| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1898.1 | | HILLST::MASON | Explaining is not understanding | Wed Oct 19 1988 20:34 | 34 |
| Jonathan -
There are lots of stories in this conference about pets that have
been lost in one way or another. You know, every living creature,
including us, has but a short time here before we must die. That
is God's plan for us. One of our biggest responsibilities while
we are here is to learn from what we see around us. We as humans
have the greatest responsibilities, because we are the only creatures
that can reason. Because of that, the other animals, especially
pets, are truly at our mercy. It is up to us to protect them as
well as we can, and to put our past experiences to use in future
situations. If Spuds was attacked by a dog, the dog was only doing
what he was born to understand - to chase smaller animals like kittens.
Now that you know that, it is your responsibility to protect your
other kittens from harm as best you can. The best way to do that
is to keep them inside, where dogs can't chase them. If you can't
do that, make sure that they are in a protected area where dogs
can't get in. Be sure that there are places that the kittens can hide,
places that are too small for a dog to go, or high enough that they
can climb and be safe. While they are small, stay with them if
they have to be outside. Accidents do happen. The important thing
is to learn from them so they don't happen again.
As to getting another kitten - sure, if you want one, and you think
you can take care of it, get another one. There are many kittens
out there without homes who need to have a friend to take care of
them. By adopting one, you may very well be saving his life.
I am sorry to hear about Spuds, but I'm sure you will feel better
as time goes on. Especially if you can give your love to another
needy little friend.
Bye,
Gary
|
| 1898.2 | | CIRCUS::KOLLING | Karen, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif. | Wed Oct 19 1988 21:31 | 9 |
| I am so sorry about your kitten. I lost my first cat Pussycat to
leukemia a few years ago, and it still hurts. It seems that everyone
in a similar situation thinks they must have done something wrong,
I don't know why, but please tell your little boy that it was not
his fault, nor the kitten's. I do hope you get another kitten;
it is hard to say how soon that should be -- whenever you feel
you can accept one and value him or her for himself. I know that
my second cat, Sweetie, is a treasure all in his own right.
|
| 1898.3 | Don't send to Jonathan | MYVAX::LUBY | DTN 287-3204 | Thu Oct 20 1988 09:59 | 24 |
|
This note isn't really for Jonathan. Just a thought on kids
in general. When I was 10, my cat died. I got home from school
and my parents told me. Of course, I started to cry. Then they
brought me into another room, and there was this little kitten
just for me. Being the young child that I was, my sorrow was
quickly forgotten.
I guess what I am saying, is that kids can be very fickle.
NOT ALL KIDS! I just happened to be one of the fickle ones. Some
children can be very deeply affected by the death of a pet. I think
that the fact that I had only a minute to deal with Kitties death
before being presented with another kitten may have had something
to do with my getting over it quickly. BUT, I have never forgotten
Kitty.
Anyhow, I'm sure that you know Jonathan well enough to know
whether he will accept another kitten right now, and if it will
help lessen his sorrow.
Good luck, and I'm sorry.
Karen
|
| 1898.4 | It's important to remember Spuds | SWAT::COCHRANE | I never blink. | Thu Oct 20 1988 10:25 | 23 |
| Jonathan,
I'm so sorry about little Spuds. Please don't feel responsible
for your kitty's death. You did the best that you could for him
and I'm sure that he had a wonderful life with you. By adopting
the kitty, you probably saved him from living in a cage at the humane
society, waiting and waiting for a home. The short life he had
was far better for the love you gave him.
I lost my 19-year old kitty about two years ago, and it still hurts.
Losing a pet is like losing your best friend. But you still have
two kittens who need lots of love from you right now, so even though
it is important to miss Spuds, don't ignore your other friends.
Perhaps when you feel better, you can adopt another homeless kitten.
By giving it the love and attention it desperately needs, you'll
be helping Spuds memory to live on. No kitten can ever replace
Spuds for you, but each one will give you something memorable to
remember them by.
Take care,
Mary-Michael Cochrane
|
| 1898.5 | it's ok to cry | USAVAX::LLOBOV | | Thu Oct 20 1988 10:56 | 20 |
|
Jonathan,
I am too very sorry to hear about the loss of Spuds. He must have
been a special kitty (they all are). Just remember that you gave
him the best you could offer and all the love that he could handle.
And he in turn loved you too. Never forget that.
