Barney is an Angel Now.

[Emeraldgreen]

is a wonderful thing. If I lived in your area, I'd be right there with you. We could use something like that in my area as well.

Please let us know how your group goes. Good luck! I think I'm going to call our animal shelter and see if there is any interest in starting something like that here.

Also, and I know that I and the rest of us here at PT have said this to you before, but I'm going to say it again...God bless you and Scott for everything that you have done for Barney. Not everone would be as selfless, patient and loving as you have been with this sick, homeless angel. Many, if not all of us here at PT have likely been in a similar situation with a needy animal, so we can all appreciate the lengths that you have gone to for Barney. You truly have been Barney's angels.

I'm sorry Barney didn't have a good day... Bless his heart...The time really is approaching...In the meantime, I, along with the rest of us PT'ers, am going to keep praying and lighting candles, virtual and real, to help light Barney's way to the Bridge. Bless you all...:love
Judy

That would be so great if you could get some help together for feral and/or abandoned cats in your area.

Thanks for the kind words about taking care of Barney. Someone else said something really similar a few pages back and I've looked for it but can't find it now. I meant to reply to it but somehow didn't. I feel certain that everyone who has posted in this thread, and everyone who has read this thread would do the same. And so many have. I could list them all but the post would be a mile long! But Jenluckenbach's rescues and Jenn_Librarian's and Purr_tender's Wilson, Katie's Splinter and Mary's Buddy and Ellie's Sherbie and rg_girlca's Minou. Oh my gosh I could just keep going and going. Everyone here is so giving and kind and I feel blessed that Barney crossed my path. But I know if he crossed any of yours, he'd be in YOUR bathroom, or even better, maybe your livingroom or bedroom!
Anyway, thanks for posting that because I really wanted to say that and have been thinking about it for awhile.

Nomilynn wrote:

I just sat and read through all 34 pages. I read the first few posts when this thread started, but then I didn't come back until tonight.

A long time ago someone on this site posted a really special story called "Choosing Tears" and I've kept it bookmarked all this time. Here is the link to the thread: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...=chosing+tears As I read through about Barney I was really drawn to this story, because people who love like you, do it comletely and without thinking of yourself. Barney was blessed to have you for these last few months. Just think how wonderful it will be for him, to move on to the Bridge only remembering love and warmth, and most importantly without fear of where his next meal will come from or trying to find shelter. I truly believe that his memories will only be that of you, Scott and Angela, and what a blessing for him to have!

When I lost my Bassett I was so overwhelmed with grief. The words of my friends at PT really helped me and I hope you can take comfort in them. One post has always resignated in my mind. I remember it every time I look at a picture of Bassett, and I want to share it with you as well, because I think you will find comfort in it.
These words were written by gini, and I have always treasured them. Now, they make me think of you and Barney.

Thank you for caring for him and loving him.

Naomi

Thank you Naomi. I really appreciate that and the words that Gini wrote for you are so kind and caring. I'm so sorry you lost Bassett, it's so tough. The thought of there being a Rainbow Bridge pretty much keeps me going. There just has to be a Heaven and a place where will see them again. I'm sure of it.
I will have a look at the thread 'Choosing Tears' over the next couple of days. Thanks for sharing that link.

Pomtzu wrote:

Another candle lit in the BarnB group.

Thanks Ellie.

Randi wrote:

I'm in tears that Barney has to go, but we all know that it is the right time for him. He made a huge impact on us all, and he got to know love and comfort in his last time here.

Lara, I'm sure he must have been someone's cat before, and probably wandered off in recent years, so I'm going to believe he's been happy most of his life.

More kisses to Barney - and hugs to you and Scott.

I too lit a candle for you Barney, there are now 17, and I'm sure there will be more.

Have a safe journey, dear sweet Barney, you will be missed so much, but never ever forgotten.

Lara, it is 2.30pm BC time you have the appoinment, right? That will be 10.30pm GMT. I will have candles lit at home for sure.

Yes, that's right, I'll arrive around 2:30 but his appointment is 2:40 but I'm pretty sure they will be able to see us as soon as I get there. Thanks for lighting a candle for Barney and thanks for the hug!

kb2yjx wrote:

Just lit 3 candles on the candle site! That is a great site!!! THANK YOU!!! Prayers that Barney has a comfortable day....

Thanks for the candles and the prayers.

stinkymom wrote:

What time?
Please, what will the time be in the central time zone? I can't figure it out.

Another candle lit - SS

I'm a Stinky's mom too! I have a 7.5 year old tuxie girl named Stinky who goes by various nicknames of Stinkerbelle, Stinks, Stinker-roo, Stinkybink. She is very spoiled.
I'm sorry I don't know the time off hand regarding Central time but someone posted a link to time zones and I think someone posted an answer for you a few posts after yours.
Thank you for lighting a candle for our Barney Bear.

