Comments on: Dead friends, destroyed homes and the other dreadful things we come home to

By: laura

laura — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:16:26 +0000

This is particularly helpful hint for famiies with pets (the non-boardable kind) but helpful for others, too. If you can, have a relative or trusted friend ‘air’ and survey the house for you before you get back (The day of, or day before). Give them a specific list of things to check on: fish aquariums, prized orchids, that leaky faucet, etc. Even if the news they report back to you before you get home isn’t good (Goldy didn’t make it) it does soften the blow if you have time to get used to it before you roll up to the door. And, if they’re a really good relative or trusted neighbor, maybe they will remove the carcass and even replace Goldy or whatever. I developed this plan of action because of the travel phobias I developed after a childhood filled with pets that died while I was on vacation. So maybe its a little deceitful having Uncle Bob slip ‘another’ Goldy into the tank, but somehow it really seemed a better alternative to having my three year old see him as a floater at the top of the tank.

By: Terre

Terre — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:18:52 +0000

I am a registered ER nurse and while I was at work pulling a twelve hour shift, my beloved inside cat Mya escaped when one of my kids or husband left the house and was killed recently by our two outside dogs. To think how scared she was and I wasn’t home to help her is unbearable at the moment. I will always remember how she would love to sleep on my back or chest. I am going to miss her dearly. Our bedroom window (screen shut) was always open for her to allow her to sit and bask in the sun. My condolences to you and Castor. May both Castor and Mya rest in peace.

By: Georgina

Georgina — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:48:31 +0000

My condolences on your loss. I’d feel awful if I lost my cuddly orange buddy, Lewis.

Have you ever used a professional pet sitter? Bonded & insured, part of the national association, willing to stop by for a first visit free to meet you and your pet?

I’ve used a pet sitter, with great success. She was willing to do other little things too (water plants, get mail, turn lights on/off, etc.) Plus, she is skilled in administering medication and knows when an emergency vet visit is warranted.

By: ashley

ashley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:40:50 +0000

Chris, I don’t think you can or should kick yourself for not putting your kitties in a kennel. I boarded my two cats one vacation, and they both came home with colds. That proved to be too much for my older cat’s immune system, and she died from it. If I had left them at home with a neighbor, neither of them would have been exposed to the virus and they’d both be with me now.

By: Barbara L.

Barbara L. — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:40:30 +0000

how sad for your little Castor, I’m sure he’s at the Rainbow Bridge. My story is a little different, someone came to visit me and killed my cat in my own home. We were hosting a friend from out of town who was trying to find a place to live and her boyfriend came for a weekend; I had asked him if he had any laundry that needed to be done while I was doing my own and he told me no. My husband and I had gone to work as usual the next morning and he decided to do laundry at that time. I got a call from my husband whose stoic and short voice told me I needed to come home. I knew immediately something was wrong, I think I sped the whole way home risking my life I really don’t remember. I got home and my husband was sitting by the front door, sobbing. Our baby Bela had jumped into the dryer when our “houseguest” wasn’t paying attention and perished when he turned it on. It was a nightmare-my husband could have killed this guy and he was a real jerk about it, never even offering to replace the dryer. There was no way I was ever going to use that dryer again. Needless to say our houseguests were purged and my husband and I made a pact NO ONE will EVER be alone in our house while we are gone. It’s been 4 years but it hurts like yesterday.

By: Gray

Gray — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:26:41 +0000

Chris, I’m so sorry about Castor. What a horrible way to return from vacation, and a horrible way to lose a cherished member of your family. Honestly, when my cat was alive (she was my baby), I would have chosen her over my house and all my other belongings any day of the week. The house could have burned to the ground for all I cared, and if I had gotten her out safely, that is all that would have mattered. Don’t undervalue the grief you have because you think someone else has it worse. My thoughts are with you. Peace.

By: Betty C

Betty C — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:07:44 +0000

I’m sorry Castor is not there to keep you company. I liked reading how you described him as being friendly and always keeping you company. Makes me realize that he was a part of your family. Keep the memories close and I wish you peace and potential.

By: Mary Fran

Mary Fran — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:58:32 +0000

So sorry about your dear kitty…

I lost my two darling pets last month when I was away. It’s very hard.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:27:41 +0000

Dear Chris,
I’m so sorry to read about the loss of your beloved Castor. You gave him a wonderful, loving home, and now he can chase all the squirrels he wants without worry. My thoughts are with you and your family.

By: Bubba

Bubba — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:02:02 +0000

Cats are transients, just passing through our lives. They have a lot to teach us, but we have to learn that from them: nothing lasts.

By: Jeanie

Jeanie — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:05:38 +0000

(((((Chris)))))

I’m so sorry about Castor. Our “furbabies” do become a part of our family, don’t they?

By: C

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:51:13 +0000

We came home from vacation. After spending the night in O’Hare due to bad weather, we drove home partway. Couldn’t get home because the road washed out…and now we are dealing with our flooded house! But no person or animal died…our vet took care of our dog.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:40:50 +0000

In 1996 I returned home from a weekend trip to a phone message telling me my brother had been killed. (By the way, though some might have objected to such a means of bad news delivery, I thanked my other brother for giving me the news straight out.) Even though I’m now usually reachable by cell phone while traveling, I still have a bit of trepidation when playing phone messages upon returning from weekend ski trips. I also still clearly recall a time in the early ’60′s when we returned home from a long car trip to be informed that our dog had been run over and killed by a garbage truck.

By: Amanda Patrick

Amanda Patrick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:25:29 +0000

Wow, I am so sorry for your loss, Chris. I’ve personally had a dog for about 3 years, and although I protested getting her initially, have fallen in love, and truly consider her a part of the family … It’s really an amazing bond we have with our pets. My sincere thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:46:32 +0000

So Sorry about Castor. We adopted Miss Kitty, or should I say, SHE adopted US, three years ago, and she has become quite a delight, as ornery as she is still.