Pawprints on our hearts
Dec. 31st, 2023 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
venetia_sassyIt's been quite the two years.
In November 2021, our 20-year-old ginger cat, the Young Sir, turned Old Sir, passed away after a stroke, He'd been increasingly frail for some time and very deaf but still himself even on his last day. The house was very quiet without him - he always liked to talk but as his hearing went, so did his volume control. And his desire to talk only increased!
In March 2022, our beautiful Mr Nosey died of mast cell cancer, two month before his 12th birthday. He'd been with us almost 8 and a 1/2 years. He was diagnosed around Christmas 2020 with a small tumour removed from his lip but the cancer metastasised about six months later. He seemed remarkably unconcerned about ... most things, in his Mr Nosey way but he did decide he didn't like the vet anymore, poor boy. (There had also been an incident involving an infected anal gland in 2020. I don't think he ever quite forgave the vet for that one.) He was always a quiet dog but we didn't realise all the noises he made around the house until he was gone. The click-clicking of nails on tile, the little trip-bang as he went out the dog door, the woofing in his sleep (but never awake.)
Mid-year, Mum felt she might be ready for another cat and we kept looking on PetRescue until we eventually saw a very pretty pale ginger (cream) short-haired tabby, shy but friendly. Well, within two weeks she was sleeping on Miss Shadow and she definitely runs the house now. Wary of new people but starting to greet visitors. And the tiny, breathy, squeaky meow that made us laugh at first (me-eh!), has largely disappeared in favour of full-throated demands. Little bugger. She's a lovely cat.
(A few months after adopting MissCat, we suddenly learned that we would need to find a new house after 26 years in the same rental. Elderly landord handing things on to his sons, financial comllications, family complications ... short verison, we had at least 6-9 months to find a new place but we found one within a couple of weeks? It's a bit blurred now but we went from 'oh shit, we'll have to move' to 'oh, shit we're moving', to 'thank fuck, we've moved' in about six weeks. Miss Shadow was not thrilled at first even though we could now walk straight across to the park (and the library!) MissCat took it all in stride. Over a year later, we've mostly recovered and I've almost finished unpacking the books. Finding enought space for them remains a problem.)
We weren't sure if Miss Shadow would need a new greyhound friend after Mr Nosey died but instead she decided to take up his socialising duties. Sh was the boss at home but let him take the lead in public (he loved everyone and everyone loved him.) Perhaps it was loneliness for canine companions or arthritis starting to slow her down but she was happy to stop and talk to humans and dogs on walks, instead of straining quietly at the lead to get on with it (markets were the time and place for socialising, didn't Mr Nosey know this?!) And when we moved opposite the park where we took her for most of her walks she became even better known around the area and acknowledged matriach of the local dog group.
Miss Shadow passed away at the beginning of November. She would have been 13 in January. She was with us for 10 and 1/2 years. Her arthirits and nerve damage were getting worse but she was otherwise very healthy. But the pain kept getting worse and then she had a bad fall and couldn't walk for a day. After that she did manage to walk a bit but she didn't want to and wasn't getting better (she did enjoy being served breakfast and dinner in bed though.) It's been 8 weeks and we're still (especially Mum) running into people asking 'where's your greyhound?' So many people liked her. We've had people get teary-eyed when they find out. And we have no dog in the house for the first time in over 20 years. It feels horribly wrong. I've mostly stopped listening out for her. And turning around to check on her breathing. But there should still be a dog here.
We are planning to look for another grey, maybe in January sometime. We're dog people and even MissCat seems bored being the only pet in the house.
Miss Shadow was my first greyhound and she really did change my life and for the better. I wound up listening to these two songs and crying quite a bit in the first weeks. Stories, I'll cry at the drop of a hat, real life not so much. These helped.
Because I knew you/I have been changed for good
I always liked this song and vid and now I'm crying. I had the time of my life/fighting dragons with you
In November 2021, our 20-year-old ginger cat, the Young Sir, turned Old Sir, passed away after a stroke, He'd been increasingly frail for some time and very deaf but still himself even on his last day. The house was very quiet without him - he always liked to talk but as his hearing went, so did his volume control. And his desire to talk only increased!