MBones wrote:

Lara, you will be. I wish I could be there with you to hold Barney and to give you a hug. I will definately be thinking of you both tomorrow afternoon.
I am so sorry that he is not doing well today. Perhaps this is his sign to you that it is his time? I believe that he knows that you are agonizing over this decision, so he is letting you know that this one last final act of kindness that he is requesting of you will be granted. I pray that he is comfortable and pain free so that your remaining time together is memorable.
Oh Lara, that is my candle that I lit for Barney. I wondered if I was being selfish to ask him to do so, but it brought such comfort to me to know that he would be with my beloved Emma, as well as all the other PT pets who await their loved one's reunion. It helps me to deal with his loss, as well with my Emma's, who I still miss. (I have added her pic to my album.) Thinking of you and Barney,
Mary

Yes, the not so good day he had and the 'just okay' day he had today is actually helping me be 100% certain about my decision. It is absolutely unbelievable how this cancer has spread since he's been off the pred. It's a situation that can only get worse so I know it's unfair to let it continue and that letting him go tomorrow will give him the peace he so deserves.
I'm so glad you mentioned your cat Emma in the candle message. The reason it brought tears to my eyes was because it made me remember that we all feel so much love with these wonderful animals and then we all have to go through such a tough time when we say goodbye. The wondering if they are happy where they are now and if they know how much we love them seemed so evident when you wrote that and it is how I feel about every cat I've lost. Thank you for writing that and I have asked Barney to look for Emma when he gets there. I know he is hard of hearing but some believe that animals think in 'pictures' and if you think exactly what you want to convey, but in pictures, rather than words, then they are supposed to pick up on it. I looked at Emma's picture in your album today and pictured her when I sent Barney the images. Not sure if it works but it sure doesn't hurt to try.
I've been trying to send Barney 'thought pictures' of him going with me for a car ride tomorrow and then curling up and having a very cozy sleep with no pain. And then I try and picture Rainbow Bridge so he can see it.

It's kind of weird because he's acting a bit different. When I walked into his room when I got home from work, I gave him some food. Then I went to get some paper towels to clean up the pee and when I came back in and knelt down to do the usual cleaning, he raced over and put his paw on my foot and just looked me in the eyes. He has never done that and it was really neat. I felt like he was trying to tell me something, or that he understood what was going to be happening with him tomorrow.

3catcondo wrote:

I lit a candle for BarnB. Lara, it was my pleasure to contribute some more to his medical expenses, and hopefully it will be put towards making his trip to the RB painfree and stressfree. I will also help contribute to his cremation if you will let me. Thanks again for all you have done! Prayers to you and Barney tomorrow around 5:30 my time.

Thank you for the candle Amy and for your donation. Please don't worry about contributing anything else. You've been so generous and I have appreciated it very much. I'm happy to take care of the remaining bill for Barney. Thank you again.

Pinot's Mom wrote:

candle #27

Peace and Godspeed Barney, and Peace to your family as well.

look for my babies Jamara & CK - They've been there a while, they'll show you around!

Thank you for the candle and well wishes. I will tell Barney to lookout for your Jamara and CK. Also Mary's Puddy and Candace's Pyka and my big Maine Coon Tiger and everyone else's beautiful pets that have crossed over.

Catty1 wrote:

When my dad had cancer, he got prednisone for the last couple of months. It reduced swelling, but pred really boosts the appetite. As Mom said, "He ate like he was going to live forever."

So Barney's great appetite was likely due to the prednisone...and the diabetes and the tumour took all the good nutrition away from our Barn!

I hope your day with Barney is as peaceful as possible. Barney even has a few toasts in the Thursdays cyber-bar in Dog House.

Is Scott going with you?

HUGS and one more kiss on that dear tuxie forehead. (More, if he'll let you! )

I'm sorry to hear about your dad Candace. I lost mine to cancer too. I hate this disease.
But you're right, the pred must have kicked his appetite into overdrive and now it is quite a bit less. But today he has had a better appetite which is good because it means he gets all his pain meds. I'm giving him 4 drops of metacam in the a.m. and 4 drops in the p.m. I was only supposed to give him 2 drops a day but at this point, he seems to be handling pretty well and I think it's helping him.
I'm so thankful that I don't have to give him the insulin shots anymore. He is such a skinny mini and it was hard to find enough of Barney to put the needle into. I think he is happy I'm not doing it anymore either.

Thanks for telling me about the Barney toasts going on in the Thursdays cyber bar in the Dog House. I've only looked on there one or two times before but I read all Barney toasts and thank you to all of you for thinking of Barney.

No, Scott will be saying his goodbye's to Barney here at the house and then Barns and I will make our way to the clinic.

