Reverend James The Voice ([info]revvoice) wrote,
@ 2008-08-18 01:05:00
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On Pets...
I don't like owning pets.

I love pets.. I love cats.. chins.. cute fuzzies. I really just love em' and would have a ton, but I don't know if I ever will or could.

I can't deal with them dying.

This is probably deep in my psyche, as I have an utter fear and hatred of the concept of death. The idea that I would have given this animal all the love in the world, but upon agreeing to be their caretaker, I would be agreeing to live with them their entire life hurts. Primarily because I know that if I had a cat from a kitten or a chin from a kit that in 15 years or so, I'll have to be ready to say good-bye to them... let alone if they pass earlier.

It hurts more than when someone I know dies. I know there are exceptions to that, like close family or friends... but if my cat died, a cat that I had known since it's infancy - I would feel so much more hurt and upset than if a person I occasionally saw died.

I know I have a lot of pet owners in my list... how do you deal with that pain? How do you sit there and tolerate that ache?

I just don't know how... and don't know if I could ever learn to do so.

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[info]hardygrrlx
2008-08-18 05:45 am UTC (link)
I know I have a lot of pet owners in my list... how do you deal with that pain? How do you sit there and tolerate that ache?

The simplest answer is the best - you enjoy and cherish the time you have with them as much as you can.

For a LONG few hours this weekend, we didn't know if Yoda was seriously ill or not. Did I get upset/cry a little? Yeah - but I also sat there and watched him gloriously headbutt me/Kurtis/the pups when he came home safe and sound.

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[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:17 pm UTC (link)
Yeah yeah yeah.. I know.. *kickin dust*

I'll get over all this. Just hate that feeling, ya know?

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[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:17 pm UTC (link)
The bad ones.. not the cherishing love parts.. they're ok. ;)

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[info]thephoenixx
2008-08-18 06:36 am UTC (link)
Giving your heart to anything can be a difficult thing to do. You are left wide open and it can hurt sometimes. Is it better to have loved and lost? I think so, remember the good times you had with them. Cherish the moments that you have with them and think of their life and not their eventual death. I am so utterly attached to animals I completely understand what you are going through. When my cat died a few years back a friend of mine sent me this poem which made me cry but I loved it none the less. I hope you like it too:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown..

Hang in there, it gets easier. Maybe one day you will be able to open your heart to another little furry one again and I am sure their lives will be better for it.

Now I will stop being sappy this is killing my street cred ;)

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[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:16 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, word on the street is.. 'you dig on yo pets.. and that ain't gangsta'

Thank you for the poem :)

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Pets, Strays, and Being Ugly
[info]jahzcat
2008-08-18 07:08 am UTC (link)
Pet ownership, like parenthood, is one of the most difficult things you'll agree to in life. At least with kids, the probability of them surviving you is greater.
I know my cats will die before I will. I'm crying right now thinking about losing either one of them one day. But I wouldn't give up a second of their being in my life knowing how much pain losing them will cause. Both of them have brought SO MUCH happiness to my life and I look forward to hopefully many more. Will I do it again? deffinately. Will I miserable when I lose them too? Absolutely. Will I stop? Never. Why do I perform this masochistic ritual time and time again? Love, pure unconditional love every time. Fear of losing something just holds you back, from having something great and wonderful in your life, wether a partner, a child, pet or even a really good job. I wouldn't have my partner, pets or my job if I listened to my fear.
Lastly, having a pet saves that one you adopted from a life less cherished. Either off the streets, from a less caring or loving owner, or from a shelter that may have to put it to sleep because an adopt-er came a day too late.


http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/68922824.html


http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=11607460&blogID=424297463&Mytoken=5B7E5E2E-A007-4206-B4C361F9B78ED0A095774343

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Re: Pets, Strays, and Being Ugly
[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:15 pm UTC (link)
I know I know I know. =/ Just bummed bout my chin.

Thanks for the words hon.

