Tonight when I got home from work I checked my mailbox and there was a sympathy card from a friend remembering T.C. Maybe it sounds silly but I read the card to my other furbabies and I hope that T.C. could hear me. In my world of so many insensitive people I've had to cope with, this card was the greatest treasure I could ever receive. Even though my baby has been gone for just over a month and sometimes I feel I'm just going to explode from sadness, this truely sincere kindness had brought me a little bit of healing when I'm needing it the most.

Such acts of kindness are touching and too rare. I am glad that your friend was thoughtful enough to make this gesture. I was lucky enough to receive some cards, and they did help.

In fact, I have resentment towards the vet specialist my dog saw, because his clinic did not send a card. I did get a lovely one from her regular vet.

It is nice that you shared the card with your other pets.

Best wishes,

Daisy's Mommy

You know, that's a lesson I learned after I lost my Heidi cat 5 years ago - most people around me, even some family members, seemed clueless as to how to deal with this issue. So few people even acknowledged her loss to me, and those who did, several of my more sensitive sons, and the school counselor at the younger boys' elementary school - well, their words brought me to tears because I'd needed that acknowledgement. Since then, when a friend or family member loses a pet, I make a point of sending a sympathy card with a written note. It's a memorable gesture to make to a person or people whose shoes you've walked in, and it will always be appreciated that you remembered them and their beloved pet.

It has been 5 months since Raggs left me and I still miss him so much as all of you miss your furbabies.
I got several sympathy cards and many in person condolences. It does hurt when the people you count as friends brush it off as it is only an animal. We will never change these non animal people and just feel sorry for them as they have missed out on the greatest love one can have. No person can love unconditionally as a furbaby. I got one special card from a dear friend who loves animals as I do . I keep it by my computer with a picture of my Raggs. I have tried to attach it and will write what it says just in case the picture is not clear.
SUCH A SWEET
LITTLE SOUL
COULD NEVER
BE FORGOTTEN.
Joanne (Raggs Mom Forever)
pslooks like the card would not attach it showed a little angel bear ascending to H so I will send y picture od Raggs on my deskeaven with a heart in his hands

To clear up my last sentence I don't know where my mind was.
The card showed a little angel bear ascending to Heaven with a sweet smile on his face and holding a heart. It looks like the card would not attach so I will send the Picture of Raggs on my desk instead.
Joanne

Yes, sympathy cards are precious and many grievers keep them either for years, or forever. I've pulled out Sabin's many times over the last 6 years, just to reread them when I'm needing some solace that others cared. Despite all my troubles with these insensitive types, I did end up getting more cards for Nissa than for any of my other losses, (even my Mum's), 11 to be exact, plus 5 bouquets of flowers, and I still buy flowers weekly for Nissa and set them beside a fav*ourite picture and one of her last pictures. I also light a candle in this same space for her every night. Many of the cards I got were from those who I'd sent sympathy cards to in the past, whether from their animal or human losses....people remember who remembered them, that's for sure!

I also resent and am puzzled by the lack of her eye specialist's clinic not sending a card...yet her second opthamologist who saw her only once before she crossed, did send one. Go figure.

And Joanne...Raggs is SUCH a sweetie, and has the most beautifully expressive face! And that pink ball he's holding in the pic looks SO much like the one I'd thought Nissa had left for me on our lawn soon after her crossing, though it was about 3x's the size. Thanks for posting this pic of him! (one of these days, I'll get around to posting some of my 2 kidlets)

Daisy's Mommy, That is sad your specialist didn't even acknowledge your loss-it seems they of all people would understand the tremendous hurt and how much comfort even a card really does give to you. I don't even talk about T.C. to anyone anymore except for here, thank you so much for caring. Take care and my loving prayers are with you.

5catsmom, Even though Heidi has been gone from you for five years it still seems like yesterday sometimes doesn't it? Our babies make such a huge impact on our lives that time doesn't erase the last moments we spent with our little friends. With Christmas coming up it makes it that much more difficult. You are so right about people being clueless on how to show compassion when you lose a fur family member you have loved and still love so very very much.

Joanne, The picture of Raggs is so adorable! Thank you so much for sharing it with me. It is so nice to see pictures of your special baby that you have shared your life with. I have a picture of T.C. napping with one of my other babies, Shadow that I tried to post but it didn't work. I will try once more. If it doesn't post, I don't know what I'm doing wrong! The friend who sent me the card had a border collie named Rags she lost many years ago. I have known her for over 40 years. I still find it hard to get past people's insensitive remarks and feel sorry for them. But in spite of it I do feel blessed to have found friends here who can share their deepest most thoughts and feel the love and understanding coming from all of you.
Peace and Comfort, Kathi

I'm glad to hear from you Furkidlet's Mom. I missed seeing your posts while you were going through your terrible ordeal with the stray furbaby. I can only imagine what you were going through being pulled in two different directions-wanting to be able to love another kitty but just can't while you are in such deep mourning for Nissa. I read your post about Nissa coming to you-what a comfort that must have been, being able to see her young and healthy again. I would give anything for T.C. to let me know in some way he is alright and happy. We must have been posting at the same time-I didn't see yours til after I had sent mine. I was glad to see I was able to finally post my picture of T.C. and Shadow. It is one of my favorites. I'm so glad to see you back and I pray life will start going a little better for you. Hugs to you my friend-Kathi

Hey, Kathi,

It's good to be yakking here with you, too, again. I missed my time here, what with all the busyness and angst. Even now, I have to pick and choose topics, else I'd be spending my entire DAY here writing!! (thanks again for the understanding about all that...it's still in the works as now I have to screen anybody who calls wanting to adopt that grey guy...no one good enough yet, but I'm trying my best to make manifest the PERFECT guardian for him in this Universe! )

And oh, what a heavenly picture of T.C. and Shadow!!! No WONDER it's one of your fave's! Makes me want to just jump right into that snooze-fest!! I have a few of Nissa and Sabin curled up together, too, but one of them always seemed to have their face &/or head totally buried in the other's bod, so I was always missing out on getting a clear view of both of them! Even in sleepytime, it seemed they always knew when I'd go and grab what we referred to as the "'C' Word"...cats and cameras...what's THAT always about???

I STILL say all vets should take a mandatory course as part of their studies, on bereavement in their clients. The Humanities have just been forgotten by too many of those in the health fields! I'm so, so sorry that you, too, don't have anyone to talk to besides us here, as it's a well-known fact that grievers NEED, as one of the most basic requirements during mourning, to tell their story over and over and express their feelings from day to day, for as long as it takes. It's so frustrating that I'm thinking I should start acting really cantankerous in my now-older age (hey, aren't we sort of enti*tled when we reach a certain age? ), and take the new-fangled approach of reverse thinking, as in "WHAT???? Nooooo...what's wrong with YOU, to NOT know how important animals are to us and the entire world???....YOU'RE the 'nutty' one for not already knowing this!!!!" Make THEM feel the same embarrassment that they try to dump on US!

Whaddayathink? It might just start to work to change the world's ridiculous and WRONG notions!

I've only received one sympathy card and that was from my regular vet's office. They didn't even put Jemima down! Nothing from the after hours clinic where we had to take her even though we sent them a card thanking them for the care & concern they showed.