I will certainly give Barney a forehead kiss for you. He lets me give him tons of those and he purrs when I do it and starts to do paddies with his paws. It's is the sweetest thing ever and always breaks my heart.

Mamaducky wrote:

Just visited Barney's candle page (he's up over 30 now), and am glad no one is nearby to see the tears. Lara, you know that hundreds of people will be with you and Barney in spirit and holding you up in prayer tomorrow; you've made everything as good for Barney as you possibly could, and now his life will have an ending with love and dignity and without pain.

I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to know you, even though we'll likely never actually meet -- you are a truly amazing person, and have been a blessing and an example to a lot of people (myself included) as you've gone about your work on behalf of Barney and feral cats. God bless you, sweetheart -- and Scott, too!
Much love,
Diana

I love how many candles are on that website. It reminds me of what Sandra PM'd me earlier. She said 'all the candles for Barney will outshine the sun!".
I really am going to stop and think about all you guys thinking about Barney and me while he crosses over. It means a great deal to me that so many people care enough to think of us and I just can't get over it.
Thank you for your caring words. I feel surrounded by people that you described in your post. It seems that everyone here is just that kind of person. Thank you for seeing that in me.

Maya and Inka's Mommy wrote:

forgot to write it here, but I lit a red candle for Barney all day! I hope he saw it, in this for him far away country Belgium

Thankyou for lighting a candle all the way from Belgium! Barney will see them far and wide tomorrow.

Purr_Tender wrote:

Mini Candle
I was checking Barney's candles and saw the link for the mini candle. If you go to the candle that you have lit, the mini link will be there. Click on it and you can minimize it and keep it burning in a corner of your screen while you are online. It feels good to see it. It is wonderful how many people this sweet boy has touched. We should all be so blessed.

Lara, I pray that Barney is having a better day today. Please give him a long, gentle hug from me. I love him dearly!!!
Huge bear hug for you!!!
Mary

I'm going to make my candle mini so I can continue to see it. Thanks for letting us know about that.
Barney is having a better day Mary. I'm so thankful for that. I'm still sure that it's time but at least he is eating normally again. His tumor is a mess though and he scratched it up pretty badly. The tumor has only been like this for a few days but it looks awful. I keep gently cleaning it up with a warm cloth and tonight I washed his paws to help keep the wound cleaner and to get him ready for tomorrow. He does NOT like it when I wash his feet but I use warm water and soap and try and do it as fast as I can. When I go to dry him with the towel, he attacks it. He still has such gusto considering everything.
Thanks for the hug for Barney and for me.

Slick wrote:

Candle #33 lit.

Thanks Slick.

Momtomany wrote:

I also lite a candle for our Barney and our Lara. Thank you both for blessing my life with your journey.

Thanks for that Julie.

weluvcats wrote:

Another candle lit...

I lit another candle this evening for our sweet Barney, and Lara and Scott...My heart is heavy tonight as tomorrow is fast approaching...But even though tomorrow will bring sadness, it will also bring peace for Barney's angels, Lara and Scott, and most importantly for Barney himself. Soon he'll be busy joyfully chasing ladybugs and butterflies at the Rainbow Bridge with the rest of our own beloved angels that have left us over the years.

I just checked...40 candles and counting...
Judy

Thank you Judy. My heart is also heavy. I need to go and spend some more time with our guy. I'm going to spend every single minute with him tomorrow as well.
I think you're right, tomorrow will bring peace for all of us. For me, it has been getting tough to watch him like this, knowing that I could bring him in at any second to end it. It's been weighing on me and I will find relief when that part of it is over. I will miss him with all my heart but I will be thankful that I won't have to see him be uncomfortable anymore.
I love the image of him chasing ladybugs and butterlies at the Bridge and will send those thought images to him when I go in to see him in a few minutes and hope that he sees them.
Wow, 40 candles. That is so amazing. Thank you everybody.

Cinder & Smoke wrote:

Here's a direct link to Barney's Group = BarnB
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/...l=eng&gi=BarnB

Find and *click* on an UNlighted candle - it will become Your Candle for Barney.
Follow the instructions that will appear beside your candle.
Safe Trip, Barney!
{{{HUGS}}} to You and Lara & Scott

Thank you for the direct link. I've fumbled around a few times looking for Barnb's group but always find it. This will save some time.
Thank you Phred for wishing Barney a safe trip tomorrow and for the hugs.

I will take a short video of Barney, either tonight or tomorrow and post it here. I took the sweetest video of him about 5 days ago that I've been saving for his Memorial post. It is my favourite video of him of all the ones I've taken and it just seemed right that it be the last one I post. So I will save that one for tomorrow night. But I will post a short one tomorrow before we go.
Thank you guys for everything. I'm just taking this one moment at a time and trying not to get overwhelmed. I know it's the right thing and just have to remember that.