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[info]firemasque
2008-08-18 09:53 am UTC (link)
I get quite upset when I think of Cabaret dying - I wrote a story to help myself cope with it, about him comforting the ghost of a little girl. It made Joe cry when he read it. I dunno though, on the one hand, I feel like I know that death is inevitable, and eventually, unless I die first, I'm gonna have to say goodbye to everyone I love, including pets. But then, you never know how it's gonna affect you - I'm more scared of how I'm going to cope with it myself.

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[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:15 pm UTC (link)
Sounds you and I have similar mindsets..

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[info]gojiraeight
2008-08-18 10:04 am UTC (link)
I had a cat for about 15 years that I had to watch die horribly from respiratory disease. What's always worse about animals dying is they are innocents. They have no concept of death, as far as we know anyway. And seem so confused and afraid at the end. While I've watched people die and be able to come to terms with it. I held my cat close to me as I felt it's breathing slowly stop. I whispered in her ear and talked to her.

All things die. You deal with it because you can. And I dealt with that ache to make it easier for her. An animal having a life filled with security and love. Well, that's the important thing. Like that with everything. You're gonna check out anyway. Why not ease some suffering while you're at it.

whether you believe in anything spiritual or not I say "do not be sad about those around you that join in the force" know what I mean?

Edited at 2008-08-18 10:05 am UTC

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[info]revvoice
2008-08-18 12:12 pm UTC (link)
Yeah.. I do. I even knew this answer when I wrote the damn post. Just bummed about the chin and I haven't SEEN him in 6 months. I know if I was to go and get myself a kitten, which is my goal when I get my own place, I'm asking for heartache in a decade or so....

More venting than anything. I do love myself a kitty.

Thanks.

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[info]harpergrey
2008-08-18 01:19 pm UTC (link)
Time helps. It's really the only thing that does. But absolutely get a kitten if you want to, because everyone else here is right when they say it's worth it.

When we put the cat in my icon down a year and a half ago, we did it at home because we figured it would be more comfortable for him. Cantankerous bastard that he was, he fought the massive dose of anesthesia for two hours while I just held him. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and remembering it still makes me bawl like a little girl. But even so, I would never have exchanged the fifteen scar-filled years that the little asshole and I had together.

Yeah, you sign up for some heartache when you love them... But you sign up for a lot of great stuff as well, and I believe it does balance out.

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[info]eikiji
2008-08-18 01:20 pm UTC (link)
Honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to react when my fluffbutt kicks it. I've had that cat for more than half my life (14 years and counting) and I love her more than a majority of the humans I spend my time with. A couple years ago I had a taste when she got cancer and had to have her hind leg amputated (as you may recall). Judging by my reaction to that (and she's perfectly fine and happy btw) when she finally leaves this earth, I am going to be a giant mess.

It's worse because if you've had them since they were born, they're more like your fuzzy children than just pets. I just have to hope that the five of mine stagger themselves out so that I don't have to deal with losing two at once (except in the case of the Tam kittens.. I think it would be sadder if one died and left the other behind).

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[info]eikiji
2008-08-18 01:21 pm UTC (link)
Also *HUGS*

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[info]redtail200
2008-08-19 03:36 am UTC (link)
patches will live forever! if only to spite you ^_^

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[info]learan
2008-08-18 01:37 pm UTC (link)
For as much as losing them hurts, life just isn't the same without them. I'm utterly terrified of the day that Oliver gets too sick to be saved, but that thought just reminds me that it's not such a big deal when he wants to sleep on the kitchen table (like he is right fricken now ;) ), because I love him.

Hang in there, bro. *hugs*

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[info]onezumi
2008-08-18 03:12 pm UTC (link)
Well, I can no longer own animals because I can't deal with it, so I'm not the best person for advice. It's the worst thing ever.

