Archie Remembered

Ok, not exactly a Kelly story, although I do have a photo with Kelly in it that goes with this.... I just felt I needed to write about this though. A couple of weeks ago, I had to put down my beloved kitty Archie. He was my sweet pet for about 16 years - we estimated his age to be about 3 when I got him which means he was 19! Not a bad lifetime! He went through a lot with me over these years - many many moves (about 10!), boyfriends/housemates, parties, being left/let out all night (he was strictly an indoor cat), travels, declawing, grooming-shaving!, sharing his quarters/cat box/food/attention from me with other cats that came in & out of our lives temporarily. He also had to deal with being temporarily adopted during times when I could not keep him. But right about the time Kelly turned one and started walking/creeping around, I realized it was just not safe for him to stay with us. I was afraid that Kelly, being a typical 2 year old and mostly out of her excitement over petting him or being around him, might crush him or hurt him accidentally. Or vice versa, that Archie, being a typical animal might try to bite or scratch Kelly in defense of himself (he did attempt it once when she snuck up behind him and whapped him on the head one day!). He was just too old for that and I started having to keep him sequestered in our little utility room about the size of a closet. Many of you might remember my trauma over this issue and my difficulty in trying to find a "temporary" home for him. Nobody I knew was in a position to take him, and pet shelters were hesitant - he was not "adoptable" because of his age. And then there was that shelter that took in "all" animals and let them stay until they died - yeah, well, by the third time I called them and the lady still couldn't meet with us because she had yet another animal with some disease or one that had died that week.... I decided I couldn't send him there! So, upon hearing and seeing my sadness and angst over it all, my stepdad Don lovingly stepped up and took Archie into his home, "temporarily"... So, more than a year later now, I know they became good pals and Don would call me often and tell me a funny Archie story or update. Archie's health had been declining rapidly in the past 6 months and he was going blind. During my visit at Christmas, I could tell it was time. I cannot even begin to express how much I have appreciated Don taking care of Archie this past year. I will never forget this true act of kindness! And I know that they became close and that Don misses that yowling critter too. It was so hard to let him go, but I know it was for the best and that he had a long, happy life. I still find it amazing how much an animal can mean to you and have an effect on your life. He gave me so much love and companionship and helped me through a lot of tough times. I will miss him! So I just thought I would share a few cute photos of my little furball. (I have a couple more that I will add when I get home to my archived photos. I sure wish I had gotten one of him & Don :-(