Good-bye, Rebel

My beloved dog, Rebel, passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2017. Rebel was my loyal companion for nearly 14 years. There are no words to describe my grief.

Good-bye, Oprah

My sweet tortoiseshell cat, Oprah, died from a poisonous spider bite on Columbus Day, Oct. 9, 2017. I managed to kill the widow spider, but my Oprah was already gone. She just happened to pick the wrong spot to sleep for the night; apparently, Oprah was in the spider's way, when the arachnid decided she wanted out of the floor vent. What terrible luck for my sweet girl! I was simply horrified.

Good-bye, Locksley

On the morning of August, 16, 2017, I was shocked to discover Locksley's lifeless body on the floor, apparently the victim of a heart attack during the night. I still can't believe my Locksley, formerly a feral cat, is gone, especially so soon after Harry's death. It's been rough. Nevertheless, I am grateful that I just happened to take an interesting photo of Rebel and Locksley together on the last morning of my tuxedo cat's life. One thing for certain, Locksley left me with many good memories.

Good-bye, Harry

My elderly cat Harry passed away on July 23, 2017. I'd been trying to prepare myself for his inevitable demise since December 6, 2016, when he gave me a scare. But Harry must've had more than nine lives--or else he simply loved his life and stayed as long as he possibly could physically. He had been a great tree climber in his younger days, and he was my dog's favorite cat, his buddy since the day he arrived in our yard years ago. With one exception, the occasional black bear visitor, Harry was always fearless; he never allowed the neighbors' dogs to chase him off his own deck and, when it came to other cats, our yard was his domain. By the last year of his life, Harry had even overcome his fear of black bears, treating them with total indifference. Harry was most certainly a cool cat.