In Loving Memory

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_In_{Loving Memory
Of......}

_{My Buster Boy}

January 28/2008

"Adoption photo that came across my desk, I tried to find him a home but no one wanted a cat that wasn't perfect. Here he only weighed 4.5 lbs."

It's been 347 days since my Buster passed away. Gasping for air in a kennel at the critical care unit. I only had him in my life for less than two years. It's taken me this long to begin to write a tribute to him; and still my eyes fill with tears. I'm not so sure what it was about him that captured my heart. I told everyone when I brought him home he would break my heart and indeed he did. It was about a week after the Katrina cat rescue I assisted with along side Action for Animals. I was emotionally drained, and asked to take a bit of a sabbatical. The charity president asked me if I would be willing to phone left over applicants to see if they would take cats that were local seeing as we had placed all of the victims of Katrina. She sent photos...she never sends photos...and there was Buster. Of course he didn't have a name then, he was just a tough little fighter of sorts found by someone around Kingsway and Victoria. And although she had terrible allergies she still took him into her home and kept him in the basement where it was warm and fed him. We had to place him quickly though. So I sent out his photos. He was missing a front canine that made him sneer like Elvis, his hind legs didn't work so good, as he couldn't jump up on things, obviously had been kicked or hit by a car, and he had a crooked tail, not to mention he was unbearably thin. His backbone stuck out like a skeleton. After a few attempts with perspective pet parents, and being turned down flat, I knew he had to join my family. I'm always the one to fight for the underdog. I don't think there was a day that went by that I didn't look at him, and wonder what had happened to him in his little life, what type of trauma he had been through, and was I really able to make him happy. The first thing he did when he came to my home was empty the toy basket and fall asleep amongst all of the toys. I cried when I saw that. He was sickly, hyperthyroidism to start with, then an episode with aspirating in the car where he nearly died, congestive heart failure, and finally something so very wrong that he would have attacks where he couldn't breathe and would have to go on oxygen. One day, he never came back from his attack. This little one had more than nine lives. Although I'm grateful that he touched mine, I miss him so, and I mourn his loss each day. How someone could have been so cruel to such a loving kitty. Such a small cat with such a large presence. A cat that would sit at my desk and literally say "Humph" when he felt he wasn't getting enough attention. Well Buster, I was right, you did break my heart, but it was worth it knowing you, loving you. I will never forget you and you will always be with me. I like to think that you are watching over us right now. Below is a quote that my mom sent me on the day that Buster was euthanized. She didn't know he would be that day, it was a coincidence, or was it? Also is a photo of him sleeping on his tissue paper, and his toys.....the things he loved best. Breathe easy at the rainbow bridge my boy....until we meet again.

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life,

and patience for the small ones. When you

have laboriously accomplished your daily

tasks, go to sleep in peace, God is awake.

Victor Hugo

Jesse

a.k.a. "Jester"

October 15/1982 - April 22/2004

As I sit here writing this, I cannot believe that my best friend and companion of twenty one and a half years is no longer with me. It is with great pain, tears, fondness and love that I write this memorial. I brought Jesse home one cold snowy October Saskatchewan day when I was only 18. She was born in a barn on the farm my Mom and Dad were living on at the time. She lived with me for over half my life and longer than I lived with my own family. She brought joy to my life as a kitten, and even more as an adult. As the family matriarch she kept everyone in line. Katie, (her niece), Jenny, Ted E. Bear, and Einstein all bowed to her. Einstein would try to rile her up, and up until a couple of months ago she could still pin him to the floor, even though he was twice her weight. Jesse's favorite thing in the world to do was to eat. She would eat anything, anytime, anywhere, and she would always join Richard and I at the dinner table. She would have her own chair and wear Richard down until he would give her a tidbit. Needless to say at 21 she was allowed to eat whatever her little heart desired. One of her most memorable traits is how she would pick up one of my socks and carry it around the house. She would make this muffled "merrrrowing" sound as she came to show me what she had. She was still doing this until a week or so before her death.

On April 22nd at approximately 7:30 p.m. I had to help my girl, my Jester, pass over to the rainbow bridge. Saying good bye to her has been the hardest thing I have ever done. She was riddled with arthritis, to the point the vets didn't know how she was walking anymore, had the beginning stages of renal failure, and then sadly succumbed to heart failure, being only able to breathe with the assistance of oxygen. It was the only decision I could make, but why, if it was the right decision does it have to hurt so much?

I love you Jess, and this shall never change.

Mommy

_{Jenny Dusty
Doodlebug}

_{a.k.a. Jen Jen the
Wonder Cat.}

January 24th/2003

Jenny came into our lives late one evening, only a few days after my Katie had passed. We could hear a cat meowing for a few days near Richard's house, but couldn't see her. We thought she was a feral kitty and would run away when we got close. But one Tuesday night, when a friend showed up at Richard's the meowing had gotten more frantic. It was that night that Richard rescued Jenny. She was trapped under the house next door, starving and abandoned. Due to Richard's roommate's allergies, Jenny had to come and live with me while we searched for her owners. We searched and searched to no avail. I was 'instructed ' not to name her during this time period, as I would get too attached. Not that 'somebody' didn't already nick name her Dusty. So I proceeded to call her Jenny Generic. Well, it stuck. Doodlebug comes from my vet that cared for Katie. She always called Katie, Doodles. After she died I said I would name my next kitty, Doodles.

Jenny turned out to be a wonderful kitty. Always the lap cat, much to Jesse, (my older cat's), disgust. We spent endless hours of cross stitching together. Her chasing the thread as I drew it through or snoozing peacefully on my lap. Jenny was a pet therapy kitty at the Royal City Manor. Her favorite humans being Birdie and Norman. She enjoyed riding around in her bag and visiting everyone. Jenny was an amazing athlete, her record being 17 summersaults in row. That's where the Wonder Cat comes in.

Jenny crossed the rainbow bridge after only 1 year, 11 months and 1 day together. She is sadly missed. She succumbed to cancer at 8:45 a.m. January 24th/2003. God Speed my Jenny Girl. I love you!

Katie

a.k.a. Katiekins, Kate-o-later.

April 1983 - February 12th/2001

Katie was my inspiration for getting into the pet sitting business. After 5 years of dealing with feline diabetes she passed away quietly just before her 18th birthday. She taught me everything there is to know about diabetes...and it's because of her I'm able to help other sugar kitties. I still believe she is with me in some small way everyday. She continues to be, and always will be, sadly missed.

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