2011...a year of great sadness and loss

2011...a year of great sadness and loss

Far too much loss this year...2011 has been very unkind so far and every single time I think I can't take one more loss, I'm very cruely proven wrong. I lost my precious life-saving baby Remmy after 14 years on February 12th and I truly thought that would kill me. It didn't, amazingly enough, though I still feel his loss every single day and I continue to wear or carry his collar with me even now.

This past Saturday, August 20th, I received word that my little Remmy-mini-me, aka my first physical dog rescue, aka my darling little "cousin" Spottie had passed. He never forgot that I was the one that rescued him from a crazy man who didn't want him because he wouldn't quit kissing the man. Spottie gave me constant kisses every time I saw him, even all these years later.

Today brought the loss of the sweetest, best natured, most loveable cat I've ever known, our beloved JayJayBobBob. Mom found him this morning, already gone but still warm, with what appeared to be a thru and thru wound in the abdomen, laying right beside her car. I hate so badly that she found him. It seems it's always Mom or me that finds their broken little bodies, but it would have been terrible for any of us, we all loved him so. Then my poor brother had to dig the hole to bury Jay--and Jay was really Donnie's cat. Donnie had raised Jay and his siblings from birth. I feel so bad for Donnie, I know how much he must be hurting right now, but he keeps his emotions to himself. Jay loved everyone, would likely have gone right up to whoever did this to him for some loving. I hope whoever did this suffers greatly before they are allowed to pass. The evil of people amazes me though I don't know why.

Also lost to us are two of the kittens from the feral cat colony. One had an injury to his back/hips/or back leg(s) last week, but we were never able to catch him to really see what was wrong or get him to the vet. It seemed he had been doing better, was walking on all fours again, according to the neighbor who had been sliding food under a shed to feed him, but the little guy hasn't been seen now for several days and neither has his brother.

Given that it seems sweet baby Jay was shot right in our front yard or, perhaps even more disturbing, he may have been shot elsewhere then purposely returned home for us to find. Everyone around here knows we take care of the feral cats as well as having three mostly white ones that are very tame outside, so I can only assume that the kittens most likely met a similar fate.

I can honestly say I hate 2011 and it can't be over soon enough for me. There's been entirely too much loss for me this year. I just pray that the others I love will be safe and with me for a long time to come.

August 23, 20111 - 16 of 16 Images702 visitsAlbum by Mary YoungPhotos by Mary Young

My baby boy, my precious Remmy. How I miss you and love you, Remmy! What I'd give to have you back in my arms again...	Remmy just days before his terminal diagnosis in 2008. I had no idea when I took this pic on 12/17/08 that we'd hear the devastating news on 12/23/08. What a difference a week makes.	My baby boy wrapped in his cubbie. He loved this blanket because it was so soft. We buried him in it along with his baby. I don't know if I'll ever get over losing him. Mommy misses you, baby bug...so very much.	Remmy's last Christmas, 2010. I miss you, little man, so does Holly-sister and Daddy and Mom. I know you'll give JayJay and Spottie kisses and keep them safe with you and Poppy until I get there.
Sweet little Spot, my first physical rescue. He was an awesome little dog and he loved me so much, but the feeling was mutual. I miss you, Spottie, and your mommy and daddy do, too. You stay with Remmy and JayJay and the others until we join you there one day.	Such a little guy, but he had a big heart. He was very loved and he'll be very missed.	Little gray feral kitten. I wish we could have tamed you so we could have gotten you help when you needed it. You were loved even though I only ever held you twice when you were just a week or two old. You're loved even now and I hope you and your brother will find Remmy--he'll find you, I'm sure, because he always did love baby kittens.
Tiger kitten on the left went missing almost a week ago, just after the gray kitten turned up with a mysterious injury then disappeared...and just before our boy Jay was found shot in our front yard. I hope whoever would be so cruel suffers for a very long time before they die...and I hope they're judged harshly for their cruelty. Tiger-Tabby, go to Remmy. He'll give you love like you've never known.		Sweet baby Jay...he was always so curious and loving. He wanted nothing more than love.	Such a sweet face and the disposition to match
JayJay and his brother Bomba just before they got fixed. They loved each other so very much. I'm sure Bomba will be lost without Jay.	Sleepy boys	The day we let the kittens out of their confinement. Sister Shiloh couldn't wait to clean her brothers off. She's so shy and still won't let anyone but my brother touch her. Jay was her rock. I don't know what will happen to her now. I'm just sick over all this death!!	More grown up Jay. I can't believe that I don't have better pics of him. Makes me feel really bad, but what makes me feel worse is that I didn't cuddle him more when I had the chance. I love you, Jay, and I miss you...very much. Remmy has welcomed you with all the love you can handle, I'm sure.