Barney is an Angel Now.

[MBones]

Lara,

I just read your update about Barney and my monitor blurred up again. I have also planned on lighting candles until Friday, with special prayers offered up in Eastern time zone, to help his passing.

This little guy continues to amaze me. I cannot read this thread anymore with out getting all choked up over him, and he's not even my kitty. Prayers to you and Barney throughout the week as well. I cannot get over the impact that he has had on every one of us. Amidst all of the sadness and letting go, the unity, hope and love that he has brought us is a beautiful thing indeed.

You will not be alone on Friday.....we'll be with you in spirit.

Mary

[jennielynn1970]

I just realized you'll be putting Barney to sleep on my birthday. It makes me sad, but I know it's his day, and all the candles on my cake will definitely light the way for him, lol. It's silly to be thinking of myself, how it's sad it's on my day, but I can share that with him, and will so gladly. He's grown to be such a part of my heart, across the miles, that I don't know that I'll ever forget about him ever.

I'll be thinking of Barney on Friday at about 5:15, and will have my candles ready and waiting, and I won't be blowing them out.

Love you Barn Barn, I wish we could have met. I wish you would have been able to get better and we all could have met you on a summer day full of sunshine and butterflies and a picnic or something that maybe we crazy Barney lovers could have pulled together. Just because.

I wish you would have gotten healthy enough because I really wanted to come and get you this summer and add you to my crew. I really thought of that a lot, and Lara knows if you had been healthy enough, I would have found a way to get to you and, if the trip would have been safe enough, I would have brought you back to PA with me (if Lara would have relinquished you at that point, lol).

I'll miss you, sweet Barney Frog. I'll miss the videos and the grumpy faces you made at the camera. I know you've gotten more love than you've probably ever received in your lifetime, but know that we all just wanted to see a miracle happen, and wanted you to get better. You're our Barney. You're in all of our hearts now, and it hurts to think of letting go.

Major LES here....

[Medusa]

I just realized you'll be putting Barney to sleep on my birthday. It makes me sad, but I know it's his day, and all the candles on my cake will definitely light the way for him, lol. It's silly to be thinking of myself, how it's sad it's on my day, but I can share that with him, and will so gladly. He's grown to be such a part of my heart, across the miles, that I don't know that I'll ever forget about him ever.

I'll be thinking of Barney on Friday at about 5:15, and will have my candles ready and waiting, and I won't be blowing them out.

Love you Barn Barn, I wish we could have met. I wish you would have been able to get better and we all could have met you on a summer day full of sunshine and butterflies and a picnic or something that maybe we crazy Barney lovers could have pulled together. Just because.

I wish you would have gotten healthy enough because I really wanted to come and get you this summer and add you to my crew. I really thought of that a lot, and Lara knows if you had been healthy enough, I would have found a way to get to you and, if the trip would have been safe enough, I would have brought you back to PA with me (if Lara would have relinquished you at that point, lol).

I'll miss you, sweet Barney Frog. I'll miss the videos and the grumpy faces you made at the camera. I know you've gotten more love than you've probably ever received in your lifetime, but know that we all just wanted to see a miracle happen, and wanted you to get better. You're our Barney. You're in all of our hearts now, and it hurts to think of letting go.

Major LES here....

Well, try to look at it this way, Jennie: Jesus didn't command us to celebrate his birth, only to commemorate his death, emphasizing among other things, naturally, the importance of the transition from one life to the next. This will be a rebirth for our Barney. I think probably all of us at PT wanted to make him a member of our household; I know that I sure did. He'd make a wonderful member of our Fur Posse but he's right where he's meant to be, fulfilling his purpose. So many of us don't know our purpose in life and yet Barney lives his every day and he struggled against all odds to do it. All the days of cold, starvation, cruelty, illness and misery were erased w/one swoop of Lara's loving arms when she took him into her care and the outpour of love from the world over that he has caused transcends all belief, religion, race and color. He has united us all in love; that is his purpose and he's fulfilled it well and w/dignity. My hope is that I can learn from his example and fulfill my purpose in the same manner, that I can experience a similar symbolic rebirth, that we all can.

The instant that Barney takes his last breath there will be more kittens entering our world who, unfortunately, may experience the same conditions that Barney did but due to his brief sojourn into our lives, we all will have been changed and ever more alert to the suffering of cats and animals everywhere and will give them comfort in the way that Lara has done. I am humbled by this saga and although I would never want Barney or any animal to suffer, I feel privileged to have been a small part of it.

[shepgirl]

I think Medussa summed this up the best and I feel exactly the same way. Medussa you always seem to know the right answers.
I guess it's a part of pet ownership all of us have trouble dealing with but we have to do what's best for our friends.

[Randi]

Thank you for updating us, Lara. I'm glad to hear that Barney still wants to eat and talk to you when you visit him, and don't appear to be in pain.
I'm also glad that you have made the decision, because I agree he doesn't have a quality life, and it will get worse. None of us want him to go through more suffering.

Oh, I so wish he could have come to you a year or two ago, while he may have been in a condition to save, but at least he has had so much love and care in the past few months, and will have, until the end.

Barney is in my thoughts and I will light candles for him every day. And Lara, my thoughts are with you also. We're all thankful for all the help you have given him. Few others would have been so dedicated.

Big hugs and lots of kisses to Barney. Will you stroke him gently along his whiskers for me? Fister loves that, and I bet Barney will too.

