Maid2Cat

Local Animal Shelters Get Purrfect Howliday Surprise from EYT; Company Donates $50k in Free Advertising
  CLARION, Pa. ,DECEMBER 25, 2014(EYT) -------- EYT Media Group, Inc., the parent company of exploreClarion.com, announced on Christmas day that it is donating $50,000 in free advertising to local animal shelters and animal rescues.
The company, based in Clarion, Pa., announced today that each of the following organizations will receive one year of free advertising on exploreClarion.com, exploreJeffersonPA.com, or exploreVenango.com:
Clarion PAWS

You are completely wrong... The elk are native to Pennsylvania and the herd was completely decimated in the early 1900's and then reintroduced by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
So now by your thinking the PGC needs to be held financially responsible for all the damage done to vehicles that hit deer.  Especially those off the reservation.  You must be new to this part of
PA because vehicles hitting deer is a common occurrence.  And thirdly, this thread is about beautiful elk photographs and not your sob story about the damage done to your vehicle by hitting deer.

Even choked up an old burly guy like me.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
WOW! Please take a minute to read this adorable story! --->

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

a lot more flowers bloomed!!
 

My favorite!

My neighbor has two and years ago the garden club donated two to Penn State.  They don't do as well here as they do further down in southern Pennsylvania.  My daughter lives near Gettysburg and they grow wild around her.

Here's Bill
 

honeysuckle
 

lilac - sad looking ones by this one
 

roaddy
 

Quince
 

If your vet thought there was something that would of helped your cat they would of done it. A vet wont put an animal down just because. You did the right thing since you saw he was having a hard time. Don't beat yourself up over what ifs. Maybe the other cat had something totally different than what your cat had. Your buddy is running all over Kitty heaven having a good time!! I'm sorry you lost your friend, I know what it feels like...

A 3 yr old really isn't going to understand no matter how you explain. I like the idea of holding a funeral, your 8 yr old will understand that concept. Maybe start talking now to your kids that the dog is very sick and the doctors just don't know how to heal him. Not to sure about taking your son with you when that time comes around. He might associate the vet as a bad place to go with your animals.
To be honest, this is going to be harder on you & your husband than it will your kids.
Been there many times......

I have been doing a lot of sorting through stuff at my late in-laws house since their passing last month and ran across these interesting copies of pictures and a newspaper article.
Downtown Falls Creek with a dirt Main Street and a LOT of buildings.
The Falls Creek Tannery workers and dried hides.
Bringing the old smokestack down at the Tannery. It took 45 sticks of dynamite to bring the 150 foot tall stack with walls of 4 feet 9 inch thick at the base down.

Thanks I am taking him in Monday. It's really hard like bone. I am thinking maybe it's a partial dislocation. There is no fluid build up and it's staying the same size. He has been staying off of it, poor guy It is right at the joint above his foot. Front left leg. I stayed up late last night and baked him doggie treats to baby him. I am super worried and hope it's nothing serious. I appreciate all the helpful advice from everyone so far Please let me know if you think of anything else!

Update:  All seems well this morning. He's up to his normal shenigans. Let him out, chased him off the deck, He peed and  I called him in, so he ran away, so I waited a few min, then he came in, I know he pooped during the night, because I stepped in it, . My kleenex was all ripped apart on the carpet, and my bra was lying in the hallway. He ate and drank. I'm glad he's feeling better. thanks for all your concern and advise everyone!

Pups playing in the snow today!

OK now they have taken over my recliner, things will never be the same!!

When you decide the time is right you will want to explain it to them in age appropriate ways. The two year old will not understand it as well as the eight year old. rainbowbridge.com offers the opportunity to create a memorial page and upload photos. I think involving the 8 year old with that project would be great. He/She would not have the attention span to do the whole process but they can chose a photo and see other dogs who crossed over to the rainbow bridge. Again, all in age appropriateness. Also, they will take their cues from you as to how to feel. While it is okay to be somber for awhile, it is also okay to be accepting that they are playing, happy and healthy until we see them again.

Pets will hide when they are getting ready to pass away. This is an instinct from the pack as not bring vulnerability to the pack in the wild. I think it is also time to put a dog down when you muster enough selflessness to say, "I will see you on Rainbow Bridge someday but right now I love you enough to let you go."