[jennielynn1970]

If anyone wants to read a kid's picture book about a little cat that passes away, it's an oldie but goodie that still brings me to tears. It's by Judith Voirst, and it's called "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney". A little boy loses his cat, Barney, and his mom and dad say that he has to find 10 good things to say about him.

It's a tearjerker of a little book, and makes all the little girls at school cry, lol. But it's so tender and sweet.

Just thought I'd mention it. It's also got our boy's name in the title. Can't be bad there.

[weluvcats]

I'm familiar with Judith Viorst's work, but didn't know about this one. Thanks so much for telling us about it...Even though it's a children's book, everyone can appreciate the wonderful story. And the fact that the cat's name in the book is Barney, is so sweet and just perfect. Thanks again...

P.S. Thanks for the link, too!
Judy

[pomtzu]

Another candle for Barney - 53 now in 4 countries.
Lara - all our thoughts and prayers are with you and Barney - especially today. I know how difficult this is, as I, along with so many others here, have had to do the same thing.
Peace to you, Scott, and most of all, to dear sweet Barney.
I'm trying to send Barney thought pics of RB and my RB kitties from across the miles. I hope they can travel that far.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Can somebody please post the link for these virtual candles?

EDIT: I just found this site, and lit a white candle for Barney!
http://virtual-candle.org/showcurrent.php

[Medusa]

Here ya go:

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng

[Moesha]

My thoughts are with you guys today. Thank you for taking the time to respond to all the messages so personally. You are a dear heart that is for sure. We'll all be saddened today, but it is comforting to know that this sweet little kitty will no longer be in pain and that he was able to find love at least once in his life. And it is quite possible it is for the second time if what you mentioned before about having a home in the past is true. And it must because there's no way he could have lived to the age that it is estimated that he is without being cared for by someone. Thank you again. *HUGS* to sweet Barney!

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Here ya go:

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng

Thanks for the link!! I just lit a candle there too for Barney; my initials are LL

[Medusa]

Barney Boy and Lara, my thoughts will be w/you all day as they have been recently. May your trip be easy and light, sweet Barney. Look for my Puddy and Peeka at the RB. All three of you have endured so much during your time on earth that life at the RB is such a sweet respite. We'll all miss you so much and I envy those at the RB who will have the pleasure of your company.

[gini]

My heart is with you today! Bless you for all that you have done for this sweet little spirit.

[kb2yjx]

The candle in the kitchen is lit all day for Barney. I was thinking about the poem " Lend me a Kitten," and thought about how we have some of our cats for a very long time, and then there are those that stay for such a short time. No matter how long they were with us, we willis still a hole in our hearts. Emily Dickerson wrote something about that. I will see if I can find it. I looked, but cannot find the poem....Barney, I have asked that all the Clan Angels be there for you when you cross the Bridge...Lara, we will be there with you and prayers, too.....HUGS, Sandra

[Purr-tender]

I lit another candle early this morning. It was both for Barney and my Molly. I never got to kiss her one more time or tell her how much I love her. I want Barney to find her and tell her for me. I know that's silly but it is comforting to think that it is possible.

Lara, it was so touching that Barney touched your foot and looked you in the eyes. I can see him, he is so grateful to you and Scott! Bless that sweet boy!

Barney, you are so loved and we will all miss you so very, very much. There will be an army of PT angels waiting for you.

Love,
Mary

Here is the link for "Lend me a Kitten" it's wonderful! http://www.catquotes.com/lendmeakitten.htm

[Randi]

Lara, Scott, Angela and not least, Barney sweetheart... you're in my thoughts today, and I am sending so many hugs to you all that I hope you can feel them. I also have my own little candle burning for you.

Barney, I hope you will have a nice and quiet day with lots of kisses, before your journy to the RB. Fister says: Go look for my mom, Mrs. Spot, she is a tough lady and will protect you - and Pjevs is waiting for you too. He will want to play and chase butterflies with you. I have lit a few candles so you find them easily.

Lara, I went back to watch some of the previous video clips of Barney. I really like the one in post #293, he seems happy to be able to explore and also relaxed, but still alert. He is so enjoying the outdoors! I want to remember him that way.

Barney, have a safe journey and play hard with the other kitties. You have made a deep impact on so many people and will always be in our hearts.

[slick]

I was awake at 4:15 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Max couldn't figure out why my face was wet again......

RB Speckles sent me a message last night that she will be waiting for Barney and will guide him to the red carpet. Word has it that Bootz Da Kat, Tubby, Peanutter, Mz Puddy, Mz Sophie, Mz Hoppy and so many other PT Fur Angels will be waitin' on his arrival.

Thinking of you both today and saying a prayer for Barney's smooth journey on "da silver clowd express".

{{{hugs}}}

[Catty1]

{{{{hugs}}}} to you and forehead kissies to Barn-Barn.