It’s Jack’s Wednesday guest post on a Wednesday – wonders will never cease!
Most bookstores have a cat or a dog and we’re no exception. Actually, we have two dogs and three cats plus however many foster kitties are sojourning with us at any one time.
But this post isn’t about one of our owners. A couple of days ago our good friends Mark and Elizabeth lost their lovable wee dog Suzie. Suzie owned them, their house and every piece of their yard, including the dirt road that passes by it. She clearly regarded that section of road as part of her domain and that it had to be defended against anyone and anything that traveled along it. Our friends went to great lengths to stop her running out after cars, bikes and quads. Despite their efforts it was maybe inevitable that this is how she’d meet her end, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
Our dogs are escape artists of the seventh water and we have to be ever vigilant when they have access to our front door. There have been many times we’ve had to chase them all over our fairly busy downtown and there’s an irony in that. So far (fingers crossed) our two have survived busy intersections and even wandering down the middle of the street ahead of an enormous coal truck, yet poor Suzie got hit by a car on a mostly quiet country road.
Our bookstore greeter cat Owen had a very narrow escape about eighteen months ago. He now looks both ways before crossing the road and uses the cross-walk (he really does!)
At the best of times we only have them for a relatively short time, so if we are pet owned there will be many times that we will have to deal with situations like this. It’s never easy and there are many times I’ve had a spade in my hand with tears streaming down my face.
Our beloved 14 year old Zora, our black Lab, is showing definite signs of dementia and is losing strength in her back legs, so it could be that we will have the worst decision in the world ahead of us in a few months. Of course as long as she isn’t in pain we are happy to make her ever diminishing world as comfortable and easy as we can. She doesn’t know who we are but she thinks the staff at this home are very nice.
Why do we do it? Subject ourselves to this?
Well – that’s easy. It’s because they give us their unconditional love (well, the dogs do – the cats not so much).
Suzie gave and received much love – she will be long remembered – RIP Suzie. And God Bless Us, each and every pet-owned human out there.
Wendy Welch: Books, Yarn, Cats, Opioids 
Over the years we’ve buried 7 cats, 6 dogs, and 1 pony. Some deaths were completely unexpected, others long, drawn-out affairs. We had to make that terrible decision a couple of times. Tears on many dirt-filled shovels. We’ve probably grown more philosophical over time, but ti’s stills always heartbreaking. Their affection, companionship, fun-loving natures make it all worthwhile and we always wonder if we ever really gave them enough in return. Lovely tribute, Jack.
😢. I have a 14 year old Husky mix that can barely stand or walk now, but he wants to. His mind, eyes, and ears are still good. I think I am hanging on for me. My greatest heartache is my almost 14 year old dachshund is going in tomorrow to see if he has cancer.😢 My heart aches, and I cannot imagine life without him. I adopted them a few months apart when I lived in Alaska. It is a sad time here. I really am owned by some pretty special pups.
It’s hard but they’re worth it.
Thanks very much!
My first feline friend owned me for almost 23 years.Since her, I’ve been blessed with few catastrophically heartbreaking losses, but ever so many losses just the same. But that’s my fault for taking on the little souls without mothers who aren’t always long for this world, the tinest of bairns to be had.Bt someone should cuddle them, so why not me?
Sweet Susie was a good girl, always with a friendly tilt of the ears for any human she felt was worthy of her smile. I’m glad to have gotten it more than once.
I know you were kidding, but I have to say every cat who has graced my home has shown me unconditional love. It’s a myth that cats are uncaring and aloof; they are loving, affectionate, and desire our company.
That’s exactly why, having had brothers and a sister but n o pets, I adopted 2 litter mate girls a long time ago./ I needed them more than they needed me. When the time came, when I knew that they had no quality of life, only then could I take them to the vet and say “It’s time”. And they still bring me joy in the remembering
RIP Suzie. 😢