Fly Free, Sweet Sammy

(Thank you to the Cat Blogosphere for this beautiful badge)

Our hearts are utterly broken.  This afternoon, we said goodbye to our sweet, 19-year old cat, Sammy. We were so very blessed to have him here with us for almost seven years.

We always marveled at Sammy's ability to survive and keep on going. He was found in a feral cat colony, and ended up at PAWS when they rescued him from a kill shelter. Sammy was the closest thing to a real-life Superman(cat) we've ever known. Nothing, it seemed, could stop him. Not a pellet in his leg (discovered years later during an x-ray). Not bartonella (diagnosed when we first adopted him). Not chronic anemia, kidney disease, a heart murmur, arthritis, or hyperthyroidism. None of these were a match for our Dootie.

But with Sammy's health issues increasing (and Pancreatitis now in the mix) over the past few months, and with much greater speed over the past two weeks, we knew we might soon be faced with a most agonizing decision. After two days of watching him really struggle, and seeing a look in his eyes that told us he was tired of fighting, we knew it was time to say goodbye. Our compassionate veterinarian, Dr. L., and vet tech, M., came to our house, and our beloved Sammy slipped peacefully into eternal slumber in his favorite basket, with the mom and the dad petting and kissing him.

There are so many things we will miss about you, our special boy. Your sweet and gentle, happy go lucky nature (we never, ever heard you hiss or growl ... not even once). The way you would let all those kittens jump on top of you during your time at PAWS. Your funny sounding meow. The way you covered your eyes whenever you slept. Your sweet and contented smile whenever you were sleeping. The way you curled up between the mom's legs every night. The way you would lick the dad's big toe, and rub your head-y on it (for whatever reason, you didn't like the mom's toe very much). The way you loved being brushed, and tried to take the brush and do it yourself.  The way you would freeze your paw in mid-air while cleaning your face.  The way you could still move pretty fast when food was involved (or your brofur Moosey made you mad). Seeing you slumbering in your hammock, or your wooden bed. And of course, the love, joy and laughter you brought into our home each and every day.

Thank you Ann and the Zoolatry Girls, for this lovely image

Rainbow Bridge

 Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that 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 vigor; 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 each 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...

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There will never be another cat like you, Sammy. We love you always, sweet boy, and will see you when we get to the Rainbow Bridge. Wait for us, okay?

With all of our love,

Dad Kevin, Mom Tracey and brofur Moosey