Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

I was confident that someone would point it out and thought why not me.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

This country desperately needs a functioning Fourth Estate.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

It’s a doggy dog world.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Never forget that he train is barreling down on Trump, even as he dances on the tracks.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

Democrats have delivered the Square Deal, the New Deal, the Fair Deal, and now… the Big Joe Biden Deal.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread: Pet Rescue Updates

Open Thread: Pet Rescue Updates

by | 40 Comments

This post is in: ,


Sad news from commentor Joe F. (His note actually arrived early in the week, but I kept looking for “an appropriate time” to post it):

After my first email, Clover lost sight in his left eye and began to lose his motor skills on that side as well. We tried to see if a few days would find progress, but in fact it went the other way, so he has gone to a better place. It was a very difficult decision to make, but after snuggling with him for an hour today, there was nothing except resignation and detachment in every part of his body, so the choice made itself. Once the tears dried, I realized that it was absolutely the right thing to do.
__
My best friend is gone and the hole is bottomless, but I have such a sense of gratitude for having this beautiful animal come into my life and profoundly changing how I look at the world; he will always be with me.
__
I am so grateful for all your warm wishes, it left me in tears every time I read them. If you could do me (and Clover) one final favor of posting the sunlight picture one more time with the sad update and my great thanks to all who posted wishes which made this tragic time just a bit more tolerable.
__
Thanks to them all, I can never truly express how much their thoughts meant to me. No new dog on the horizon for me right now, but when (not if) I do bring another dog into my life, it will be a Wheaton Terrier in Clover’s honor.

***********

Better news from commentor Patty, about her feral-cat-rescuing aunt in North Carolina. (Patty mentioned that she and her husband are in Germany, where he’s stationed, which is part of the difficulty):

thank you so much for the links. there are many more resources in the rdu area than i realized. right now i am in kind of a holding pattern; my aunt hasn’t come to the realization yet that she can’t afford to keep caring for all of these cats. i am waiting to give her the list until she is ready. i respect her too much to push her; i’m just ready when the time comes. she has gone through so much lately that she doesn’t need pressure from me.
__
the good news is that my husband contacted some people regarding her house situation and she is not in immediate danger of losing her house. so that is a big relief.
__
it is truly humbling that so many people have come forward with suggestions and caring. the power of the internet and good hearted people is awesome.
__
thanks again for all of your help! will let you know as the situation progresses.

***********

And good news from commentor Redshift:

The update on the Howard County hoarding case rabbits is that there are now only 33 [out of the original 78] left at the shelter. Still a lot, but that’s an amazing number that have been adopted or gotten into foster homes.

(He sent me a clip of the seven baby bunnies he and his wife are fostering, but I have to get an embeddable copy to share for the Lunar Year of the Rabbit.)

Reader Interactions

40Comments

  2. 2.

    stuckinred

    Aw Joe, it’s so hard but, as you said, it was the right thing for your sweet pup. That picture may not say it all but it says a great deal.

  3. 3.

    Yutsano

    Clover ran right up that sunbeam to the next chapter in his existence. Good puppeh.

    And yeah, I squeed at the bunny vid. Big deal. Wanna fight about it? :)

  7. 7.

    Jenn

    I’m so very sorry, Joe F. I lost my old dog not long ago, and miss her dreadfully. My pup, though, is needing some extra canine companionship, so I’ve been visiting rescue orgs.

    Patty, I’m so glad to hear that your aunt doesn’t have to leave her house.

    Bunnies!

    The internet really is an amazing thing. Best to all.

  8. 8.

    Yutsano

    @stuckinred: Some at least. When kitteh wasn’t in full play NAOW!! mode. Speaking of which, need to run to the store to get food for her. I’ll be back shortly.

  9. 9.

    Beeb

    I’m so sorry, Joe. When you are ready, there will be another Wheaten who needs you and will love you too. Not Clover, of course, but perhaps a lucky Shamrock. They really are wonderful dogs. In the meantime, thank you for sharing Clover with us.

  10. 10.

    gogol's wife

    I’m so sorry about Clover. Thanks for letting us know — I’ve thought of you often since the first post. Really very sorry, but your love lives on.

  11. 11.

    Sko Hayes

    It’s always tough to lose a dog, they’re only on this earth for a short while. I have a 16 year old lab that I know won’t be around much longer.
    Hope you don’t go dogless for long, remember:

    One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say,
    ‘When Blemie dies we must never have another
    dog. I love him so much I could never love another one.’ Now I
    would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It
    would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again.
    What I would like to feel is that, having once
    had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog!

    The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog

  13. 13.

    TaMara (BHF)

    @JoeF, I was so hoping for better news, my heart goes out to you. Everyone one of us who has loved an animal here, knows what you’re going through. So big hugs and remember Clover was loved, happy and had a wonderful life with you.

    And I’m with Yutsano, he went right up that sunbeam. And every time you see a sunbeam shining down, you’ll know he loves you.

  15. 15.