[MoonandBean]

I'm just so grateful that Barney's last few months were spent loved, warm, fed and safe. You truly gave him a great gift. I'm sorry you have to go through this again. As always, you do what is best for the animal and I thank you for ALL you've done for him

[MBones]

Beautifully said. You both expressed very eloquently the essence of Barney and his mission here on earth.

Lara, please give him some scritches under his chin for me and some kisses too.

Love you, Barn Barn.

LES again.

Mary

[wolflady]

I know a lot of you may not remember me as I have been away from PT for a long long time, but I check in here from time to time and I saw this thread yesterday and began to read...and read. Hours went by yesterday as I read each post and got caught up in Barney's story. I just have to say bless all of you who have helped this little cat have a "happy ending". I don't think I will ever cease to be amazed by the generousity and big hearts of the members here at Pet Talk. This is really an amazing group of people. I'm sorry Barney wasn't able to pull through, but I agree with what MoonandBean said in that Barney's last few months were spent loved, warm, fed and safe. This really is a great gift.
I'll be thinking of Barney on Friday and bless you Lara and Scott for all you have done.

[jennielynn1970]

Well, try to look at it this way, Jennie: Jesus didn't command us to celebrate his birth, only to commemorate his death, emphasizing among other things, naturally, the importance of the transition from one life to the next. This will be a rebirth for our Barney. I think probably all of us at PT wanted to make him a member of our household; I know that I sure did. He'd make a wonderful member of our Fur Posse but he's right where he's meant to be, fulfilling his purpose. So many of us don't know our purpose in life and yet Barney lives his every day and he struggled against all odds to do it. All the days of cold, starvation, cruelty, illness and misery were erased w/one swoop of Lara's loving arms when she took him into her care and the outpour of love from the world over that he has caused transcends all belief, religion, race and color. He has united us all in love; that is his purpose and he's fulfilled it well and w/dignity. My hope is that I can learn from his example and fulfill my purpose in the same manner, that I can experience a similar symbolic rebirth, that we all can.

The instant that Barney takes his last breath there will be more kittens entering our world who, unfortunately, may experience the same conditions that Barney did but due to his brief sojourn into our lives, we all will have been changed and ever more alert to the suffering of cats and animals everywhere and will give them comfort in the way that Lara has done. I am humbled by this saga and although I would never want Barney or any animal to suffer, I feel privileged to have been a small part of it.

I know... I was just feeling overly emotional, lol.

I'm happy to share the day with Barney, if for no other reason than he'll be up there and my wish will be for him to be out of pain and free and happy again.

[weluvcats]

It continues to amaze me how this precious little man has brought all of us together. It is amazing how many of us continue to keep him and you on our minds.

I have believed for a long time now that God sends these precious creatures to be four-legged angels in our lives. I think we often believe that when one of these unfortunate animals crosses our path, we are helping to save them, and we are...But, I also believe that these angels are sent to us for our benefit, too. Several times over the course of my life, one of our cats (they have all been strays), has appeared, seemingly from nowhere, just when something difficult has or was about to befall me and/or my family. And every one of them has been such a blessing!

I believe that Barney is one of these angels. And when he leaves us here on earth, he will return to where he came from, and will enjoy comfort and peace at The Rainbow Bridge. Thank you Lara for giving him the love and protection that he so deserves.
Judy

[slick]

All of you have such a way with words that I could never express. I can only day Ditto!!!

I've also decided that reading this thread at work is not a good idea. Someone just came in and asked me why my face was wet....

I think for me what makes this even more heartwarming is the fact that you, Lara and Barney, are only a couple of ferry rides away from me. So close, yet so far away.

{{{hugs}}}

[Grace]

It continues to amaze me how this precious little man has brought all of us together. It is amazing how many of us continue to keep him and you on our minds.

I have believed for a long time now that God sends these precious creatures to be four-legged angels in our lives. I think we often believe that when one of these unfortunate animals crosses our path, we are helping to save them, and we are...But, I also believe that these angels are sent to us for our benefit, too. Several times over the course of my life, one of our cats (they have all been strays), has appeared, seemingly from nowhere, just when something difficult has or was about to befall me and/or my family. And every one of them has been such a blessing!

I believe that Barney is one of these angels. And when he leaves us here on earth, he will return to where he came from, and will enjoy comfort and peace at The Rainbow Bridge. Thank you Lara for giving him the love and protection that he so deserves.
Judy

Barney may be an angel of the 4-legged variety, but you, Lara, (and Scott) have been his angel.

As it is written in Matthew 25:40 -
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[Taz_Zoee]

The other day Taz was sitting as you described between sitting and laying down. I stood there and looked at him for a minute and was just thinking of Barney.

Little things like that will always remind me of "our" Barney Boy.

[kb2yjx]

You all are one bunch of great people!!! I was touched by each of your posts!! Friday, I will be home cooking for our amateur radio club dinner that evening. I will light a candle and put it on the stove(it will be safe there from the Clan), and while I cook, I can say some prayers for Barney , Lara, and Scott. I will put the other candle outside on the front porch before Barry and I leave to bring the food and set up for the dinner. In spirit, we all will be together. Lara, I really hope you will feel all the vibrations from all of us, one BIG hug to wrap around you as you hold Barney, when he leaves for the Bridge...Sandra

[Catty1]

Lara - what's our Barn up to these days? How's he been?