11/8/2007

Monday began with a hard phone call.

Skippy, our old yellow cat we’d had for 18 years, 

was killed by a neighbor’s dog that weekend.

He was going blind and deaf, with an awful sounding meow, and his fur didn’t always look that great, but he was ours and we loved him.  Our son drew a picture to honor Skippy.

Evidently someone in the neighborhood was BBQ-ing.  About the only thing that "worked" well on Skippy was his nose for food, particularly meat!

The neighbor's dog on the "other" side also smelled it, and thus collided with our cat viciously - grabbing poor Skippy by the scruf of the neck.

A brave gentleman got the dog to drop Skippy, then his equally brave wife quickly scooped Skippy into her arms, where he soon died.

What a precious couple – to help a stranger’s old cat.

Skippy was a stray we found at the ocean in Wilmington, North Carolina.

My uncle, a veterinarian, estimated his age to be at least 2 at that time,

so that would make him about 20 at the time of his death.

As he died, he seized up and his teeth left a tiny cut on the lady’s thumb. 

He had a 3 year rabies shot 2 years ago, so we're certain he didn't have rabies, but we knew we needed to be certain he was safe for this lady’s sake.

Rabies shots protect “most” animals, but there are a few for whom the shot doesn’t “take”. (*Kind of like those who get flu shots, then sometimes get the flu anyway!)

Rabies is a fatal disease. You can read about it here - http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural_health/2004_August_September/Rabies_and_Tetanus

Years ago, a friend who rode the school bus with me said her great-grandfather lived in my childhood home.

He died of rabies, obtained from skinning a fox he’d shot.

Please don’t ever play around with rabies.

If you’re bitten or scratched by a live animal, they need to be caught and quarantined. (*10 days, I think.)

If they show signs of rabies, immediately seek medical help.

It is imperative that anyone exposed to rabies get treatment PRIOR to symptoms beginning!

How do I know all this?

I was once attacked by two dogs while I was riding a bike.   

They left a baseball sized bruise and 2 fang puncture wounds on my lower leg.

To my knowledge, there is only one teenage girl who has ever survived rabies without getting those shots. You can read her story here - http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295098,00.html.

I believe they gave her massive amounts of anti-viral drugs, plus kept her in a coma.

She had to relearn how to walk, talk, etc.

It seems doctors tried the same treatment on another person exposed to rabies, but it didn’t work and they did not survive so by no means do they have a “cure” for it yet.

Losing Skippy has been hard, but we’re thankful we were able to love him so long.

Our "kid" realized she was 1 when we got Skippy,

so she didn’t remember a time without his sweet presence.

Amazing how attached you get to these “furry” members of your family, isn’t it?

Posted by MitchTyRyanAndJames

So sorry to hear of your loss...it's always hard to lose a pet, but must be especially hard when it's one that's been part of your family for so long.

Posted by FavoriteThings

Dear Mitch, Ty, Ryan and James -
Thanks for your kind words. You know, it's always hard when something or someone we love is gone. My dad once told me the secret was to remember the ice cream cone. While you're enjoying an ice cream cone, it's all good, you know? And when it's gone, you have to focus on rememberingt how good it was while you enjoyed it. Then you have to be THANKFUL you had it while you did. So, yes, we do miss Skippy and his raspy meow, and sometimes I think I see his yellow self there in the yard, but we feel blessed that we were able to love him so long! Thanks again and visit anytime!