Losing my Dude

LES here.

Hugs, Lizzie - give Dude one for me.

This is the right thing....thank you so much for truly and deeply loving this dear dear boy - he had the very best of his life with you. {{{{hugs}}}}

Stay in touch...we are all here for you.

I'm so sorry. :( Having been there myself, I know what you are going through and it's never easy. My thoughts and prayers are with you today/tonight and in the coming days.

Oh Lizzie, it's heartbreaking. :( I hope you can make Dude feel as comfortable as possible and free of pain. He knows he is loved. :)

(((((hugs)))))

I'm so sorry Lizzie. I was hoping that no news was good (or better) news.

I hope you will have someone there with you. It's so hard to do these things alone. My vet actually offered to drive me home the last two times because I was alone and was crying so hard. It's just such an emotional decision.

Just wanted to say that there is also a pup on the dog health page, Raven, who is 6mos old and they just found out that she has squamous cell carcinoma in her mouth/jaw. That is heartbreaking as well. They thought maybe it was some benign cyst.... I'm hoping she will be able to have some kind of surgery too. 6 months is awful young :(

Dude's is such a hard story to come to terms with.
All my thoughts are with you.

LES here :( Go in peace, sweet Dude.

Lizzie, I am so very sorry about Dude. What a beautiful boy kitty. I hope that you find comfort in knowing that he loves you so much and you love him too. Please call me if you need anything and I am hoping that life takes a good turn for you. I know things have been tough within your family, and one loss after another makes it even harder to understand. I hope that you know that I care about you and am thinking of you as well. HUGS Katie and kitties

RIP Dude. Please play with Chance when you are there. He will greet you with warm kitty kisses...

Lizzie, I'm so sorry to hear about Dude.:( I hope that you'll be able to make him as comfortable as possible during the time that he has left with you. RIP sweet boy.:(

Dude has been on my mind these past several days and a special prayer was offered for him in church this morning. How is he doing today?

Lizzie posted this on Friday.

Quote:

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I would love, I long for, one more time of his sitting on my lap while I'm on this computer, leaning into my body, I can feel him there as I write. It would be selfish of me to scoop him up now and sit him here, so I'll leave him where he feels most comfortable. By this evening, memories will be all I have, and then next week a box to put on a shelf of boxes with photos.

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Quote:

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I always tuck in something special to the cat when I wrap them in their blanket before returning them to the vet, after it's over. I've been reassured that isn't disturbed. Dude didn't like toys that much so I'm cutting off a small lock of my hair to tuck in with him, and some dark red quince blossoms.

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Jeez, this post just made me cry. All I can say is that it sounds like you've done the most wonderful thing that Dude could have ever asked for. You gave him many months in a warm, loving home with you, and like you said, he will pass away in the arms of someone who loves him, not in a cage. I'm sure that means the world to him. *hugs*

Thank you so very much, everyone, for your prayers, good wishes and support. It would have been much harder if I hadn't had PT to turn to when I needed to release my feelings. I am going to post about Dude in the memorial forum later but I can let you know now that Dude, as I had hoped, died peacefully in my arms at home on Friday late afternoon. He gave me the most incredible gift in the hour before he had to leave me. After I gave him his last pain med shot at 4pm, he became a little restless and I decided to try scooping him up very gently and putting him on my lap while I sat at the computer table. I thought he would get down, but for that last hour he sat quietly on my lap, leaning into me and purring softly as I stroked his back. He even gave me a few head bumps, two under the bosom (he always was a ladies' man) and one to my head. The vet who came was the partner who is excellent at these times, very soft-spoken, patient and understanding. While Dude lay in my arms after it was over, he told me that his 15-year-old Sharpei (?sp) had died that Monday. We talked for a while about letting go, trying not to be selfish, facing what we have to do, it was a very supportive talk. I spent five minutes with Dude after the vet left, tucking the lock of hair under his front leg and putting the flowers on him, telling him how much he had meant to me. Then I wrapped him in a small red blanket and took him back to the vet.

I think they know how to make us feel better even though they are dying. Animals are so unselfish that way, taking care of us even though they are in pain. Dude had a loving and wonderful life with you and I know he appreciates everything you did for him. It is so hard to let them go. I have had to do it many times and it never gets easier. I still grieve over the babies I have lost and hope to see them all one day when it is my time. Take care of yourself Lizzie, I will be thinking about you. If you need anything just let me know.
Melissa

I am so sorry to read about Dude. You wrote so lovingly about him, one could not help feel how much he meant to you...

I am so sorry to hear about Dude. I'm glad that he spent his last hour being very close to you. He knew how much he was loved.

Rest in Peace dear Dude. You were loved and will never be forgotten.

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Lizzie.