Wordless Wednesday

56 comments

 

Hi everyone. Today is a wordy Wednesday. I have something I want to tell you about in the hope that it can save some cats (and other pets), but if you don’t want to read further, I understand. I usually stop reading when I get warned like this. And believe me, if I could unknow what I have to tell you, I would so I understand if you don’t continue.

My long-time readers know that my sister passed away in September 2022. Rusty, Rudy and Tuffy were hers and I took them in. My niece found homes for 2 out of the 3 dogs my sister had. My sister’s boyfriend. loved the cat named Pearl so he wanted her and some of the others Pearl was bonded with. We were fine with this arrangement because we knew he loved animals. After my sister passed, he was in touch with us for the first year, but then he wasn’t returning phone calls, etc. I had stopped at his work twice and didn’t want to again for fear of getting him fired. We figured we were painful reminders of his loss so we backed off. I was eager to know how the remaining cats and dog were though so about a month ago when driving through the town he lived in, I went in the store across the street from their house and asked the clerk if he had seen him. The clerk told me he died over a year ago and was dead for days and all the animals were dead too. This news devastated me, especially the thought of the animals starving to death. My niece was able to get more information because her mother’s name was still on the house. Animal control told her that one cat had died and the other 2 and the dog were in rough shape. They sent them to my town’s animal control because they have more resources. My niece contacted them and still hasn’t heard back so now we don’t know if they were able to help them or had to euthanize. Either way, it is just so sad. I also feel awful for her boyfriend knowing no one cared enough to do a welfare check sooner.

I apologize for all this babble, but basically if you live alone, please think of your pet and have a plan. If you can, you should have someone to check-in with daily so if something did happen, they could get help to possibly save you and be sure your pets don’t starve to death. I did some searching and there are some apps that will check on you, the best is SnugSafety because they have a free plan that contacts your emergency contact to check on you if you don’t respond to them. They also have a pay by the month plan that would send someone to check on you. To visit their website and learn more, click here. 

Another one that is $15 a month is I Am Fine, to learn more, click here. 

We are joining

Comedy Plus Wordless Wednesday

and we join the Cat Blogosphere hop every day.

I am so thankful I adopted these 3 and how I wish I had insisted on taking the rest of my sister’s cats. I don’t think there is even a photo of any of them. If I ever find out the rest of the story, I will let you all know.

 

56 comments

  1. OMC 😢 😿
    I am so sorry for your loss, and not knowing what actually happened is so hard to deal with.

    We sure hope the shelter was able to help the poor kitties and find them new loving homes.
    Sending you lots of hugs.🥰 ❤️ 🥰

  2. Cute pictures of the orange kitties, and I’m so sorry for your losses, Ellen. As well as for the way things went. We’re concerned about these issues too as my husband and I both have health problems, and no relatives to help. Friends do keep up and check on us frequently. We know we need to make more specific arrangements for our cats to be taken care of in the event we both become incapacitated. XO

    1. Thank you. I am sorry you both have health problems. It is good you have friends around. XO

  3. This is very sad news and unimaginable to us that anyone would be in this position. But yes, ften there is no plan for the animal or animals when a death occurs. Merci, Ms E for this heads-up for us all.

  4. I am so sorry to read this tragic news I hope the two cats and the dog were able to be helped, but realistically as Animal Control never replied back, it sadly is unlikely. Thank goodness you took Rusty, Rudy and Tuffy into your home and your heart. Although we no longer have any kitties our neighbours keep a check on us.
    I am sending you and your family love.

  6. This is so sad, Ellen. I hope the other two cats, and the dog can be helped. This sends an important message that we need to plan ahead for the sake of our pets. That’s a cute pic of the kitties.

  7. This is an extremely sad story all the way around. Evidently the man had no one to even check on him to see what his health was like. Evidently he didn’t think that he could make plans for the animals. Maybe he was just that sick or maybe he just had a massive heart attack and fell over. So sorry to read this. But it is a good idea for all of us to be aware of animals in someone else’s house besides our own.

    1. He was 55 so he probably didn’t think he would die. He did have an alcohol problem though. XO

  8. So sorry for your initial loss and for the info about the follow up-it’s so very heartbreaking. It’s another reminder for all of us to be better, do better and keep others in mind. Especially for anyone who is alone. Sending gentle thoughts your way and hoping you’ll find out more about what happened to your sister’s partner and her pets. ❤️‍🩹

  9. Good reminder. We have written instructions for our cats in our will. As long as there are two of us, it’s ok although the story about Gene Hackman and his wife both dying with one of the their dogs locked in a cage and starved to death scared me. Thanks for the link. It’s something to consider. Also older people who live alone should have one of those trackers to wear that you can press if you have a health emergency. I’m so sorry for the losses. Maybe they still have the remaining. Fingers crossed.

