I read once that the loss of a pet is harder than losing a relative. The article went on to say that we love our relatives from afar but do not have them at our side daily, which is why the loss of a pet is so difficult.

It was 1995 and there was no shelter in Sandusky County. Our humane agent, Gil Fonseca, brought us a litter of four of the smelliest kittens I had ever seen! They had holes in their necks, which prompted a visit to the FAH. The holes were blowflies that had tunneled into their small bodies. I shall never forget the horror of that visit; I have never again seen such a thing, for which I am thankful. The four smelly black kittens improved and eventually we found homes for all but one…Rocky.

Rocky was aptly named; he grew to almost twenty pounds and ruled our home. As a kitten he was a delight, sleeping next to us on the pillow at night after terrorizing the other cats during the day.

Last week I realized that Rocky was no longer himself, he was dropping weight and his energy was gone. He was eating little and drinking much. Knowing how he loved lying in the sun on our deck we decided that he could enjoy that until even that became a challenge.

On Wednesday I took him to FAH for blood work, fearing the worse. I left him over night knowing that he hated car rides and one was enough. On Thursday I called and heard what I expected, his kidneys were no longer working and it was time to say good bye to my old friend. The vet asked if he should go ahead and put him down, I hesitated, how much easier for me to not witness another one of my pets passing. But I said I would be out to hold him one last time. Fourteen years is a long time and I owed him that much. When I approached his cage he raised his head and began to purr, I then remembered this line from the Pet’s 10 Commandments…

I know I will make this difficult journey many more times in my life, but although it is difficult, I know that the unconditional love of a pet is one of the most beautiful things any of us will ever experience in our life times. So I ask you to do the same when the time comes for one of your beloved pets, it is what we owe them for what they have given us.

Now go hug your precious dog or cat…