In March 2022, our beautiful Mr Nosey died of mast cell cancer, two month before his 12th birthday. He'd been with us almost 8 and a 1/2 years. He was diagnosed around Christmas 2020 with a small tumour removed from his lip but the cancer metastasised about six months later. He seemed remarkably unconcerned about ... most things, in his Mr Nosey way but he did decide he didn't like the vet anymore, poor boy. (There had also been an incident involving an infected anal gland in 2020. I don't think he ever quite forgave the vet for that one.) He was always a quiet dog but we didn't realise all the noises he made around the house until he was gone. The click-clicking of nails on tile, the little trip-bang as he went out the dog door, the woofing in his sleep (but never awake.)
Mid-year, Mum felt she might be ready for another cat and we kept looking on PetRescue until we eventually saw a very pretty pale ginger (cream) short-haired tabby, shy but friendly. Well, within two weeks she was sleeping on Miss Shadow and she definitely runs the house now. Wary of new people but starting to greet visitors. And the tiny, breathy, squeaky meow that made us laugh at first (me-eh!), has largely disappeared in favour of full-throated demands. Little bugger. She's a lovely cat.
(A few months after adopting MissCat, we suddenly learned that we would need to find a new house after 26 years in the same rental. Elderly landord handing things on to his sons, financial comllications, family complications ... short verison, we had at least 6-9 months to find a new place but we found one within a couple of weeks? It's a bit blurred now but we went from 'oh shit, we'll have to move' to 'oh, shit we're moving', to 'thank fuck, we've moved' in about six weeks. Miss Shadow was not thrilled at first even though we could now walk straight across to the park (and the library!) MissCat took it all in stride. Over a year later, we've mostly recovered and I've almost finished unpacking the books. Finding enought space for them remains a problem.)
We weren't sure if Miss Shadow would need a new greyhound friend after Mr Nosey died but instead she decided to take up his socialising duties. Sh was the boss at home but let him take the lead in public (he loved everyone and everyone loved him.) Perhaps it was loneliness for canine companions or arthritis starting to slow her down but she was happy to stop and talk to humans and dogs on walks, instead of straining quietly at the lead to get on with it (markets were the time and place for socialising, didn't Mr Nosey know this?!) And when we moved opposite the park where we took her for most of her walks she became even better known around the area and acknowledged matriach of the local dog group.
Miss Shadow passed away at the beginning of November. She would have been 13 in January. She was with us for 10 and 1/2 years. Her arthirits and nerve damage were getting worse but she was otherwise very healthy. But the pain kept getting worse and then she had a bad fall and couldn't walk for a day. After that she did manage to walk a bit but she didn't want to and wasn't getting better (she did enjoy being served breakfast and dinner in bed though.) It's been 8 weeks and we're still (especially Mum) running into people asking 'where's your greyhound?' So many people liked her. We've had people get teary-eyed when they find out. And we have no dog in the house for the first time in over 20 years. It feels horribly wrong. I've mostly stopped listening out for her. And turning around to check on her breathing. But there should still be a dog here.
We are planning to look for another grey, maybe in January sometime. We're dog people and even MissCat seems bored being the only pet in the house.
Miss Shadow was my first greyhound and she really did change my life and for the better. I wound up listening to these two songs and crying quite a bit in the first weeks. Stories, I'll cry at the drop of a hat, real life not so much. These helped.
Because I knew you/I have been changed for good
I always liked this song and vid and now I'm crying. I had the time of my life/fighting dragons with you
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-01 09:04 pm (UTC)It's good to hear you at least have MissCat and I hope you'll find a new dog soon.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-02 11:56 am (UTC)I want to tell you about the shawl you sent me - I think of it as the Minna shawl now. I didn't realise at first but a few days after it arrived, I put it down next to her light coat and the colours were such a near match! And I wore it a lot in those last couple of months, while I was sitting with her. It was just the right weight for some extra warmth over a winter or summer dress, depending on changeable spring weather. So I look at it and see her colours and think of her. Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-02 04:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-02 01:28 pm (UTC)The love of our beloved pets is horrible, and no matter how long it is, somehow you always look for them.
When you do get a new dog, they'll be very lucky to come into such a loving home.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-03 11:16 am (UTC)