Rainbow Bridge @ MindSay

What a day.

I received a call this morning from my Mom, who said that Patches would be put down tonight. The poor old girl can hardly control her bladder now, and had urinated on Mom's couch twice in one night, and in a few other high-traffic areas. She's barely eating and looks miserable. Kidney failure has finally caught up with her.

However, I didn't agree with the chosen way for Patches to cross the Rainbow Bridge, and begged Mom to let me call around to vets in her area who might be open on Sunday and could make a home visit. It was a long shot, I knew, but I had to try for Patches. Unfortunately, after calling ten vet offices and two emergency vets, I came up empty-handed. I called Mom back and told her I would drive up to say my goodbyes to Patches.

I arrived at Mom's house two hours later (after stopping at Giant to pick up a beautiful, bright red flower to plant on Patchie's grave), dropped my stuff off on the counter, and searched for Patches. I found her curled up with Ryan in his bed. She loves her boy. I brushed her with her favorite brush, scratched her, kissed her, and told her what a good girl she is. We played outside for a little bit, and then played some more inside with her favorite toy, a shoe lace. And the more time I spent with her, loving her, the angrier I felt about how she would leave this world.

I couldn't do that to my girl, this sweet cat who has been with me for over half of my life. Sixteen long and happy years. She's moved with us three times, put up with the addition of three other cats, let me cry into her fur when times were tough. No. She deserves to cross the Bridge with her family around her, in the house where she feels safe.

And so, I told Mom to wait until Wednesday to put Patches down, and give me Tuesday to find a vet in the area who will come to the house and humanely euthanize her. Tomorrow I'll try to enjoy what's left of this Memorial Day weekend, and on Tuesday I'll begin calling around to vet offices. I posted an ad on Craigslist asking for some names, and already have one lead that may work out.

So, please keep your fingers crossed for me and my search, and keep Patches in your prayers and thoughts for an easy cross on the Bridge.

The Rainbow Bridge

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