Happy Birthday, Sabu!

My handsome Sabu is 26 years old today!  God Bless Him with many more birthdays -- he is such a love bug and I am so proud of him!

I love and miss you, Sabu!

Later:

Sabu!
May 18, 2013

Sa-boooo
May 18, 2013



>^.".^< 

New Jersey Tiger Tales

Sahib, one of the NJ Tigers
Exotic Feline Rescue Center
April 26, 2013  

If you've been reading this blog from the beginning, then you know how I feel about people who lie about the WAO for their own personal or political agenda.  The story was horrendous on it's own--it doesn't need to be fabricated to suit a person's agenda.  Case in point.  This article was sent to me for my opinion.  Needless to say, I had quite a bit to say (see the highlighted portion)!

http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-19/news/31766223_1_shark-fin-small-shark-tiger-parts

In New Jersey Legislature, talk of sharks, tigers, and pigs

A spiny dogfish lies in a bin aboard a fishing boat. A bill in the New Jersey Legislature would ban the sale of fins from dogfish and other sharks. STEPHAN SAVOIA / Associated Press

By Joelle Farrell, INQUIRER TRENTON BUREAU

Posted: May 19, 2012

TRENTON — Before they delved completely into the budget, lawmakers took some time this week to talk about sharks, tigers, and pigs.

The Legislature is considering bills to ban the sale of shark fins, require aggressive monitoring of captive tigers, and keep pregnant pigs out of restrictive crates.

The shark-fin bill generated the most controversy. It would force New Jersey fishermen to throw away shark fins rather than sell them.

Supporters of the bill hope it will help stifle the shark-fin market, which has led to a practice called “finning,” in which fishermen cut fins from live sharks and toss the animals back into the ocean to die. Fins are prized for shark-fin soup, a Chinese delicacy served at weddings and celebrations.

“Finning” has been banned in the United States for more than a decade, but the sale and trade of fins isn’t regulated: Shark fins are both exported from and imported into the United States. An estimated 73 million sharks are killed annually worldwide to meet the growing demand for shark-fin soup, said Kathleen Schatzmann, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Humane Society.

“The idea is to starve the beast that’s feeding the finning process,” said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union), a sponsor of the bill.

But New Jersey fishing industry representatives argue that they should not have to throw away part of their profit if they catch the sharks lawfully. They are particularly concerned about losing profits from the sale of the spiny dogfish, a small shark common in Atlantic coastal waters. Fins contribute up to 30 percent of the profit from the fish, said Scot Mackey, a lobbyist with the Garden State Seafood Association.

“We can all go to a pet store and buy a pig’s ear ... or a cow’s nose for our dog to chew on,” Wayne Reichle, vice president of Lund’s Fisheries in Cape May, said at the hearing. If a shark is caught legally and people want to use the fins in soup, he asked, “why shouldn’t people be able to enjoy that?”

Lesniak, who sits on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, which heard the bill Monday, held off on a vote. He said he wanted to gather more support for the bill, which is also sponsored by Sen. Christopher Bateman (R., Somerset).

Hawaii and West Coast states have banned sale and trade of shark fins, Schatzmann said. Illinois’ legislature passed a bill banning the practice this week, and Delaware and New York are considering bans. Pennsylvania does not ban the sale of shark fins.

Tigers would be more closely monitored under a bill headed for a vote in the Assembly. The aim of the bill, which already passed the Senate, is to prevent the big cats from being sold for slaughter.

Tiger parts can be sold for up to $100,000, more than the $15,000 estimated selling price of a live tiger, according to the Humane Society.

New Jersey, unlike Pennsylvania, already bans ownership of exotic wildlife as pets. And the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed a bill this year that would ban people from owning animals such as tigers as pets, said Jerry Feaser, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The bill is now in a Senate committee.

The bill in New Jersey would require all tigers to have microchips implanted under their skin for tracking. It would also require tiger owners to provide the state with extensive records on the animals, including pictures, weight, and fur samples. When a tiger dies, the owner would be required to deliver the whole body to a state-approved regulator.

There are 26 captive tigers in New Jersey, most of them at Six Flags Great Adventure, where they are carefully monitored and cared for, Schatzmann said. The bill won’t help tigers sold out of state, but it’s designed as a model that supporters hope other states will adopt.