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[info]brennaraven
2008-08-18 04:15 pm UTC (link)
for PB, my first kitty that passed, I have a tattoo on my left forearm. I've been wearing his collar as a bracelet for three years now.

Whispah just passed (PB's daughter) recently. We're getting her ashes back today. I'm going to add her to my tattoo.

That way, they're gone, but far from forgotten.

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[info]shortstacksutin
2008-08-18 08:56 pm UTC (link)
i'm a parrot person. bill is only 8 or 9 years younger than me and he's guestimated to live until i'm 40. it'll be hard when he passes...but just the knowledge that i gave him a good healthy life will help.
After bill though any parrot I get will probably outlive me. an african grey can live up to 90 years.
Maybe you should join the bird crew. they are cuddly in their own way..

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[info]redtail200
2008-08-19 03:35 am UTC (link)
when my dog, sid, stopped eating, i knew something was wrong. it turned out that she had the end stages of lymphoma and we could do nothing to save her. i cried, a lot. i even had to miss work i was so out of it. i wanted to take down all my pictures of her and hide them away, but i'm glad i didn't. since she passed away, my other dog, lady, also passed from old age (she was freakin' 18!). i look at all the pics i have of them and still get a bit teary, but i know they had a good life & at least they're not in pain anymore.
right now, i'm enjoying having no pets to worry about. maybe one day i'll get a cat, or another dog (i want a freakin' welch corgi!), but for right now, i'm good.

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[info]sarcazm
2008-08-19 12:26 pm UTC (link)
i'm still incredibly sad over the loss of three of my previous pets - junior, bruno, and da bunny. junior and da bunny were like my children, and bruno was like this giant newfie brother to me. you just move on i guess. time heals all wounds.

my consolation through all this is salem. i still have salem. he's still destroying all my shit, then expelling it out all over my floors. i guess, what i'm trying to say is, if you have more than one it's easier. right now i just have salem. if anything were to happen to him i'd be an absolute wreck.

when corben moves here and we find a bigger place we're going to get a dog. salem, fucked up creature that he is, will probably outlive the dog. but it's still worth it to me to know that i got the opportunity to love another animal for the duration of its lifetime.

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[info]kalla
2008-08-19 09:02 pm UTC (link)
Fashionably late, as always...

... I will never forget the day [info]makami and I brought Pewter to the vet for the last time, or the horrible scream that made my vet turn, grab him off the table, cradle him and RUN out of the room. I will never forget the look in Pew's eyes. I will never forget how hard I cried.
But I will never forget the paws on my back, the tail curled up my nose, the loud purrs, the way he would sit on Prissy, the warm lump at my feet, on my back, on my head, in my lap... or the way he would always look up at me when I came home from class or work, with that "oh yay, you're home! I will make you feel that all is right with the world" Pewter lived a wonderful five years. He was a stray. I took him in and loved him - and knowing that makes it all right. Leukemia or not, he was my baby.

I'll never forget what it was like to not be able to do anything for Prissy, when the vet was closed, and we couldn't take her in for another 4 hours to say goodbye. I'll never forget the last look she gave me before I covered her with her blankie and arranged her in the box she'd be buried in.
But oh, the trills, the little question mark tail, the wall and doorway hugging, the way she draped on my shoulder, her trademark flop that made us all wonder that she was only 8 pounds, the tiny thing she was. The distinct voice she had to question, to scold, the will to outpurr Pewter and the times she stole mice out from under him... She too had leukemia, and lived a five-year pampered life from living on a street.

Knowing that I loved them to the fullest for the years they were with me, doing what I could near the end, and remembering the smiles they gave, the love that they endlessly offered, the magic that only a pet can give... It eased it all.

I swore I'd never do it again, that I couldn't stand to do it again...

... And then this Tuxedo cat reached out a paw to me at the Petsmart...

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[info]ascher
2008-08-21 10:04 am UTC (link)
It is not easy not at all. But life goes on. I have not been able to have another pet since my dog died 3 years ago.

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