    JPL

    Such happy and sad stories. I wondered about Clover and he was loved. That’s all a dog asks.

    The wabbit video is hilarious.

  16. 16.

    Linda Featheringill

    The love shared between us and the other animals is very, very real and is one of the nicest things about life itself.

    And, yes, sometimes we hurt, too.

    Happy trails, Clover.

    [and great news otherwise!]

  17. 17.

    jayjaybear

    So sorry, Joe F. I’ve had to make that decision for my fur friends and I know how hard it is.

    Those bunny babies are very…erm…industrious? About working their way through the yummy greenery. I love the gray-brown one with his fuzzbutt right in the food bowl!

  19. 19.

    Kay Shawn

    Joe F, we are all thinking of you. When we lost our 18-yr-old doggie, we were comforted that we did the right thing for her when the time had come. And that is what you have done. It also helped me to write a little notebook with tiny anecdotes of life with our dog, the little details that may become hazy in the future. We got our notebook out recently, and we laughed at the memories. Keep well; Clover will always be with you. Hugs and smiles to you.

  23. 23.

    Redshift

    @jayjaybear: Yep, they love their greens. We named the gray-brown one Magellan, because he was the first to explore outside the cage the day we brought them home (though they were all out by the next morning.) That may be awkward if he turns out to be a girl, but oh, well.

    They all love to sit in the food dish; they take turns there, probably because it’s just the right size for them.

    It is very hard to get much done with baby bunnies in the house. Any time either of us walks by, we stop to look “just for a minute” and before you know it, it’s fifteen or twenty minutes later…

  24. 24.

    Redshift

    Sorry for the sad news, Joe. At such times, I’m always put in mind of Klaatu’s “All Good Things”:

    I know it sounds a trifle odd
    To those who’ve never had a dog
    But I never had a closer friend than you

  25. 25.

    Violet

    Oh, Joe F., I’m so sorry. You made the right decision but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy one. I just love that Clover sunbeam photo. What a beautiful spirit.

    Patty, so glad things are looking a bit better for your aunt. How wonderful that so many people were able to help you so that you could help her.

  27. 27.

    wolvesvalley

    @Sko Hayes:
    What a wonderful piece — thank you for posting the excerpt and the link to the whole thing.

    Joe F., thank you for letting us know about Clover.

    there was nothing except resignation and detachment in every part of his body

    He was telling you to let him go in peace, and you did. This was the last loving gift you could give him.

  28. 28.

    Josie

    I’m so sorry, Joe. You did the very best you could for him. The hurt is the price we pay for loving pets who have shorter lives than we do. They are definitely worth it.

  29. 29.

    JasonF

    This post really hits home. This morning, we had to say goodbye to our rabbit, William. Even though he had a great, long life, and even though I know it was time to let him go, it was still the most painful thing I’ve ever done.

    So rest in peace William and Clover. Joe F, you have my condolences. Redshift, thank you for taking care of those bunnies. If they are even half the rabbits my William was, you are in for a wonderful experience.

  30. 30.

    Lesley

    So sorry for your profound loss, Joe F.

    May Clover be chasing sunbeams and sitting in them and keeping a watchful eye on you.

    Though I know it is cold comfort right now, I sense another wonderful dog who needs you is in your future. You are obviously meant to be with dogs on a permanent basis.

  32. 32.

    Linda

    Joe, I’m so sorry. I had to say goodbye to my cat Walt just before Christmas. It was hard, but I know that it was the right thing to do. He was 15 and beautiful and I miss him every day. One day I’ll blog the story of when I brought Jane and Ralph home (8-week-old kittens) and he took to them like a mama cat.

    I have pictures of him all around and think of him everyday. The love never dies. Never.

    Clover was beautiful. You will always have those memories. Thank you for sharing his story and that amazing picture with us.

  33. 33.

    Phoebe

    Three cheers for Joe F and for Clover. I know that sounds weird and wrong and not sad, but they both rule.

  35. 35.

    asiangrrlMN

    Oh, Joe F., I’m so sorry for the loss of your best friend. May he check in on you from time to time to make sure you’re all right. My deepest condolences.

    Redshift, BUNNEHS! They are cute.

  36. 36.

    bystander

    Aw, Joe F. I am so very sorry. Clover’s presence may be gone, but his spirit will live forever tucked safely beneath your heart.

    One could say the heartache you feel is just Clover moving in and rearranging the furniture. Hold close the times you laughed with him.

    Hugs.

  37. 37.

    Ash Can

    Deepest condolences to Joe F, and hats off for giving Clover such a good home — the kind of home every doggie deserves. It was obviously the right decision, and you are both in my thoughts tonight.

  38. 38.

    Rick Hill

    One of the bitterest ironies is that our best buddies are only around for a short time while the assholes of this world never seem to die.

  40. 40.

    NorthernMNer

    @Rick Hill: Its just not fair, somehow, that dogs, one of our greatest friends and companions, can only be with us for a piece of our lives.

    Clover, may you find doggie treats over every cloud in doggie heaven.

Comments are closed.