My companion for 16-years died Tuesday July 12th
 

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Announcement,

Below is a story of the worst day of my 71 years on this earth.

Tiger Died this past Tuesday, July 12th in the afternoon.

Here is what took place ..................

He was just fine the day before this all happened which was on Monday late morning.

Then, all of a sudden he got really-really-sick and as the day and evening came was not getting any better.

So I was checking on him very frequently and I just got really concerned as late evening came.
He was still no better at all.
Then around 3am or something like that I put my ear down on his side and he to me was barely breathing.
So I thought tiger is dying and his only chance is me finding somewhere to take him to right now.
I got on my computer and typed in Animal Hospital 24 hour emergency services.
I saw Blue Pearl Animal Hospital ER 24/7 full service in Brentwood, TN.
So Cathy got up as she was also awake and worrying about him.
We found a really big, very thick, soft towel and I laid him on that in the passenger seat of the MCS.
Brentwood is not very far from Franklin where we live and of course there was no traffic at 3 am in the morning.
I get there and ring the nighttime doorbell for entry.
I had called already so they knew I was on my way so they came quickly and opened the door as I held tiger on the towel.
They took him immediately to the back where the night-time Vet was.

I filled out the form for him and then waited for any news.
The Vet came back to me and was showing me on her laptop as well as explaining what was going on.
As I looked at the image on the laptop of tiger's insides and was listening to her I just went Snow-White and broke out with a cold sweat.
I said do you mind looking straight at me as I think I'm going to maybe pass-out.
She had brought me a plastic bottle of water which I dropped on me and it then hit the floor beneath me.
I did not fall in the floor but did almost for sure pass-out.
She called an ambulance and soon they cam and off I went to Southern Hills Hospital ER.
They ran all the test and in a few hours the Doctor came in and said your heart is A-OK and you are free to go.
So I was released ...........

Meanwhile Cathy was called and she was told the complete condition about tiger.
Cathy said I'm not going to make a decision without talking to Terry.
So I arrive home via UBER from the hospital.

I'm not home very long at all as Cathy was filling me in on what was actually wrong with tiger.
The phone rang and it was the daytime Vet and she wanted to talk to both of us if possible.
I put her on the speaker phone and we listed closely to what she said.

The bottom-line was that tiger's internal organs were all simply failing.
There was nothing that they could do for him to get him anything remotely like back to normal before this took place.

She asked if we wanted to be there in person when tiger was put to sleep since they could not help him.

We said we are on our way and will be there in less than 30-minutes.

We arrive and are taken to a private room where tiger will be brought.
I had told her on the phone that I wanted tiger to be held by me when he was put to sleep.
She said you can do that for sure and before we do that you can visit with him as long as you wish.

So in a few minutes they bring in tiger on an oval like bed.
He was not moving at all.
They reached over to me and lay tiger in the bed on my lap.
I pet tiger on the head while talking to him as I always had over the years.
Tiger barely did open his eyes, but not wide-open, just barely open and looked at me very briefly.
He then as I said closed his eyes right back.
As I rubbed his head gently tiger did purr and her purred loud enough that we all three in the room heard him.
I'm not saying he purred like he would have if nothing was wrong with him but we could all hear him.
What he did not do was even attempt to lift his head, try to get up, he just simply I suppose was so dying at that point so he could not even respond to his Dad holding him.

The Technician came in and needed to put a plastic blanket sort of thing under him and even her just barely lifting him he made the cat noise of Pain.

With that taking place and him not being able to actually do anything at all that I described above I just decided to go ahead right then and have him put to sleep for the last time.

I could not let tiger be in Pain one more second as the Dad that loved him for the past 16-yeears and him loving me.

I just felt like it was the ONLY-Right-Thing to do for him in his condition.

She put the syringe in the iv he already had where they were try ting to stabilize him and as she pushed on it to give him the sleeping solution tiger stopped breathing {instantly}.

I guess he was just barely hanging on and maybe he was doing that people waiting to be with his Dad the Very-Last-Time.

They offered several different things for us and I chose to have his remains to take home after he was cremated.

We also received a clay imprint of his front paw.

Everyone at Blue Pearl were the nicest people I have ever been around.
I cannot say enough about there services and them as people.

Below are some pictures of tiger and me in the past as well as the 1st picture below that Cathy took while he was at Blue Pearl before he was put to sleep.
He was in the same oval bed when I held him.

[SIZE=4]For you that love your pet companions as I did and still do tiger cherish them for as long as you can.

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tiger with me while I was recovering at home from the Quad-By-Pass open-heart-surgery May 2015.

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Here are some recent pictures of the Big-Guy.

Under the Christmas tree which is right beside my desk.

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Playing with his toys on his stand right beside my desk to his left.

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Up in the Home Theater as usual with me.
I just happened to have had my cell camera this time.

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He is getting a drink in the Home Theater as we had to sleep in it while new carpet was being installed a few months back.

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Cathy took this one,
Here he is taking a nap with his Dad we did this around 2 pm daily.
He would watch for me to go that direction and very soon show-up to take his place as usual beside Dad.
This was this Month ...........

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And this should trip some of you out for sure.
He would come stand by my chair and look at me like,
(Dad it's grooming time)
He would close his eyes while I brushed him and he would be doing the Loud Purring thing !!!

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I doubt I will ever completely get over the loss of my Loving Companion tiger.

Terry

Gut wrenching to lose a pet.

Terry... my heartfelt condolences on your loss of Tiger. :sigh:

Terry.......I am saddened to tears by this news. This is so heartbreaking. I know how much you loved Tiger and he loved you. Such a beautiful companion. Your memorial is very touching.

Terry it breaks my heart to read this as we all know how much you loved Tiger.

I have dealt with the loss of 2 cats in the last several years. Without a doubt some of the hardest emotions I have ever dealt with. The love our pets bring us is very special and in some ways cannot be fulfilled by humans.
Fortunately you have many years of love and joy brought to you by Tiger. While it cannot be replaced the fond memories will be forever cherished.

Terry:

I'm sitting here in my living room literally crying as I read through your heart-wrenching story. My "pal" is a 14 year-old rat terrier named Muggzy that I can't imagine living without. He's been my best friend for 14 years, and he's starting to lose his eyesight and hearing slowly but surely (I am too for that matter; we are growing old together).

Please excuse me now while I stop typing and just hug Muggzy for a while. So sorry to hear of your loss.

Steve

Terry,

I had a Maine Coon myself & I know your pain of loosing a friend. Deepest condolences.

Mike

Terry
I hope that sharing your sad story with us has in some way lifted some of the burden you are carrying. One of the hardest decisions we ever make is deciding when it is time to put our beloved pets down. We share in your grief.

I am so very sorry, my heart goes out to you both.

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

Terry...very sorry for your loss.