Hatrack River Forum: The Pain of Giving

This is topic The Pain of Giving in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :

This week has been horrible for my wife and I. We're moving next month and can't take our dog and cats with us. Two nights ago, we gave our youngest cat to a young family in the ward that will absolutely adore her until she dies. Today, we gave our older/ mellower cat to a couple down the street that just wanted a cat to fill a void and eat and sleep and sit (she was perfect). Tommorow, we have a single mom coming to look at Peanut our Golden Retriever.

My point is, it's amazing how much impact an animal can have on our lives. These things that have a very limited communication ability, can leave huge wholes in our homes when they're gone. I just find the emotions I'm feeling, fascinating. I know they're all with (or going to be with) great families that will take care of them and maybe we're missing them more than they'll ever miss us.

I know there's not much room for discussion in this thread, but I think it's nice having that urge to have a pet engrained in all of us.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*sympathy hugs*

And good for you for finding such loving homes for them. [Smile]

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Scott, I totally understand.

When I left Canada for Sri Lanka to marry that guy, I took my cats with me. I couldn't be parted from them - I have too much of an emotional bond with them.

Good luck, and may they all have good homes.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Scott, when my family left England, we had to leave my dog, Rumpole, an English Springer Spaniel. I was almost thirteen, and my sister was six. It was the hardest thing that had happened to me up until that point. So I completely understand.

Now, we have a dog again... half spaniel, half retriever, named Tallulah... we got her about two and a half years ago. But she's in the US, and my family is in Israel. We had to leave her again. This time it's not permanent, just for a year, but it brought back painful memories of the previous time.

We gave Rumpole to a family that had had a springer, and it died. The girl, who was seventeen at the time, had been devastated. Rumpole didn't replace him, but helped. So I know they're loving and caring for him.