Farewell my Sweet Herald

[bmccasland]

It was a long weekend, and he just didn't feel good, so this morning I took Herald to the vet for the last time. He was a Christmas cat, picking me out at the Flagstaff, AZ Humane Society Shelter - Me! Me! Pick me! - his little paw grabbing at me from between the cage bars. His loud meow earned him his name, something of a bad pun - Hark, the HERALD. We did 4 more moves together, along with his older sister, Bonnie. He's now pain free, and was gently helped across the Rainbow Bridge.

I know it was the right decision, but it still sucks. I'll miss his neck nuzzling, and guiding my hand over to pet him, or trying to steal my yougurt spoon.

So long sweet boy.

[Blueberry]

((((((Beth)))))))

I hope that, in time, you'll be able to take comfort in the happy memories that you have and that they will help ease your pain.

[OakLeaf]

((((((Beth)))))) I'm so sorry for your loss.

[TsPoet]

Singing out the good news over the bridge
((((Beth))))

[Veronica]

I'm so sorry. It's so hard to lose our babies.

Veronica

[indysteel]

(((((Beth))))). I am so, so sorry about Herald. I know how tough such decisions are. What a trooper Herald was, and you took such loving care of him. Hugs to you and your other furbabies.

[Tri Girl]

oh, Beth. I'm so terribly sorry you had to let Herald go. :( I know he's thankful that you made the right decision and let him go peacefully. He misses you as much as you miss him, and while making the decision was difficult, you did the right thing. Hugs to you. So sorry for your loss. :(

[Bike Writer]

Beth,

So sorry to hear, it's hard to loose our furry and feathered friends. My dearest friend from childhood became a vet and has created a website for persons who are grieving over the loss of their family companions http://www.drgalka.com/. There are also manuscripts available for download on two books she has written about animals and the afterlife.

[redrhodie]

(((Beth))) I'm so sorry.

[hebe]

I'm so sorry, Beth. Herald sounds like a great cat.

Doing the right thing is such a hard choice.

[spokewench]

So, Sorry, Beth. Big Kitty (who lived in Flagstaff for the second half of his life) went to the Rainbow Bridge last year in January. I'm sure he will meet Herald with a little swat at the bridge, not too hard, just enough to show him who the boss is from Flag!

Hang in there, it is always so hard to lose our kiddos.

spoke

[Catrin]

((((Beth)))) my sympathies, I am sorry for your loss.

[ClockworkOrange]

((((Beth)))) I am so sorry to hear your sad news, it's so horrible losing one of your best pals.

I suspect Herald is now happy the other side of the Rainbow bridge.

Think back on the lovely memories you have, especially losing your yogurt spoon to him.

Hugs.

[JennK13]

(((Beth))) :'( so sorry to hear of your loss. Take comfort in knowing you did the right thing, and smile at your memories together.

[Owlie]

I'm so sorry. :(

[Koronin]

I'm so sorry. (((HUGS)))

[Crankin]

Thinking of you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Beth, I'm so sorry. Herald was a lucky kittie to have such a loving mother.
may you find comfort now in your happy memories of him. You did the right thing, of course.
I am actually going through the same thing with my kittie Pearl right now, who has been hanging on for dear life for the past two months, always faking us out each time and making 'one last stand' after another.
I am bringing her to the vet tomorrow, and depending on what the vet says about what awful new thing is going on in her poor little mouth now (on top of everything else she's struggling with), we may have to go home in an empty car, just like you had to do today today.
I would have brought her today, but we had a 22" snow blizzard and everything was simply closed and snowed in.

I feel for you- it's so very hard losing our 'babies', isn't it? But we just have to do the right thing for them if they are suffering.

[bmccasland]

Thank you everyone for your zen hugs and wishes. Bonnie cat is now sacked out on the woobie that our vet had ready for us - some final scent before he was eased out of this life.

