4/20/2014

Thank you so much for the gifts 
for the cats from our Amazon wish list!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/14VUTQST8F5XH

Thank you Bobbie for the Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you Melissa for the Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you Hope Ash for the Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you Olivia for the Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you Rachel Golden for the toys and rainbow toy!
Thank you Kimberly Hurley for the toys and food!
Thank you Denise Stratton for the food and freshstep!
thank you Heidi Mead for the trashbags, toys, laundry soap and sponges!
Thank you Griselle Corbo for the toys and food!

Thank you for the toys, and foods!
Thank you Carrie Phebus for the food, toys and litter!
Thank you Elizabeth Miller for the food and Swifters!
Thank you Paul Weston for the food!
Thank you Mara Whitney for the food!

Casper was swallowed by a fish :)

Thank you Wesley Wilder for the food!
Thank you Wendy Mullen for the food!
Thank you Faith Hershiser for the camera!
Thank you Francis Pough for the camera!
Thank you Vicky Ellis for the car bed!

Thank you Elise Balcom for the food!
Thank you Heidi Castellanos for the foods and trashbags!
Thank you Linda Carden for the water filters!
Thank you Randy Price for the food, toys and cleaner!
Thank you Lisa Wilkinson for the food and play cubes!

The cats checking out the goodies in the boxes

Thank you Dana Radell for the food and scratch and rest!
Thank you Jennifer Darby for the sponges, trashbags and toys!
Thank you Chrissy for the foods, tower of tracks, undrcover mouse and tunnels!
Thank you Letitia and Tish for the crocheted cat mats!

Paul Love the catnip rainbows

Thank you to the kind unnamed people that sent the fish bed, freshstep, foods, toys, blanket, and sardine toys.
Sadly they also never give us anyone's contact information so we can not personally thank you.   Please know how grateful we are to you for your kindness!

If you have bought a Jump ticket and are
not going to jump,  Please assign your ticket to us!
Go to  http://dareme4charity.com/ 
sign in, 
click on your account, 
click on your tickets, 
click on assign and put in alana@blindcatrescue.com 
Thank you for helping!! Please share

Grieving the Loss of Your Pet – Coping

By Jill Anne Sparapany

You’ve just experienced the loss of your pet or learned of the impending loss. It’s so difficult to know your pet’s days are numbered and you don’t know that number! You experience grief when you learned about your pet’s terminal illness. You will feel it again when they cross the Rainbow Bridge!

The Pain feels Unbearable. Crushing. You are Angry. Depressed. You ask Why do I feel Guilty? Why does it Hurt so much? When will the Pain Stop? How will I Survive? If I survive, will I Forget the Love I shared with my pet?

Why do we feel the loss of our pet more than other losses in our life? Because they are our furry family members and they give us Unconditional Love. There is a special bond with our pets that is felt in our hearts and souls. Yes, our souls – because deep down, we believe we will see our beloved pets again. “The Rainbow Bridge” is about that reunion, when our pets are anxiously waiting to see us as much as we are to see them.

What is grief? There are many definitions, but this is the best one I found:

Grief is a multifaceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which an intimate bond was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions. While the terms are often used interchangeably, bereavement refers to the state of loss, and grief is the reaction to loss. Grief is a natural response to loss – any loss.

How can you cope with your grief?

There are two important things to remember:

You are not alone. You will feel many things in grieving the loss of your pet.

You will survive. Repeat, you will survive! There are days when you may doubt this, but remember, tomorrow the sun will rise again and you will get out of bed and go about your day.

There are many ways to find your way through this painful and confusing time. Everyone who has experienced loss in the past still goes through the same grieving process. Yes, process – the path to finding yourself back in your life. Every life experience reminds us we are still alive and provides life lessons.

Some choose constructive ways to cope with their grief. Others do not. Some people have found these activities helpful. This is not a complete list but should help you on the path.

