Mar 31 2008
Ode To Fred
I’m taking our 14 year old cat (the black and white one) to the veterinarian in about an hour to be euthanized. She never was a friendly cat, but she’s become worse the past year: swiping at our other cat and anyone who gets to close to her; not using the litter box regularly; isolating herself from everything. She still has that growth on her leg, but it hasn’t gotten worse. We took her to the vet a few months ago about her behavior and they agreed - her behavior is probably due to age and who knows what’s growing in her.
Fred was never tolerant to people; not your ideal cat; however, she was our pet for 14 years. She’s more my wife’s pet than mine, but still, it’s hard.
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Tags: cats, pets
My sister had to take her dog to get put down once. There was nothing wrong with the dog, but she was moving out of province, couldn’t take the dog with her, and couldn’t find a home for it. The SPCA refused to take the dog. She was heartbroken. She put all the dogs toys in a supermarket bag, put the dog in the car and went to the vet. She dropped the dog off and quickly left. Grief-stricken, she managed to stop at the grocery store on the way home to buy a few things. On her way home, still teary eyed, she swung past a warehouse, stopped by the dumpster in the back and threw out the dog’s “personal” effects. She got home, brought in her bag of groceries and… she still had the bag of dog’s toys… she had thrown her groceries in the dumpster.
I hate it when that happens.
THAT IS A FUNNY STORY STEVE!
Sometimes I wonder if you just make it up.
Imagine if they put humans down for being old and grumpy. I remember when I worked at Shoppers years ago, there was this old lady that we called “The Tax Lady.” Every time you would ring in her items, she would scream at you because the total was always 15% more then the subtotal. It was like I personally taxed her item(s). All I could think of was just one punch, that’s all it would take to put her out of her misery of paying taxes.
How do the kids feel about it?
My guess is, they won’t even notice.
We told them about it when we first made the decision, reminding them occasionally about it. Iain won’t care. Caitlyn has been saying “Poor Fred” recently, but she didn’t appear to be sad about it. The kids are used to us talking about mortality (due to personal reasons).
I picked the kids up today after work for a visit to their grandparents. Caitlyn saw the empty pet carrier in the car and asked, “Is Fred gone forever now?”
“Yup, she’s gone,” I said.
“Good. Jah will like that.”
Jah is our other cat that Fred sometimes terrorized.
So how do YOU feel, Jody? When are you getting a new cat?
I handled it well, unlike my last pet (Blue, a dog). Held Fred down on her side, calming her as the vet shaved her hind leg and injected the death drug. She was dead within 30 seconds. I asked if they took the animals for research at vet school (in PEI), but they said they get more than enough animals from shelters and such. I didn’t hang around after the procedure; I left within a minute, then paid the $80 bill. The staff were trying to be respectful around me, talking in soft tones and shit like in a funeral home. I wasn’t deeply bothered by the whole thing, heartless beast I am.
We’re not getting a new cat any time soon. Next adventure is a dog. A Newfoundland dog.
I handled it well, unlike my last pet (Blue, a dog). Held Fred down on her side, calming her as the vet shaved her hind leg and injected the death drug.
Jesus. Holding him while he got injected, I don’t know. That can’t be easy.
Ever think of rescuing a grey hound instead of a getting a Nfld dog?
Ever think of rescuing a grey hound instead of a getting a Nfld dog?
They’re not the kind of dog I like, although I like the idea behind it. After we get the Newfoundland dog we may get another dog, and that will come from a shelter or rescue centre.
I’d be pretty bummed if Nigel died. I don’t like thinking about it.
Me thinks the children may be having a similar conversation when my time comes….
I wonder if I will have to shave my leg…