Title: | Meower Power is Valuing Differences |
Notice: | FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY |
Moderator: | MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO |
Created: | Sun Feb 09 1986 |
Last Modified: | Tue Jan 11 1994 |
Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
Number of topics: | 5089 |
Total number of notes: | 60366 |
It took me a while to enter this note - we are all still in a state of mourning and I still watch the door when I enter the Barn. Pepper, (DEC Badge 00001 1/2) - see note 88 - passed away. She became very thin and didn't want to eat so naturally we took her to the vet. She was weakened and dehydrated. The Vet ran multi-tests, injected her with fluids and nutrients, etc. and spent a total of nearly three weeks in the hospital. She only seemed to eat when we would visit her. She got better - we took her out of the hospital and she started getting worse again - that was the last part of her hospital stay - she developed several tumors in her brain, spinal cord and hip joints and they were obviously very painful. Nothing seemed to help and we finally requsted that she be put out of her misery. It appears that cats can carry FeLV for many years with no signs and after about 5 - 7 years can develop many tumors, generally malignant, and there is nothing that can be done. If she had the virus for that long it was even before the shots were available, and perhaps (since she tested negative) it was the shots that made the tumors happen (no verification on this by any authority, just my speculation). WARNING: The FeLV tests are not very accurate - Pepper has had a total of 8 tests for it - 5 negative, 3 positive. They even got one negative and one positive only one day apart. Since she was rescued from an animal shelter we are uncertain of her exact age, but she was approximately 6 1/2 years old. The DTW story on her was run in April, 1986.
T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
610.1 | Sympathies from Spit Brook | CLUSTA::TAMIR | Fri Jun 05 1987 17:04 | 10 | |
We're saddened to learn of Pepper's passing. I'm sure that, in addition to the emptiness you must feel, she also has left a space full of love and happiness in the hearts of everyone in your facility. Although it's little consolation, you all did the very best you could for her and I'm sure she's up in kitty heaven grateful to all of you for rescuing her and giving her so much love. Our sympathies at your loss.... Mary | |||||
610.2 | IN SINCEREST SYMPATHY.... | AIMHI::MCCURDY | Mon Jun 08 1987 10:36 | 3 | |
POOKIE AND I ARE ALSO VERY SAD TO HEAR THAT PEPPER PASSED AWAY.. I AM SURE THAT SHE IS DEFINITELY IN KITTY HEAVEN .. AND AT PEACE...... | |||||
610.3 | I'm sorry, too | VICKI::BULLOCK | Living the good life | Mon Jun 08 1987 11:58 | 10 |
I'm very sorry, too. I enjoyed knowing that DEC was cool enough to have a "company cat" like Pepper. You all did the right thing; the ONLY thing to help her. I am convinced that one of the reasons we have animals, love them, and ultimately lose them; is to develop the capacity to love and go on loving. If you made a place in your heart for one animal; you will always have it. Thank God for this file! Jane | |||||
610.4 | From TWO and Chief KItty | PARITY::WHALEN | Denise | Tue Jun 09 1987 18:17 | 26 |
VERY sorry to hear about Pepper. It was really great knowing there was at least one other DEC site that had a feline employee. I will have to tell our Chief Kitty of TWO site that his conterpart has passed away. Now are there any more DEC kitties out there? Chief Kitty has been home with me for almost a year now. When TWO went through it's renovations, we had to take him home. THe new facility group that moved it didn't like the idea of having a cat here. They did not realize what an incredible joy he was to have around, how much fun it was to do our security tours with a cat walking by your side. He caught all the mice that would even dare to try to come in here. EVeryone loved him, but the new management. But, alas, so much development has taken place here in the last year, it is definately not safe for him to be here anyway. He is retired now with full benefits, but he wants to come back to work. He'll have to be satisfied catching mice at home! If they allow you to have another cat, will you get one? Every DEC site should have a kitty. They really light up people's lives. Denise |