I have lost kitties too and it makes me so angry and hurt. I just
feel like yelling a nd crying and I do! It's o.k. to cry and even
yell if it makes you feel better.
Just remember to love the other two kittens and maybe in a little
while you might like to have another one. ther are always lots
of kittens that need someone just like YOU to love them.
Take care
Linda
|
| 1898.6 | Hi Jonathan, this is E.T. phoning you from FelineLand! | TOPDOC::TRACHMAN | E.T.'s ZhivagoCats....DTN: 264-8298 | Thu Oct 20 1988 11:19 | 20 |
| Hi Jonathan - my name is Elaine and my last name starts with T -
some folk call me E.T. !! I'm not really sure that I can say
things to you to make you feel a lot better, but I am very sorry
to hear about your kitty.
I have never met you, but from what your mom says you sound like
a very special young man. It takes a very special person to love
an animal - you are a special person! You will always have the
memory of your kitty with you - human beings are very lucky -
we can love lots of people and lots of animals - we love each person
and each animal in a different way so you will find that it's okay
for you to love another kitty if you want to get one.
Hang in there Jonathan - there are hundreds of people right now
thinking about you!! Don't forget to let us know how you are
doing, okay?
see ya,
E.T.
|
| 1898.7 | | BRUTUS::SOBEK | | Thu Oct 20 1988 13:14 | 33 |
| This is another reply ....not to Jonathan... but concerning the
general topic.. I was one of those who felt the loss of pets very
deeply ...still am, for that matter. A few years back when my young
neice was heartbroken over the sudden death of her favorite kitty,
her mother's first response was "no more pets! I can't stand to
see my daughter in such pain." In my youth I said the same thing..
...and my resolve lasted until I fell in love with the next barn
cat or the next stray dog. My mom always comforted me on my loss
and gave me the chance to reach out again in my own time. TiJai
and all the others are a part of me, ..my life ...the way I see
and interpret the world around me. Dealing with their passing was
the only thing that could have begun to prepare me to deal with
the unexpected death of my brother several years ago. ..just pets,
but teachers of important lessons. My neice was allowed to have
another cat when she was ready. She's now on her own and has 6 cats
(she has a knack for arriving at the vets just as another pregnant
mother is to be abandoned) that bring her great pleasure.
It's tough to know what to say to a youngster to help them understand
why a pet is gone. I believe the most important thing is that Jonathan
knows that you understand that he is hurting and that you are very
sorry about that. It must be difficult for you to see him having
to deal with something he finds hurtful ...and scary too, because it is
probably the beginning of his understanding how fragile life is for
all of us. ...but you must be proud that he is already demonstrating
what a caring person he is becoming. ....and, as another noter already
pointed out, the young usually recover and very quickly go on to the
next adventure.
My sympathies on your loss.
Linda
|
| 1898.8 | To Gary, Jonathan, J's Mom and Mike... | ZEKE::HUTCHINS | Feathered Obsessions Aviary | Thu Oct 20 1988 13:18 | 25 |
| RE: .1 Gary, your response brought as many tears to my eyes as
Jonathan's story about Spuds! It was beautiful and very well said!
Jonathan, what everyone has said to you is very nice and very true!
Nobody can ever take away the pain and loss you feel now, and it
takes a life time to understand death. But you loved little Spuds
and he loved you too! I think you and your family should go to
the humane society, and look at all those little faces in the cages
and take home a new Spuds II. Naturally, you cannot replace Spuds,
but you can save a life for the one that was taken! I know you
learned a very hard and important lesson from this, and your next
kitty will be a "spoiled" baby too!
NOTE: to Jonathan's Mom --
If you go to the humane society, please, by all means go, but don't
tell them about the demise of Spuds. I'm an ex-veterinary technician
and worked there for a while. Just trust my judgement, and keep
this story from them.
Mike -- don't get mad at that last comment! Let's save a little
boys distress and hopefully a kitty from a cage!
Jean
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| 1898.9 | THANK YOU ALL!!! | RAINBW::BOMBACH | | Tue Oct 25 1988 15:12 | 15 |
|
RE: all of you who replied to this
I want to thank you for your time writing to my son. I've
just printed the replies and am taking them home to him
tonight...we still miss Spuds greatly...Oreo still looks
for him.
I think Jonathan will see a special surprise in his
Christmas stocking!
You guys are great! Tender hearts are everywhere, even
at DEC.
Regards, Becky
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