said she was a housecat, she hated house!! if a people person went to her she would love on them all day!! we think they miss-spelled her name and it was meant to be violent!!
When we moved here three years ago, we could not take her ,but she is happy living at my daughters and even puts up with her cat Monty, though she still will not come inside!!
Monty is the most beautiful cat I ever saw.....long haired orange fluff ball ....when my son in law said he could get me his brother from his friend, even dear hubby was all for it, so next day he brought over the homeliest cat we ever set eyes on...not even good markings! grey tabby with four white socks and front!! I honestly do not remember what we originally called him , I could tell you what I called my son in law and his friend though!! He was always "Buzzy" to us, as he had the strangest coat, I wondered if he was half raccoon!
Our Molly was fixed and ten months old and actually let that big baby nurse on her!! she had no milk but they would cuddled up together and he would suck away!! too too funny!
He turned into the most regal big tom cat, though neutered and if not beautiful, he was quite striking.....and we did finally break him from nursing!! (several years later,tiny cute helpless Jimmy she wanted nothing to do with! and still doesn't can't blame her LOL))
He rarely left the yard, and since my neighbours cats had been killed by dogs I was doubling my efforts to keep them in....sadly this past summer he just disappeared, no trace of him,we searched and tried all the pounds, put up flyers....I cried for days!! and still miss my big boy!
Our two remaining cats,Molly and Jimmy are very much treasured....and I am not allowed by the association have any more cats..2 is the limit, though we snuck three in here when we moved, they were all alike just different sizes ,so no one knew we had three, in fact when Buzzy disappeared a neighbour brought this tiny grey cat to our door and asked dear hubby if it was the one we lost? Hubby answered no, it is the little one we own, and thanks for bringing him back,I asked him who had been at door I was watching TV, and sharing bed with cats, He told me neighbour just brought our Jimmy back and what was wrong with him as he rarely leaves the yard? I was like umm! sweetheart and pointed to our two lazy lumps lying snoozing on bed....Yikes! his face changed color as he dashed through the house to find the interloper!!. who was curled up on our guest room bed, poor cat had a rude awakening and a ruder exit!! did I mention hubby is having eye surgery?
But! there is this cute little black and white kitten always hanging around....my daughter named him Oreo, which is a nerve considering she does not live here, I am praying someone nice owns him and takes care of him.........
Margaret DeVries
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