Yesterday was supposed to be a full day of making art work for me. Instead, I had to help my cat of 16 years leave this world and go to a better place. He lived a full life and has been battling feline diabetes for the past 3 years. In the last 6 months, my family knew that the time was fast approaching to help Helper transition to a better more comfortable place. The past week has been particularly hard on him and my family as he physically deteriorated and could no longer stand or walk. I had been avoiding calling his vet and making the dreaded appointment, but when I came home from doing my errands yesterday I knew I couldn’t delay any longer.
I was with him until the end, and I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to let him go. I know I did the right thing, but it doesn’t ease the pain. I arranged for a friend to pick my daughter up from school, so that I would spare her the pain of going to the vet’s office with me. Even our dog Zuzu knew that something was wrong with Helper. She had taken to giving him a big lick on his head whenever she walked past his resting place.
My mom sent me a great pet tribute titled The Journey by Crystal Ward Kent. I’ll leave you with an exerpt:
Tags: pet euthanasiaWhen you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet’s time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.
But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more. “Godspeed, good friend,” we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
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