“We’re trying to set an example here for the rest of the country and the rest of the world to stop the trade,” Lesniak said.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are just 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild worldwide.

The bill was inspired in part by the fate of two dozen tigers at a sanctuary in Jackson. The Tigers Only Preservation Society came under fire after one of the cats escaped in 1999. The state found that the tigers were kept in crowded, inhumane conditions, and it shut down the facility in 2003. The tigers were shipped to a sanctuary in Texas.  

But the Texas sanctuary went belly-up in 2010, said Bill Nimmo, a New Jerseyan who used to visit the tigers in Jackson and who testified before the Assembly panel this week.  

Nimmo, who could not be reached for comment Friday, went to Texas in September and found only seven tigers remained. The others had been sold or euthanized, he said. 

“Most of them had been sold into the trade,” he testified before the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “This is a real problem that exists in this country and I was completely uaware of it.”

Nimmo, with help from a lawyer, obtained custody of the remaining tigers and had them released to two sanctuaries in Florida and North Carolina. He pays for their food and care, he testified.
“They will live their lives out there; they can’t be killed or taken away,” he told the panel.

New Jersey pig owners would be barred from keeping pregnant sows in gestation crates under a bill heard in a Senate committee. Gestation crates typically measure two feet by seven feet; they’re too small to allow pigs to move or turn around, Schatzmann said. Sows are kept locked up for the entirety of their four-month pregnancies, then are quickly reinseminated and locked back up, she said. The crating, done to maximize the number of animals that can be held together, hurts the pigs physically and psychologically. Studies show pigs live longer when they’re permitted to roam during the bulk of their pregnancies, Schatzmann said.

Eight states have banned gestation crates. Pennsylvania allows the practice.

The New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee is expected to vote on the bill in June.

Contact Joelle Farrell at 856-779-3237, jfarrell@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter at @joellefarrell.

End.

The highlighted information is obviously what I find objectionable and it screams a bitter third party influence.  First of all, I found no evidence what-so-ever proving that the WAO sold animals into the "trade" or anywhere else. Unless this Nimmo has undeniable documented proof this actually took place, then I have no problem saying this person made this story up (with a little help, no doubt) to make a political point with the Texas  ANR Committee.  Based on the records I've collected over the years, many of the NJ tigers were either euthanized (because they were too "dangerous") or died from various injuries/ailments.  Many animals died at the WAO from lack of vet care and proper treatment, not just the NJ tigers. 

On August 23, 2010, the WAO reported 12 NJ tiger survivors and they were transported to three sanctuaries located in Indiana, Florida and North Carolina.  Sadly, not all of the cats that were transported are alive today--I attribute this to age and horrible animal care they received at the WAO for about seven years.

I have seen no animal records showing that Nimmo was granted "custody" of the NJ tigers by the USDA and WAO (and I did pull FOIA records).  I am aware that all three sanctuaries were contacted to take the big cats by either the WAO, USDA, or a third party animal organization--Exotic Feline Rescue Center stepped up to the plate first, taking a large number of the NJ tigers; three cats went to BCR; and the remainder of the NJ tigers went to North Carolina.

I am aware of a donor who agreed to pay for the tigers' upkeep at North Carolina Tiger Sanctuary and Big Cat Rescue.  As far as I know, the donor (if it is indeed Nimmo) is not providing funds for  the tigers that were relocated to Indiana. 

I am really sick of the people who lie about their role in the WAO case.  Before anyone goes out spouting "stories" about the WAO animals, perhaps they should get their facts straight--it would save me a whole lot of typing time!

Farewell Sweet Mac - You Were Loved

I cannot believe this majestic handsome tiger is gone... I am so heartbroken right now...  May God bless and protect Mac's soul in Heaven forever and ever...Amen.

The Silence is Deafening . . .

Posted on May 13, 2013 by WildCat Haven

Sanctuary life isn’t easy, day to day challenges are faced every day, decisions are made to the best of our ability, but they aren’t made lightly, especially when it comes to our rescues. Most times it’s simple things, but then something devastating happens and we find we can’t breathe. Our world is turned upside down and we’re left heartbroken and helpless to change what’s happened. This past Saturday was one of those days. Our precious Mac has lost his battle with cancer.

