Today’s entries were heavy. I’ve been thinking about the pets I’ve lost—each one left a mark on my heart, and today that ache feels fresh.
Puss n Boots was stolen from my apartment back in 2008. He was an incredible cat—friendly to everyone, always chasing lap time and asking for rubs. He had a way of making you feel chosen. I never got closure with him. Just one day, gone.
Sassafras was my favorite cat of all time. She was vibrant, full of personality, and alive in every sense of the word. In 2015, the vet said she had cancer. We made the decision to put her to sleep, but I still wonder if I did the right thing. Was it really cancer? Or was she just old and tired of the chaos after my kids adopted kittens from the Humane Society? That question still haunts me.
Bolt was the hardest of all. He was misunderstood—wild, yes, but not malicious. He didn’t have anyone to teach him right from wrong. He just needed time, patience, and love. My neighbor, who still walks his dog past my house like nothing happened, is a constant reminder of how cruel people can be. He used to throw sticks at the fence, yell at Bolt, provoke him. I talked to the cops, but they told me it’s not illegal to be a jerk. The judge even said, “It’s against the law for your dog to be out, loose like that, but it isn’t against the law for your neighbor to be an a**hole.” (sic)
Bolt was full of life. He played rough, but he was playing. He wanted to be loved. He hopped the fence to play with the neighbor’s dog, and that was the end. I couldn’t save him. Putting him down was devastating.
Today’s posts are for Puss n Boots, Sassafras, and Bolt—three souls who deserved better, who gave me love, and who I hope to see again when I leave this world.
If you would like to help the cause I’m raising money for “Misunderstood Mutts” – I am attempting to raise money to buy some land, and start an animal rescue for dogs that would normally be put down. Most dogs are only what they have learned, so if you have a dog that is angry, aggressive, etc., chances are… That’s the environment they were in. It takes time, patience, and love… Donations can be made here: https://www.onetoadphotography.com/one-toad-photography/