Pitter-Patter Paw Prints Across My Heart

Have you ever lost a pet? Or better yet have you outlived your pet?

If so then you know the empty hole that they can leave.

As a pet owner since early childhood, I have endured living beyond their time all too many times.

It never gets easier, and you don’t miss them any less.

I woke this morning to a quiet house. Well, as quiet as a house with three large, needy rescue pups can be. It was quiet as I did not have the motion detected Hue light come on before I entered our front room. Quiet, without a hungry, sleepy “meow” to greet me under my bare feet. No pitter-patter paw prints across the floor leading me to the kitchen to his bowl.

Last evening I placed my furkid kitty of thirteen years in the ground. He had lost his battle with age, kidney failure, and more.

I left yesterday morning to go to work knowing he was not doing very well. Before I returned home he crawled into the bed that up until recently he rarely used and went to sleep. Looking as if he had gone peacefully to join all my pets before him. (Yes I firmly believe that animals also go over the rainbow bridge and await us playfully in heaven.)

A good fight had been fought. He allowed myself and my wife our own personal moments over the last few days to love on him. We knew his precious time with us was near, we prayed over him, letting him go.

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” – James Herriot

We cried out to God for the ways we may have treated him in the times he may have annoyed us. Knowing that he was at peace and no longer in the pains of this world gives a sense of comfort in our grief.

Seeking forgiveness, yet he always had an unconditional heart, well as much as a cat can have.

He went on his own terms rather than forcing us to make the hard decision, which I am eternally grateful and undeserving.

Digging his grave next to his brothers, I felt a calm and peace overcome me as I dug. The years of joy that God allowed us to share in his life will always outweigh my heavy heart.

Animals that are pets become part of your family, I refer to ours as our furkids.

Our beloved Bobo (Mr. Bojangles) was the first pet my wife and I adopted jointly. He will always hold a piece of my heart between his pitter-patter paw prints.

As he frolicks catching lizards and throwing up hairballs in heaven, he will be dearly missed here on earth below.

Like all of our animals he adopted us and all of our messes and loved us unconditionally…maybe we could learn a thing or two from him.

A home without a cat — and a well fed, well petted and properly revered cat — may be a home, perhaps, but how can it prove title? –Mark Twain