My precious Tanner, you came to me when you were only 2 weeks old. You had a runny nose, mattery eyes and the lady who brought you in to me said your real mom didn’t want you. She just knew that I would take you in….I take orphaned babies in all the time. You didn’t even weigh half a pound and I taught you to eat out of a syringe. I took you home with me at night so I could get up with you for your 2 a.m. feeding and brought you back to the Vet Clinic with me during the day.
Before I knew it, you were a big boy and were eating out of a dish. Along came some other kittens, first Dusty and later Pumpkin. Road Cat took all of you under his wing and liked to hold you down to lick the food off your faces when you were done eating. He was good to you boys. Then Dusty found a home and so did Pumpkin, but you stayed behind.
I have lots of good memories of our 2 months together…..you helped me air out the tent in my back yard when you were only 3 weeks old; you went on a trip across the state with Taz, Dusty and me when you were only 5 weeks old because I didn’t want to leave you little ones behind; you tore around the clinic like a mad kitten knocking things over and getting in trouble with the boss; climbing up anybody’s legs who would stand still long enough to let you; sitting on my shoulder for your naps so I could hear your heart beating through your chest; and the many, many other pranks and stunts you pulled out at work. You had this precious, precious little snort you did when you were looking for trouble. I will never, ever forget that sound.
Two weeks ago I took in yet another kitten. She ended up having distemper and died and I had to bury her in our cemetery under the maple tree. I tried to be very careful in disinfecting things because it is such a deadly virus. But last Wednesday you got sick with this awful disease. I worked with you for 5 days but yesterday you lost your battle and your life and I lost you, little man.
My grief is almost unbearable….I miss you so much and wish you could be tearing around the clinic again my little monster, my holy terror, my pistol. You have impacted my life like you will never know and have left pawprints on my heart that will never, ever go away. I loved you when you were alive and in death I love you still….and always will.