 

We’re still trying to come to grips with it, but Mac told us he was done fighting and we made the difficult decision to give him the final gift of freedom, as heartbreaking as it was. I’m struggling to find the right words to describe how much he meant to us and all of the people who were touched by his story, it’s just too painful and fresh. But I wanted to share with you all and thank you for loving him as much as we did. He was such a special boy and we miss his gentle spirit. Safe travels Mac, our lives are forever changed. We’ll see you on the other side . . .

Jan Vales, WCH’s Development Director wrote this special tribute: “

Mac and his sister Shirley came to WildCat Haven in October 2010 – the Year of the Tiger. They had come from Wild Animal Orphanage when the USDA issued a decree that the facility had to be shutdown. WCH had prided itself on its care & expertise in small wildcats but here were two big cats that needed help – how could we say no. When Mac and Shirley came our fears over taking care of 450 lb cats were soon gone. Mac was the sweetest soul – always had a chuff hello for the staff and volunteers. Curious about the new toys to play with and trees to dismember he exhibited an amazing zest for life despite all the previous neglect he had endured. We did see that he had a cyst that was weeping on his shoulder but thought that with a better diet, antibiotics, and TLC it would heal up. The weeks rolled into months and we saw the cyst was growing despite our efforts. So a team of veterinarians came and did surgery on his shoulder. When the biopsy came back it was positive for Malignant Fibro-sarcoma – an aggressive form of cancer of the muscles. Cheryl and Mike were determined to do everything possible for Mac so he was driven from Oregon to Los Angeles for surgery to remove as much from the cyst area as possible. Everyone was happy when the pathology report came back saying no other cancer was found. As the days and months went on Mac charmed everyone who saw him either in person or via video on Youtube. A few months ago the staff noticed some more tumors that were growing very fast. We still hoped that Mac would make it until the move to the new property at Scotts Mills happened. Sadly, as often happens with cats, he started going downhill – losing his appetite and weight. 

 

Sometimes he would only eat for Renee or not at all. Late last week we realized that we had to end his pain and let him go ahead. Cheryl, Mike, Renee, and Aaron were by his side as he left for a better place. Mac will be missed by many but most of all by his sister Shirley – who was totally bonded with him. Maybe on the other side Mac can be free in a way he never could here on earth – simply because he was born in captivity. Goodbye Mac – we love you.”

A Tribute to Mac

Posted on May 14, 2013 by WildCat Haven

A very heartfelt tribute to Mac by Aaron Chapman, who along with his wife Renee, had the privilege of caring for Mac & Shirley from the day they first arrived from Texas. Everyone loved Mac, it was impossible not to . . .

Every so often in life we are afforded the opportunity to become part of something. It’s someone or something that allows us to look outside of ourselves. It gives us cause for compassion, understanding, joy, hardship, & un-compromised satisfaction. It forces us to become a better person. In this case “It” happened to be a tiger, and that tiger’s name was Mac.

After a rough start to life Mac along with his sister & life partner Shirley were able to come “Home.” They arrived at Wildcat Haven on 10/10/10, which not coincidentally was the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac.

 

To quote one of the rescuers that helped transport Mac from his former facility in Texas- “You are really lucky, you couldn’t have asked for better cats as your first tigers.” I’m not sure he knew how prophetic those words would become. I don’t think anyone of us could. It didn’t take long for us to realize how truly special Mac & Shirley were. Rescuing tigers was a huge step for Wildcat Haven, one that everyone hesitantly agreed to due to the dire situation Mac & Shirley were trying to leave behind. Coincidentally, it turned out much the same way Mac liked to do things…all in, full speed ahead.

His boisterous good morning “moo”, his continual chuffing, or the constant easy going way about him, Mac always made those around him, be it human or feline welcome & comfortable.

 Mac’s enormous size was only rivaled by his gentle nature & unrelenting thirst for life. Some of his favorite things were soaking in his pool while dunking his head to grab one of his balls, chewing up cardboard boxes, bending & rubbing against trees, playing with Shirley, or just leisurely relaxing while getting misted with the hose. Mac embraced it all with a rejuvenated sense about him. He took advantage of every luxury afforded to him, like he somehow knew to embrace every moment for what it was.

