Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
All donations are tax deductible
Copyright © 1997 - 2010

In our hearts, the cherished memories live on... This site is created in loving memory of our beloved FancyBoy and JoJo.

"Animals never belong to us, they pass through our lives on journeys of their own. They ask no more of us than that we love them and let them go on in dignity and peace. Animals come and go with lessons to learn and lessons to teach. So, we love them and learn. We accept the pain of their going as we received the joy of their coming. All of it is a blessing." ~ Shirley Thayer

I only had Sapphire for ten wonderful years. He brought great comfort and joy to all who knew him. We will love him forever.

My Darby went to the Bridge about 1:30 AM this morning. She was so weak - I couldn't stand it any longer. It was peaceful. The ER people thought she was so beautiful and her eyes were so incredible. I think after my phone call to them they expected to see this near death looking cat - but she didn't look bad - but she wouldn't have lasted much longer.

They are so kind there and so compassionate. This one lady has been there for a long time and she's just fantastic when you're so upset. It's bothering me more today than late last night and when I went upstairs to her room, I just broke down and cried for 10 minutes - just not seeing her there with her head down on the bookcase and her fanny up in the air - she never could decide which one she wanted scratched first or the most. This is so hard when the reality sets in. I don't know why losing Darby hit me so hard - I knew she had FelV when I took her in as a foster and there's no way to know how many years you'll have them. Guess maybe it was due to being so soon after Wanda dying. It was just Wanda and Darby for so long; it's like losing Wanda all over again. I have lots of babies waiting for her at the Bridge - and her special friend, Wanda, most of all.

He was the sweetest boy in the world. When I fostered him the first time, he was so wonderful with the young kittens - he thought he was a kitten, too. He would get right in the middle of them to play flying feather and they would fall on him and he didn't care - he just played and was so gentle with them.

A family consisting of 3 small children adopted Chubby Checker. He adored the kids and let the 2 year old use him for a pillow. After 2 years, one of the children developed allergies - back came Chubby Checker. This time he was depressed and truly missed his family.

I was with another organization at the time and was not an adoption counselor. One Saturday afternoon this woman and her 16 year old son came in, filled out the application, was interviewed and approved. They took Chubby home.

About a year later they moved in across the street from me. When they saw me, they invited me over to see Chubby who, of course, was not the least bit interested in me - probably hoping I wasn't planning on taking him back to my house.

I would occassionally see Chubby outside, but didn't want to interfere as the family is aware I rescue and foster a lot of cats and could easily turn me in to the HOA.

About a year or so went by and one day I came home from work and the daughter came flying up to my door begging me to come quick. Chubby was lying motionless on the ground. I couldn't tell what had happened but there was blood and he was limp. They rushed him to the vet and I had to wait until the next day to hear what happened.

These people had just recently adopted a very small Boston Terrier from the SPCA to join their 2 dog family - a sweet Shepherd and a large Boston Terrier. They were putting Chubby in their fenced backyard area with these dogs while they went to work.

The new one, the small Boston Terrier, turned on Chubby and began attacking him. Chubby was overweight and there was no place to go, but he managed to get half of his body under a little ledge. This dog attacked Chubby all day long.

There is an elderly man next door and he heard the commotion, but had just had surgery and didn't know what to do. He called the work number he had for the woman, but she had changed jobs. Guess he didn't think to try the Sheriff's Office.

The attack lasted from noon until 5:00 pm. The vet said that Chubby had over 125 bite wounds on his hips and rear end area, bites from the small dog. Chubby had to be euthanized 2 days later; the wounds were too severe.

I've never spoken to those people again and was unable to say anything for fear of reprisal, but I cried every day for a year when I went out for the mail. Our cluster mailbox is right by the yard where Chubby was attacked so viciously and for so many hours.

I had bad dreams, I cried leaving for work - I cry to this day if I let myself really think about him as I'm doing now. He was such a wonderful cat - so gentle, so loving, so sweet, and so smart. He deserved to live a long and happy life. I always feel that I failed him. I should have taken him when I saw him outside. They wouldn't have known if I had done it when I first saw him. He paid the ultimate price for my "leaving things alone."

Rest in peace, my dear, sweet Chubby.

My sweet kitten, Bailey, was diagnosed on February 11, 2000, with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I went to the Internet and downloaded everything I could on HCM. I printed out info from Pawprints and Purrs, Inc., which I've kept since then.

She and I had two wonderful years together during which she was healthy and happy. She and my other cat, Bijou, were best buddies, playing and sleeping together and keeping each other company. She faithfully took her medicine and we spent time together almost every night during which I held and hugged her and told her how special and wonderful she was - and how lucky I felt to have her in my life. I knew I would probably someday be faced with the decision to euthanize her because of her heart condition, so I prepared myself for it and promised myself that when the time came, I would be strong, do the unselfish thing and let her go.

She became ill on November 4, 2001, and I pulled out all my info on HCM and re-read it to prepare myself for what I knew might be the end. I lost her on November 5 - she suffered congestive heart failure and then, just 24 hours later, suffered an embolism that left her back legs paralyzed and left her in excruciating pain. The doctor told me that she might not live through the treatment, she might not recover her leg functioning, she might throw another clot immediately and that with the deterioriation of her heart condition, she could only live a few months at most.

I decided to have her put to sleep so she would no longer have to suffer the horrible pain she was in. Of course, having the information from Pawprints and Purrs helped me understand my beautiful girl's condition and make the decision that felt right for me and her. I re-read the info from your site a couple of days after her death and it comforted and reassured me. Thank you for providing so much info and for being so sensitive to the beauty and wonder of these creatures we share the planet with.

I have lost other pets but I cannot express the grief I've experienced after losing Bailey. She was truly special and taught me so much about appreciating the short time we have here on earth. After living such a short life and suffering so much pain at the end, I hope she is running and playing happily at the Rainbow Bridge.

Bijou and Mommy love and miss you, sweet Bailey girl.

Kitty was my special best friend since the summer of 1996, when I found her as a stray in my backyard. I was 11 years old. From the first day she accepted a bowl of milk from me, I knew that I'd have a close bond with the little puss. She came to be known as "Kitty."

On April 12, 2001, I lost my sweet Kitty. A week before she'd been brought to the vet due to puncture wounds on her side. She stopped eating once we'd brought her home, so we took her to the vet for a few more days. April 12th came, and I had to let my sweet kittenpuss go. I'm still crying for her, and my heart aches so badly for her. She was always here for me when I needed someone! She was my best friend! But she's in my heart to stay, and I shall never, never forget her. I love you, sweet Kitty. Always and forever.

Visit our message board for serious information gathering and decimination regarding animal health, advocacy, and rescue - cats, dogs, wildlife, and so much more. You will have to register, but it's FREE. We hope you will join us.