BleekerSt - I was feeding Herald soft food mixed with warm water in his final weeks. He could lap it up. His soft food was a pate type, not shreds or flakes. Someone at the grocery store also suggested meat baby food as it's ground even finer. Herald liked it and ate a whole jar. Maybe Pearl would like baby food? Unfortunately it doesn't come in tuna flavor. Other option is to poach some meat, and then grind it in a food processor. Good luck, and you have my sympathies. It is hard. :(

[emily_in_nc]

Beth, so sorry to hear this news. It is always such a hard thing to have to say goodbye to a beloved pet. And at the holidays, maybe even harder. My sympathies - you were a good mom to Herald. :(

[NbyNW]

(((Beth))) So sorry for your loss. Reading your posts about Herald this last year or so, I got the impression that he was hanging on to make sure you were properly settled in your new life in the PNW.

It's funny, how our pets take care of us, when we think we're the ones taking care of them . . .

[azfiddle]

Sorry to hear about Herald- I know you will miss him.

[badger]

all too often I see these sad farewells to our friends, and I feel for them every single time. Herald is certainly in very good company with a lot of other friends who have crossed the rainbow bridge.

I'm really sorry for your loss, take care.

[Aggie_Ama]

Herald was lucky to have you and it sounds like he made sure you knew you were lucky to have him. Those little paw prints they leave on our hearts sure do hurt when they have to leave us for good. But then one day all you do is smile remembering you had a great friend. (((Beth)))

[PamNY]

I'm so sorry. It's hard to lose them. I hope happy memories bring you peace.

[Selkie]

"there is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals. It is a cycle unlike any other. To those who have never lived through its turnings or walked its rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with full knowledge that they will be broken seems incomprehensible. Only we know how small a price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given. Writing his essay, 'The Once Again Prince," animal lover and gifted writer, Irving Townsend summed it up: 'We who chose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle easily and often breached. Unable to accept is awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.' It is a fragile circle. But it goes round and round without end." (from "If a Dog's Prayers were Answered...Bones Would Rain from the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier)

Herald is gone but he's not, Beth. Agnes and Maud, golden retrievers with angel wings, will watch over him at Rainbow Bridge...

[Bike Chick]

That's a tough one, Beth. I'm so sorry.

[channlluv]

(((Beth and Herald)))

Great story about his name. I like that.

Much love.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

BleekerSt - I was feeding Herald soft food mixed with warm water in his final weeks. He could lap it up. His soft food was a pate type, not shreds or flakes. ...Good luck, and you have my sympathies. It is hard. :(

Thanks Beth. Pearl has been lapping up soft pate cat food mixed with water for weeks now- it's all she could handle. But I'm afraid she is too far gone now, and likely tonight we'll be helping her go to play with your sweet Herald.

I like what Selkie wrote here about the 'fragile circle' we choose when we take creatures into our lives and our hearts.

Hugs of comfort to everyone caring for and saying goodbye to their precious fur babies...

[GLC1968]

((((Beth)))), I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Trek420]

(((beth)))) very sorry for your loss. :(

[surgtech1956]

So sorry for your loss. We loss one of our cats this week too, Patches, she was 21 years. Our fuzzy children will be forever in our hearts.

[indysteel]

Nancy, so sorry for your loss as well. (((())).

[nancielle]

So sorry to hear of the loss of Herald and of Patches. I'm sure they crossed Rainbow Bridge knowing how very much loved they were.

"Until one has loved an animal,
a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
-Anatole France

"There is no death. Only a change of worlds."
- Chief Seattle

"Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened."
-Dr. Seuss

Your beloved fur babies will always be with you in the love and happiness they inspired in your lives.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Nancy & Beth,
I feel for you both- it's so hard and so sad to get through this time. may you both heal through loving memories of your fur babies.
I too had to be there comforting my own Pearl kitty this evening, as she was put to sleep.

[bambu101]

Beth- I am so sorry for your loss. It is hard to let go, even if it is right thing to do.

[Blueberry]

((((Nancy and Lisa)))))

[bmccasland]

(((((Lisa & Nancy)))))
So sorry about Pearl and Patches. They can meet Herald in the special TE neighborhood. Warm sun, cool breezes, and butterflies just out of reach.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So sorry about Pearl and Patches. They can meet Herald in the special TE neighborhood. Warm sun, cool breezes, and butterflies just out of reach.

Yes!

[ClockworkOrange]

"Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened."
-Dr. Seuss


That quote can mean so much, whether fur babies or other. :o I shall definitely remember that one.

Sorry to hear about Patches too.

Hugs all round.