Paul Monaco .com

 Well, it’s been a few months since Tommy and Tulip became part of my family.  As you may remember they both had a few issues to deal with.

Tulip is pretty much 100% adapted to being a three legged cat.  On occasion she has some difficulties in the litter-box but adjusting very well.  She’s learned this trick where she rests her stump on the side of the box, but once in a while the box tips over on her.  Poor thing!

Tommy is still in the process of adjusting to thyroid medication.  We may finally have the correct dosage and it appears he’s putting on a little weight.  He’s still only 8.5 lbs, but hopefully goin in the right direction.  He can be pretty sneaky about his pills.  Every so often I find one on the rug.. think he hides them under his tongue!  In the future I hope to save enough money to take him in for radiation treatment, then he can live drug free.

Coming home from work Friday night without having a kitty greet me at the door was too much to handle and today after a morning Buddhist Chant meeting I concluded that Tabitha’s passing has given me the opportunity to bring happiness to other animals that may not have such a bright future.

I immediately went to our local Humane Society which is a no-kill facility, and asked if they could point out the most hardest to place cats. Of course they were very happy to hear my interest and directed me to several. Unfortunately a few were a bit beyond my abilities but a sweet little girl named Tulip who was in an extra large cage caught my eye. Almost ready to give birth, she had the mis-judgment of preparing a nest in an open cloths drier. The unthinkable happened and as a result she had lost one of her legs. 7 of the kittens were delivered via C-section and are all pending adoption, but mama was now unwanted. It’s been a month since the accident and she is recovering nicely. While in foster care, she became close friends with another distressed cat called Serin.

Serin was left at the Humane Society doorsteps overnight in an unmarked cardboard box. Severely under nourished and barely alive. The society has given him the vitamins and nourishments he needs and will easy fatten right up. Unfortunately, he’s a bit older and in his current condition not the prettiest cat on the block. One of the foster parents told me about him and how he and tulip got along so well and cuddled with each other and asked me if I would consider a companion for Tulip. Of course I couldn’t resist.

oh.. ps… Ironically, the young lady who filled out my adoption paperwork and interviewed me was named Tabitha! hmmmm….

On Thursday, August 23rd I lost my last little buddy. At the age of 14 my precious Tabitha developed blood clots which paralyzed her from the waist down. She was rushed to The Animal Wellness Center but it was clear only one thing could relieve her pain.

Her passing was especially difficult for me as she seemed to represent the last thread that weaved the previous chapter of my life together. In the past 2-years I lost my wife Julie, cat Sylvester, dog Amber and my cats Samantha and Tabitha whom all shared my life simulteneously at one point.

There is a story in the Lotus Sutra, of the Buddha coming upon a crying woman and asked what makes her so sad. The woman tells the Buddha that she just lost her child and hopes to hear words of encouragement. The Buddha simply sits and weeps besides her.

There are times when we simply must endure our pain. The sun will rise tomorrow and life will go on.

Many thanks goes out to the Animal Wellness Center of Vernon and Doctor Donald Aronson and staff for all they’ve done for my little friends through the years. I give them my highest recommendations and strongly encourage anyone in the greater Vernon, CT area to give them your consideration. Their care goes beyond the clinical, treating each patient as their own.

Just a little teaser… The following day, my heart just broke coming home from work without my little furry friend waiting for me. Since Tabitha was a rescued kitty herself, I knew that I just had to turn this poison into medicine and take the opportunity to made some more lives a little better and I visited our local Humane Society. I will tell you of that story another time.