For the Love of Pets
I am not sure about the rest of you, but when a pet is brought into my home it becomes part of my family. They are just furry kids. I have a tendency to treat them like babies. And I love them so. I am an empath so I feel the emotions of other people and often the feelings emanating from animals. I feel pain, and confusion when I happen to pass by an animal struck by a vehicle. I feel hurt and love coming from my own pets.
So I guess it is not all that strange to feel such overwhelming emotion when one of my beloveds pass on. My familiar, (my beagle/border collie mix) Mutt passed into Summerland in the summer of 94. He was 14. I often get "a dog was your familiar?" Yes, he was. He was attuned to my feelings and knew just how to lighten my life. He was with me as I communed with nature. He was with me when I danced in the moonlight. He is with me today.
Our cat, Nike, became attached to my daughter. He was a tuxedo cat and we had him in out lives for 17 years. When my daughter went away to college he would go up and down the hall calling for her - is sounded just like him screaming "Cheryl". He crossed over to Summerland in 2007. He also comes back to visit - he used to sleep between my husband's and my pillows. I still feel the pressure of that body & t is not the cats we have now - none of them dare take that spot. They try & then look scared & move.
Spike (beagle/fox terrier mix) was the dog we got shortly after the passing of Mutt. My son (2 at the time) wanted a dog & he named him Spike. They were very close. They grew up together. Spike often got in trouble for going after anyone he thought was hurting my son. He passed onto Summerland after 17 years with us. My son was devastated. Spike had the habit while he was alive to come up behind me when I was at the kitchen sink and press his whole body against the back of my legs. After he passed I was up early packing my husband's lunch & was standing at the sink. I felt that familiar pressure against my legs and said the thing I always said "Spike, I love you too, but I have to get this done", however halfway through I remembered he was no longer with us in physical form.
Eight months after Spike passed we adopted 2 black kittens. They were brothers & did everything together. Little fuzz balls. We named them Ghost and Darkness. They fit into the family so well. Ghost was the bigger boy and he had the "tom cat" attitude, with a soft side when it came to cuddling with mom. Darkness was my little pixie. He was sweet and loving. He was not a lap sitter, but would lay beside you and preen. I loved them so very much. Ghost has become my new familiar. He watches as I do rituals and loves the chanting.
In 2019 Darkness had some issues and after a few months passed. My heart was broken & still is. My little pixie was gone. I try to tell myself he is waiting for me in Summerland, but it doesn't help. Unlike the ones that came and went before I have not felt him with me after his passing. I miss him so very much. So did Ghost. He began to lose weight and lose interest in all things (even his catnip). The vet suggested we find a companion for him so four months after Darkness passed we adopted Onyx.
She is a black active, mischievous soul. She gets into some of the strangest places & positions. She is a cuddler of sorts, but does have the tendency to nip. She has earned a place in my broken heart.
So why post this here? I know that my furry babies are still with me (for the most part) and tend to let me know it when they feel like I have forgotten them or have not thought of them often enough.
Sadly I do not have pictures of Mutt that I can upload today - I will have to scan them in & then post them.
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Great article and very true.
This is Wiki and Annie, Annie is the bigger one. Sadly our sweet girl Annie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2018 and we miss her dearly.
They look comfy. It is so hard when one goes on. It has been almost two years & I still cry when I think of Darkness. How did Wiki handle the loss?
Wiki would stand next to Annie's bed and stare at it, the same with Annie's food dish.
She missed her a lot.
We had to buy a new food dish for Onyx because Ghost wouldn't let her eat out of Darkness' dish. He has finally allowed her to sleep next to him on the cushion the boys shared.
This is my Wally looking pathetic because he wants food. Are you shocked?
And my daughters' cats.... this is Finn
And this is Albus. He has a sister, but she is shy:
The way Wally is looking at the camera is exactly the look I get from Ghost when he thinks his dish needs food.
They are all so pretty.
I think Wally is getting a belly.
I like Albus's look especially his chin
I am surprised no one noticed the painted nails.
Now I did
I did not notice that.
When I had to put my beloved Missy down I would hear her footsteps in the hallway for days. It was a distinctive sound, nails clicking on tile. I missed her so much I didn't want another dog and had to be lied to get another one.
It always amazed me that each of them would do something that they knew I would recognize to let me know they were there. Except for Darkness.
Did they tell you it wasn't a dog?
No, I was told that Buster would go to the pound if we didn't take him.
Guilt trip.
Yep, that is how I ended up with 2 little fur balls instead of one.
Has Buster wormed his way into your heart?
He did. He really was more my dog than anyone else's. But then he was mauled by a coyote and passed away.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Thank-you
I remember you talked about that. That would have been awful.
Our Samson and Sylvester haven't visited us in quite some time; not since we got Palooza and Rocky. I think they realized that we're okay now.
Samson
Sylvester with my son about 10-11 years ago.
Palooza our 17.5 lb. fat-ass cat
Rocky our "mama's boy"
I can see that being the case.
It took my husband some time to warm up to Rocky. I didn't tell him that we were doing a trial adoption until the day it occurred.
Then, Rocky never left. He finally admitted why he didn't want any more pets; he thought he would be solely responsible for when it comes time for them to cross the rainbow bridge. I said, "These are pets that I decided on and acquired; this isn't on you. When it comes time to make a decision, it's on me with Palooza and Rocky." Since then, my husband has been more relaxed and enjoys their company.
It took some time for Palooza to be okay with Rocky too. She's now 6 years old. She was 3 [almost 4] when we got her and Rocky wasn't a year old yet when we got him August 2019. Now... I think that if either of them were gone for any length of time, they'd miss each other... even though Rocky still irritates Palooza sometimes.
Good looking family
Thanks. They're brats, but they're lovable brats.