When we discovered Mac had Fibrosarcoma, a very aggressive and severe form of cancer we were all devastated. Finally Mac found his forever home and now he had to overcome yet another obstacle,

one that was life threatening.

 

In true Mac fashion he was brave, strong, and trusting. He allowed for two surgeries, one that took him all the way to California to be worked on by some of the top Veterinarian specialty surgeons in the country. Though it was a long road to recovery Mac was thriving once again. We all knew that this condition had the possibility to return, but in taking a page from Mac’s book, we just relished in the fact that things were going great even if just for the time being.

If you were to only know Mac through the eyes of a camera or the pictures on a page, you might see a beautiful tiger, a top feline predator whose wild counterparts are facing extinction, or just another example of the current domestically bred, big cat problem the country faces. When I looked at Mac what I saw was a gentle giant, one whose personality was bigger than life. I saw a living, breathing example of forgiveness for all he had previously been put through. I saw a soul with determination not only to live, but to live with dignity, courage, pride and love.

I can’t begin to count all that Mac has taught so many of us. You can try and utilize all the

 

right adjectives; you can describe the many nuances, you can hope to evoke emotions, and convey the beauty… However the glimpse into his soul that he allowed will remain with us all forever. By understanding that his journey in this world had reached its limits, we were able to repay him the best way we could. We enabled him to embark on a new journey, a new freedom. One with no fences and more importantly no more pain.

Thanks for helping give me a direction in life Mackey. After 37 years of searching for “something” it took you to teach me that it’s not about money; it’s not about a title. Don’t sweat the little things, follow your passion. It’s what we do with our limited time in life that’s important.

“Once in awhile you get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right.” – R Hunter

Mark Hernandez I am greatly saddened by the loss of Mac as I've known him for about 9 years (WAO). How is Shirley doing? This loss must be doubly hard on the girl. Is she okay? May we have an update on Shirley, please? Thank you!

May 14, 2013

• 

  
  

  WCH Sanctuary Shirley is doing well. She is chuffing and rubbing and greeting us as usual. We honestly believe she knew before we did that Mac was ready to go. Animals have such an incredible ability to see what we don't.

  May 14, 2013

Later: 

Now sweet Shirley lives alone...

IRS Chasing "Ghosts" Instead of Actual Criminals!

Well, if this doesn't beat all!  For the last several days, the most covered news story in the media is about the IRS investigating lawful non-profit organizations because they have certain keywords in their organization's title or mission statement.  In some cases, the IRS reportedly refused to process valid 501(C)(3) applications because they have a conservative stance on government and democracy.  Essentially, it appears the government created an enemy's list against certain non-profit corporations, and are aggressively going after them, even though they are new start-ups with no criminal wrong-doings on file.

 

As I sit here and listen to this report, I am becoming more frustrated  and disillusioned with our Federal Government, in particular the IRS!  When I first started the WAO investigation in 2006, I and another whistle blower went to the IRS requesting they investigate the WAO for money laundering, falsified 990s (Organization's Tax Returns), misappropriation of funds, and so forth.  I was told that unless there was some "big money" involved, the IRS was not interested in pursuing this case.

 

So, over the years, I amassed the evidence needed to show the IRS that the WAO was corrupt and should have its 501(C)(3) status stripped from the organization.  I spent a lot of time putting together a comprehensive package, along with several additional documents (as they came available to me over the years) and mailed them to the IRS in the hopes that perhaps some governmental body would actually do its job! 

 

I also supplied the IRS with information that Carol Asvestas' current "non-profit corporation" is another scam and should be investigated right away.  To this date, the former WAO founder continues to operate a so-called "animal" shelter where she continues to solicit funds for her own personal use.  Only one organization tax return was filed (very interesting read) and she is very late in submitting her second return (990 - Required to file Form 990-N - Income less than $25,000 per year, but I think she may have brought in more than $25k based on her previously filed 990).

I guess the IRS is just too busy chasing political "ghosts" than pursuing actual criminals!  While I realize this posting may lead to a full-blown IRS audit in retaliation against me for posting these remarks, as it so often does to whistle blowers who speak out against the "system", I just want folks to know that I tried every avenue to prosecute those who I believe were not only "animal killers" but "thieves and liars" as well.

