My Unexpected Final Visit With Sweet Olivia
It is with great sadness and shock that I share the news that on Tuesday, February 2, at approximately 6:00 pm I found Olivia lying on the kitchen floor (as seen above) soaked in urine and meowing feebly without the strength to stand or raise her head to look in my direction. I desperately opened a can of wet food and poured her favorite broth on top in the hopes that she would become energized enough to eat but all she could do was pathetically wave her leg above the bowl and it was then that I knew she was not going to survive the night.
I panicked because her owners were on an overseas vacation and wouldn't return until the end of the month so breaking the news to them wasn't going to be easy.
Olivia's mom and I discussed what the plan would be should I arrive and find that she had passed away but we never talked about the possibility of finding her taking her last breaths but I instinctively knew that I had to make that dreaded phone call to let her know that her almost 20 year old baby was deathly ill and needed to be taken to the emergency vet to be put to sleep.
As soon my conversation with her mom was over I tried to put Olivia in her carrier but her body had stiffened making it impossible to fit her inside so I bundled her in a blanket and lay her beside me as I drove to the vet with one hand on the wheel and one on her cold body. This sweet old gal who normally doesn't like car rides or veterinarians allowed me to carry her without much of a fight. I had never been with an animal while the injection was made but I felt I should be there for her even though we'd only known each other for six months. We had spent several weeks at a time together over a period of six months where she awarded me with her friendship which surprised me because she was not one to trust strangers very readily. There was no way that I was going to let my discomfort of watching a needle end her life get in the way of being there for her.
Right before she passed away at 8:45 pm I stroked her cheek and told her that I loved her and that she wouldn't be suffering any longer and, of course, I told her that her mom and dad wished they could've been with her during these final moments.
Rest in peace, Olivia! You will forever be missed!
That was kind of you to stay with her. If I ever was lucky enough to have a cat live to be that old, I would not go overseas or overnight for that matter.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Olivia kept showing her owners that she was resilient so they were as shocked as I was that her health deteriorated so quickly.
DeleteOh how heartbreaking, but so good that you were there for her. stella rose
ReplyDeleteIt was so heartbreaking!
DeleteHugs. It must have been difficult, but I'm glad you were there and she wasn't alone.
ReplyDeleteMonty and Harlow
It was extremely difficult and something that I did not expect to happen. I thought she would stay relatively healthy until her owners returned from the trip.
DeleteOh April! The hardest part of your job, for sure. Bless you.
ReplyDeleteFinding out that a dear pet has passed away along with being there when they pass is definitely the hardest part of my career as a pet sitter.
DeleteOh my goodness. I read this post this morning, but only just got a chance to comment.
ReplyDeleteI was at work in fact, I have just started doing some dog-sitting myself, so between that and the similarities in the experience with my guinea pig, who was my first pet, this post gave me shivers.
You did a wonderful thing for her and were I the pet parents I could have asked for no less. I'm sure they are very glad you were there for their beloved pet.
Hope you are okay, April.
I'm sorry for your loss of your guinea pig and although he/she was tiny he/she was a family member and had a lot of love to give and receive.
DeleteI can tell from your comment and blog that you are a compassionate person and that quality will make you successful as a pet sitter.
Yes, Olivia's owners were grateful that I was with her during her final moments.
We are forever grateful that Olivia had you with her when we could not be. Thank you for your kindness.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hiring me to take care of her because you gave me the opportunity to bond with a special girl who had a lot of love to give. It was difficult to be with her in her final hours but I'm glad I was able to comfort her during this time.
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