Talk about love at first sight! I got Dinty when he was a kitten and our bond continued to grow stronger each day for almost 15 years.
I still smile when I think of some of his “funny” habits. He woke me up every morning at 5:30 AM by tickling my nose with his whiskers and by licking my hair. I could always count on him greeting me at the front door to show me his love after a long day at work. I fondly remember him unrolling and shredding the toilet paper whenever I left town for a few days. I couldn’t get upset with him and smiled when I replaced the roll. We played fetch with French fries. I threw a French fry, he brought it back to me, I threw it again, he brought it back to me again, I threw it again, then he ate it and we would start all over with a new one –
boy, did he love those fries.
We went through so much together. He always knew when I was sad or sick and always found a way to make me feel better. We loved cuddling with each other. Until the very end, he loved being in the same room with me. When I stood, he was at my feet; when I sat, he plopped on my lap; when I laid down, his place was on my stomach or by my side. Dinty displayed the ultimate example of unconditional love. I moved a lot and endured a few hurricane evacuations, to include Katrina – the thought to leave him NEVER entered my mind.
Dinty was diagnosed with chronic renal failure in June 2008. He was so brave and such a trooper. With treatment, medication, prescription food and a lot of TLC, he gave me another 11 months. He stopped eating and drinking water in his last few days. It took all his energy to lift his head to look at me when I walked up to him. I knew it was time to say good bye. That was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.
On May 3, 2009, I let my best friend go.
My message to Dinty:
I miss you so much it hurts; you will ALWAYS be in my heart. I think of you every day. Thank you for giving me your unconditional love. I wish you were still here, but I know you are in a better place.
Your sister, Onyx, misses you too.
Dinty’s messages:
Norm, thank you for accepting me and for looking the other way when I got up on the kitchen counter and on the kitchen table and especially for being there for my Mommy. I know she is sad right now, so she needs your understanding. I know you didn’t like me lying on your pillow and clothes, but I’m going to miss doing it. You know I was just trying to make a statement!
Miss Ann, thank you for inviting me into your home, with no hesitation, to help my Mommy give me my fluids and take good care of me when we were both new to the process. She got pretty good at giving me my fluids, thanks to your help!
Most of all, Mommy, thank you for taking such good care of me. I know you gave me the best life that any kitty could ever ask for and I will always love you for that. Thank you for holding me when I took
my last breath. I miss you too!
Rest in peace, my baby boy!
With all my love,
| Dinty |
| Karen |