 

Running a non-profit animal corporation can be the biggest scam business out there if operated by dishonest individuals. In a future posting I shall demonstrate just how easy it is to start a scam non-profit animal sanctuary or shelter!

Famous For Their Wait and See Position!

As the WAO case comes to a close, I cannot help but reflect on how the WAO investigation was handled by the Texas OAG and USDA-- extremely poor. 

I thought I'd share enough example of our tax dollars at work.  Nicole Garcia, former WAO CEO and President, sent an email to the WAO's attorney requesting a contact person for her W-2, which she said she never received.  Michelle Cryer produced, with some assistance, the 2009 990, which we all now know was another false document produced by the WAO.  It stands to reason, she should have been the one to produce and distribute, with some assistance, the W-2s for employees who worked at the WAO from 2009 to 2012. 

When Nicole needed her copy of the W-2 for 2009 and 2010, she contacted the WAO attorney via email for assistance.  No response.  So she sent another email, this time including the Texas OAG requesting contact information for the person who created/distributed the 2009 and 2010 W-2s.  Below is the email exchange between Nicole and the Texas OAG.  The original email included the OAG attorneys working the case--apparently they decided they were too busy (?) to handle a simple question...who is the point of contact for the W-2?

From: Public Information <public.information@texasattorneygeneral.gov>
To: Nicole Garcia
Sent: Thu, Apr 25, 2013 1:33 pm
Subject: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Dear Ms. Garcia:

Thank you for your recent email to the Office of the Attorney General.

Please understand the role of this office is to advise and represent state entities and interests as specified in the Texas Government Code. Under Texas law, the Office of the Attorney General is prohibited from providing legal advice or representation to private individuals. However, I hope the following information is helpful.

Texas governmental bodies are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. To make a request for information, contact the Public Information Coordinator of that governmental body. Information that is not exempt must be made available promptly after a written request is received. An agency may charge a nominal fee for making copies of requested information.

The request must be in writing and must be addressed to the governmental body. While hand delivered and mailed requests do not need to be addressed to any particular person, it is a good practice to clearly label your correspondence as a "Public Information Request" or "Open Records Request." However, requests sent via fax or email must be addressed to the public information officer or to the person designated by that officer to receive such requests.

For more information on the provisions of the Public Information Act, visit the open government section of our website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open/index.shtml or call our Open Government Hotline at (877) 673-6839 or (512) 478-6736.

You may wish to formally report your concerns to the Charitable Trusts Section (CTS) of our Financial and Tax Litigation Division. So that CTS can review this matter, please complete our Charitable Trusts Complaint Form. It is available online in the consumer protection section of our website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer/charities_complaints.shtml. Please understand, we do not comment on possible investigations. If additional information is needed, CTS will contact you.

If you wish to report misconduct or wrongdoing by a tax-exempt organization on a federal level, please contact the Exempt Organizations Examination Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You can obtain IRS reporting forms at www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/IRS-Complaint-Process-Tax-Exempt-Organizations or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

The State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. To file a formal grievance with the State Bar under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct call (800) 932-1900.

Again, thank you for writing. We appreciate your contacting the Office of the Attorney General.

Cheryl Hawkins

Public Information & Assistance

Office of the Attorney General of Texas

What???

Nicole's response...

From: Nicole Garcia
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 3:17 PM
To: Public Information
Subject: Re: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Thank you for this link, however I am requesting a point of contact of The Wild Animal Orphanage that I can direct my requests to regarding this and other matters not pertaining to

IRS.

I am requesting the information that will provide me with Point of Contact for The Wild Animal Orphanage.

Thank you for your time,

Nicole Garcia

The response...

From: Public Information
To: 'Nicole Garcia'
Sent: Fri, Apr 26, 2013 4:51 pm
Subject: RE: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Dear Ms. Garcia:

To formally request documents maintained by the Office of the Attorney General, please contact our Public Information Coordinator as follows:

Jordan Hale

Public Information Coordinator

P.O. Box 12548

Austin, TX 78711

(512) 494-8017 (fax)

publicrecords@oag.state.tx.us

Please be aware that the Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to answer questions. For more information on the Open Records process or assistance with your request, please contact our Open Government Hotline at (512) 478-OPEN (6736) or toll-free at (877) OPEN TEX (673-6839). You can also access information through the "Open Records" section of our website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hawkins

Public Information & Assistance

Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Is this not ridiculous!  The OAG knows who the contact person is, yet for some reason, they refuse to provide this information, unless Nicole requests the information via Open Records?  What a waste of government manpower and funds!  This is what I went through with these people...unreal!

