In Memoriam of Valentine

Hello, I’m Marissa/Bird. I rescue special needs and hospice cats and give them a place to live out the rest of their days. You can find me and my pets at l3irdl3rain on tumblr or on Facebook at Chloe’s Home for Disabled Cats.

I adopted Valentine from the Humane Society of Portage County on February 22nd of this year. They had taken him in a stray and knew he was a special case. They were prepared to take on his care as long as it took to get him adopted, or for the rest of his life. He had a woman who fostered him and she was so wonderful to him. She was so excited to see him get adopted but also told me how much she would miss him.

I’m always happy with whatever amount of time I get with my hospice cats. Whether it’s one month or multiple years, every single one of them enriches my life. And I’m glad to be able to do the same for them.

I took Valentine in with that same mentality. I never try to make an estimate on how long they have left, it’s better to just live in the moment and enjoy every day you get with them. But Valentine surprised me again and again.

One month became two, became three, and suddenly it was May. He had gone downhill and I took him in for euthanasia. I trust my judgement and my vet’s judgement, so when I thought I was making the call too soon and Doc agreed so we decided to give him one more day to see if he would improve.

That was the beginning of May. Valentine lived 4 and a half more happy months with me. On the morning of September 19th I said goodbye for the final time. It was quick, painless, and peaceful.

Valentine was so kind and so gentle. Happy to lay on the couch with his girlfriend or in the heated bed with his “grandbaby”.

As always, I am so thankful to the rescues who give these kinds of “unadoptable” pets a chance. As a thank you to them I would like to give back to the Humane Society of Portage County.