Goodbye Lucky, I'll love you forever Options

[SJ J & S]

Dear Steve you sound like a man after my own heart what so many people don’t get is that when they take on the responsibility of an animal it is for life, I hope your children will grow up to realise this and appreciate what you did for Lucky makes you one of the best dads in the world. If nothing else they know that when they need you you will go to any extreme to be with them.
Not heaven or earth would have separated me from Jude and Sadie (Ok that’s a lie heaven did separate us) when my husband and I went through a bad patch I only stayed with him because of the dogs!!!
I wish you every happiness in your new life and you can go forward knowing that Lucky was very lucky to have someone who would give up so much for her.
Love Sue

[Steve]

Hi Sue, some people will probably think I am mad for doing what I did but I know you will understand that the bond between Lucky and I was just too important to me to do anything else. When we first got Lucky she was our little baby and when the children came along she had her nose pushed out a bit but she was always absolutely wonderful with the children. She usually tried to stay out of their way but if they did jump on her and pull her fur she was always very gentle. I have lasting memories of how she used to try to crawl out from underneath them so as not to hurt them rather than just standing up and letting them fall.

The children were really understanding of the situation over the last couple of years and even though they wanted to see more of me they never held it against Lucky. My little girl who is 4 last saw Lucky 2 years ago but she still used to go round telling everyone that she had a dog - she couldn't remember what colour her dog was or anything else about it (except her name) but she just loved having a dog. My little boy who is 8 did remember Lucky and was distraught when he found out that she was going to be put to sleep. I am going to take her ashes home and we will scatter them in the garden where she used to play.

It is very sad to say but now that Lucky is gone life will be a lot easier. I feel very guilty that I feel a sense of relief that I now have a lot more flexibility and freedom of movement and I will be able to spend much more time with the family. I hope Lucky would understand that this does not mean that I did not love her.

Thanks for listenening

Steve

[Saki & Freyj...]

When Electra cat was diagnosed with FIV, I considered living in a different house than Tim. Saki was negative and I wanted to make sure she stayed that way.
We finally decided that Saki's chance of getting it from Electra at that point were so infintesimal, that it would be ok. FIV is spread thru birth, bites and sex, and as she has never been outside, she must've been born with it (we got her from a dreadful place). But she wasn't diagnosed until she was 10 and had lived with Saki all Saki's life, so... Still, if it had been highly contagious, even though I love Tim, I would have moved out with Saki, and left him with Electra.

I feel like an animal is like a child. And when you take one in, you have to act like a parent. If you are not ready for all the inconveniences -- big and small -- then you shouldn't get a pet.

So I really admire you, Steve, for staying in Holland.

And it sounds like you nursed Lucky those two years. I know that when human loved ones die after prolonged illness, the survivors often feel guilty about the relief. But it is a normal natural thing to feel. So don't beat yourself up over it.

Hathor is a chow shepherd mix. She is keeping me busy. I thought I had wanted some more freedom and flexibility, but I just couldn't stand how quiet the house was. Neither could Electra (or Tim). And right now she wants to play...

Love,
Jennifer