A Touching Gift

YaYa painted this homage to Benny and presented it to LuLu Christmas Eve. 

Goodbye Benny

I wrote that post about the upcoming HOF election while sitting outside an Indian restaurant, waiting on my carryout order.  It was nearing the end of a very light, very easygoing day.  I was looking forward to Christmas Eve the next day. 

A half hour later I was on the phone with an emergency vet, as LuLu's beloved Benny, who had been acting odd all week, was shaking and in obvious pain. 

Originally, Junie and Lu were to drive alone to the vet, but I went along at the last minute. 

The prognosis wasn't good.  He had a blockage in his urinary system, preventing him from emptying his bladder; essentially, his body was poisoning itself with waste.  Just determining what the blockage was and where would require an overnight hospital stay, with surgery to follow. We ran through multiple options, which all ran into four figures, and none of which guaranteed anything but a brief respite from his pain before the problem returned again. 

LuLu made the reluctant decision to end his suffering. 

The staff was kind, both to LuLu and Benny, and allowed them time together. He was also given pain killer to allow his last few minutes to be peaceful. 

The end was quick, as he was held in the loving arms of his chosen Person. I was blubbrering in the corner, and Junie, who had never before seen a pet euthanized, was a little shook. I apologized to Lu for not being able to take her cat back home tonight, and we drove home together. 

Goodbye Benny. You were a good boy, and I thank you for the years of love you gave my daughter. 

RIP.

Today was such a good day until I came home to you so sick. This was so unexpected. I love u forever benny boo. see u on the flip side. 

- LuLu 

Benny

beautiful boy🐈 - Lulu

Pawprints Keepsake

This is another of my Christmas presents, this one from Smiley. We did them late today,  after I got back from my road trip with LuLu. 

We anticipated Sawyer would struggle and fight to the point where it just wouldn't happen at all. 

As it turns out he was super agreeable and it took two seconds, sooooo.. we look dumb for rushing it with a muddy paw. D'oh!

Huckleberry on the other hand DID fight and squirm and raise a moderate fuss so we made do with what we could get in the moment. 

Then, without my permission, Smiley made a cast of both Kahuna and Benny's paws -  even though this was MY Christmas gift and I didn't want someone else's kitty cat memorialized. Hrmph lol

It was a thoughtful gift Smiley. Thank you!