    1. You are wise to have the cats covered in your will. We did the same. I thought of Gene Hackman and the poor dog too as this was similar. My sister’s boyfriend was only 55. Thank you. XO

  10. This strikes a dagger into the hearts of all of us.
    Profoundly sad at these senseless losses; may the news yet to come be positive.
    Please let us know.
    Hugs and purrs.

  11. What a sad thing to have happened! You’re right, people need to have something in place so they will be checked on. I am so sorry for these losses. 🙁

  12. Ellen I’m so very sorry….so sad no one did a wellness check on him.
    I 100% agree if alone there needs to be arrangements in place.
    Hugs to all and purrs too
    Cecilia
    I hope this post there was an odd message yesterday

    1. Thank you. I wonder why his work didn’t check, apparently a neighbor wondered why his van was parked where it was. He had been bringing in groceries when it happened and sadly, the pet food was still in the van. XO

  13. Lots of healing energy hugs for all ~ so sad to hear ~ one never knows ~ so yes, best to prepare for our own demise ~ hugs, ~ Sweet kitty photos ~

    an artist reflects

  14. An heart-wrenching story. I am so sorry, Ellen. I think the apps you have shared are something to definitley think about for people living alone or maybe for others in certain situations. We have friends that are close and Jerry walks every morning with his friends so if we are MIA someone would know. People who aren’t out and about are easily forgotten. I am so happy you were able to take Rusty, Rudy and Tuffy♥

  15. Oh my! Yes, I read this story. It is so sad to know no one checked on him and the furry babies starved to death. My condolences to you and your family with the loss of your sister in 2022. My prayers 🙏 ❤️ 😢 🙌

  16. All my neighbors look out for each other and we look out for them. It’s so important. I’m so sorry this happened. I know it broke your heart. Healing hugs, my friend.

    Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Scritches to all the kitties. ♥

  17. Oh Ellen, this is so sad. I am so sorry. What a terrible end for both the man and his animals, alone and uncared for. That is good advice to have a plan for one’s pets in case something happens, and a good network of friends who will check on things.

    In 2020, I hadn’t heard from a good friend in several days. We went over there to do a welfare check and found that she had passed away, probably a couple of days earlier. It was devastating. I still miss her. In a way, it was fortunate that her kitty had passed away a few months earlier, though the grief probably contributed to her death.

    Sending my thoughts,
    -Amanda

  18. What a horrific & tragic situation. I am so very sorry Ellen. When you found out what happened; it must have REALLY shaken you!
    When I moved in here, I had to fill out a ”Permission to Keep Pet” form & have a Guardian for NYLABLUE. As you know Sheila was her & Purrince Siddhartha’s Guardian & is now BellaDharma’s. Sheila is also my EMERG contact person. I want to add my Stepson too. Can’t have too many contacts!
    I also have R & R Rescue who will take BellaDharma should Sheila be unable to care for her. The Pet form is on Fridge with fotos of BD so info is easy to access.
    You did the best you could. At least Rusty & Rudy & Tuffy are with you…
    Sending you LOTS of gentle {{{hugs}}} & all the Love BellaSita Mum & ~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~

    1. Thank you. Yes, it did. I couldn’t even write about it until now. You are very smart and responsible to have a plan in place for Bella Dharma. It breaks my heart thinking about how hungry and confused my sister’s pets were. XO and love to you both.

    1. Yes, especially those that are not elderly, but we never know when something can happen. XO

  20. OMC how terrible hurtful this must be for all of you. We’re so sorry, Ellen😿Granny contacts her sister effurry day, she doesn’t have animals, but she’s alone and then it’s better to know if she’s alright. So many have died already without knowing. Soft Pawkisses for all of you🐾😽💞

  21. How heartbreaking ! I message one of the neighbors daiiy just to let her know I haven’t died. I am old but anyone living alone needs to be sure they have welfare check contact. Purrayers for the animals and all their caretakers too.

  22. I am so very sorry about this. It’s a sad situation and happens more often than we realize. Too many people are all alone in this world, and it’s a sad thing.

  23. This is absolutely tragic. Thank goodness you saved the ones you did. I have the Snug app on my phone. I downloaded it last year when dad was in rehab for so long. When the day comes I’m by myself it will be invaluable to me.

  25. Charlee: “Oh that is so sad! We hate to think of those poor pets scared and confused and getting hungrier.”
    Chaplin: “Thank you for sharing these resources ― if they help one other cat or dog, you will have done such an excellent thing for them.”
    Oona: “Oona and the other cats send lots of purrs out your way.”
    Lulu: “And we dogs send lots of tail wags, too.”

  26. We’re so sorry, Ellen. That is just heartbreaking, especially that your sister’s boyfriend and those sweet animals passed away alone like that. Sending you love and gentle purrs.

  28. Ellen, what a terribly sad story. It hurts my heart. I am thankful you were able to take in Rusty, Ruddy and Tuffy. I hope the news you finally get from Animal Control will be good. I am going to check out those sites you mentioned. Thank you. XOCK, angels Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta & Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy, Sawyer, Kizmet, Audrey & Raleigh

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