Take Care of Yourself. It is so important to take care of yourself. You may not feel like eating, sleeping, exercising or engaging in activities you did before your pet loss. But you must continue to eat, sleep and do some exercise! When you are in good physical condition, you are better able to cope emotionally. Poor physical condition can precipitate conditions that will make you vulnerable to illnesses. If you are not sleeping well at night, allow yourself an afternoon nap. If you don’t feel like eating full meals, try smaller, more frequent meals.

It’s okay if you do not feel like engaging in your usual social activities right away. But do not avoid going out – there are a lot of things you can do by yourself to keep you going outside! If you are able, go to your local park area and walk. Being outside, breathing in the fresh air, clearing your mind and focusing on what’s around you helps. Look at the trees, the clouds, watch for wildlife and birds, feel the breeze on your face and feel the warmth of the sun. All of these will remind you that you are alive!

Avoid making major decisions. During the grieving period, you may not be able to think clearly or may feel depressed. Longing for a return to normalcy, you may rush into decisions that you may regret later. Avoid major decisions, such as moving to a new home or city, changing jobs or beginning a new relationship. Be patient with yourself!

Some friends and family will hope you will ‘get over’ the grief of pet loss! Be patient with them too. They may suggest you get another kitten or cat. This is also a serious commitment for the lifetime care of another pet. Do not rush into this decision. There is not another cat that can replace your lost companion or soothe your heartbreak.

Talk with a close friend or family member. Expressing your feelings can be very helpful. Talk about your happy memories with your pet. What they meant to you and what you miss.

Write a journal. Some are comforted by writing their thoughts and feelings while grieving. It does not necessarily need to be about the lost pet (or person). Express your emotions about the loss in your journal too. When you remember a happy moment with your pet, write it down.

Save your favorite picture of your pet. I find putting together a favorite picture of your pet in a beautiful frame, along with a small clipping of their fur (taken at the vet’s office) between the glass and the photo, to be comforting. Find a special place for their picture – not hidden but not ‘in your face’ either.

When you are home, do not vegetate in front of the television. Reading is helpful for many people. Don’t think you need to read self-help books on loss and grieving, finding the ‘meaning of life, or religious and spiritual books. Try to read books that are not related to your loss – read the latest Best Seller Fiction book, as a temporary escape into feeling normal. If you enjoy history or art, read books in your areas of interest.

Be gentle and be flexible. If you felt you needed to clean the house twice a week before your pet loss, give yourself a break. Instead of cleaning that second time, engage in a fun activity. If your calendar was jam-packed, give yourself time to relax and reduce the social demands while you are grieving. If you need, use the time to talk with your closest confidant, pray or seek out a support group. Above all, give yourself time to work through your grief process. Everyone goes through grieving at their own pace; do not rush your process.

Plan for the anniversary of your pet loss. Sometimes, even when you have finished the grieving process, the anniversaries of your pet loss or their birthday may stir up sad feelings. Some people use anniversaries to celebrate the life and happiness they shared with their pet. Others take the day off work to remember their pet or read their journal and discover how far they have come. You will not know what feelings you will have on the anniversaries, so, again, be gentle on yourself. Have patience. It may not seem like it now, but time does heal the pain and softens the heartache. You will smile again. You will see your beloved pet’s face through smiling eyes, not tears.

Memorialize your pet. You may not have felt like doing this at the time of your pet loss. Some plan for a special activity, such as planting a Memorial Garden, on the anniversary. Make a donation to an animal rescue in honor of your pet. Explore your feelings and let them guide you to your place of comfort and peace.

Some cities have ordinances against burying a pet within city limits. Your city may have a special cemetery for pet burial and some places may have small ceremonies available with burial. Some people scatter some or all of the ashes along a special trail or find their own beautiful resting place for the ashes.

Future articles will focus on what are “normal” feelings, when will I stop feeling sad, euthanasia decisions, memorializing your pet, and are thoughts of adopting another pet being disloyal. There are many ways of coping with your grief and everyone develops their own strategy for integrating these into their life.

Please Note: If you experience severe depression, feelings of hopelessness or have suicidal thoughts, seek out professional help immediately! Avoid self-medicating your depression and hopelessness with alcohol and substance abuse – seek professional help immediately!