From: Nicole Garcia
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 6:32 PM
To: Public Information; Anthony, James
Subject: Re: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Thank you but I am asking for a simple point of contact. That is it. Are you informing me that I have to file a public records request and that you can not give me a POINT OF CONTACT for The Wild Animal Orphanage?

I am NOT requesting documents, I am requesting a POINT OF CONTACT, a name of who is now handling WAO concerns and a mailing address for WAO.

Thank you,

Nicole Garcia

Clearly, something weird is going on here... why won't the OAG provide the correct contact information?  What are they hiding?

From: Public Information <public.information@texasattorneygeneral.gov>
To: 'Nicole Garcia'
Sent: Wed, May 1, 2013 1:32 pm
Subject: RE: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Dear Ms. Garcia

You may wish to contact our office so I can better assist you. You can contact me at (512) 936-7930.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hawkins

Public Information & Assistance

Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Clearly, the OAG wants to stop this email traffic because, it too, is subject to Open Records!

From: Nicole Garcia
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 5:18 PM
To: Public Information
Subject: Re: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

I apologize that I do not have the availability in my day due to work hours to contact you.

Please respond by email, what is the name of the point of contact for The Wild Animal Orphanage in San Antonio, TX.

I do not understand the delay to one question, WHO IS THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE WILD ANIMAL ORPHANAGE.

I do not need to discuss this by phone as I do not currently have the time to during business hours. This is delaying my ability to file my personal taxes. Please respond ASAP as I have requested this information more than once.

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day.

Thank you

From: Public Information
To: 'Nicole Garcia'
Sent: Fri, May 3, 2013 4:13 pm
Subject: RE: W2's and misc. Information that I am requesting.

Dear Ms. Garcia:

Because the Wild Animal Orphanage has retained legal representation, the appropriate contact for this organization is their attorney.

As previously stated, the State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. To file a formal grievance with the State Bar under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct call (800) 932-1900.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hawkins

Public Information & Assistance

Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Back to square one for Nicole as she tried to get the WAO attorney to respond to her original request! After all the email traffic I have seen between the WAO and the OAG, clearly an email from the OAG could have been sent to the WAO, requesting status of the W2 for Nicole.   Once again, our illustrious Texas OAG went out of its way to be helpful... typical.  Looks like they are still taking their famous "wait and see" position when it comes to WAO wrong doings!

Farewell My Sweet, Sweet Endy Dog--I Love You

The year was 1996, and a little boy and his sister arrived at my door with this cute thin golden retriever mix.  They found the dog wandering close to highway 1604 and they knew their dad wouldn't let them keep him.  They asked me if I would give the lost dog a home, so that Happy (my chow chow) wouldn't be alone.

Clever children played the "your dog needs a friend" card.

I didn't want to keep the dog, so I named him ND (new dog) and posted his picture around the neighborhood in hopes of finding him a new family.  No one called.  Endy joined my little fur family a week later.

Sixteen and a half years later, I was faced with the hardest decision of our lives.  Endy lost the ability to walk more than a few feet and he was panting--heavily.  Last year Endy was diagnosed with diabetes and he lost his eye sight earlier this year.  I thought maybe Endy lost his ability to walk from diabetes (he was unable to walk for a short time last year until he was started on insulin shots) and we just needed to adjust his medication.  By Monday night, I knew there was something very seriously wrong with Endy.  I couldn't help shake the feeling that there was something horribly wrong with his heart. I could feel his heart beat and it felt very strong and rather irregular.

Every moment I could, I sat or laid next to Endy, praying he was going to be okay, telling him that I loved him very much.  When I couldn't sit with him, one of his kitty/doggy brothers or sisters sat in my place.

Endy receiving a face cleaning from Toby with Simon watching his progress - April 2013

Tabby often sat by Endy prior to his passing - April 30, 2013

When Endy and I arrived at the vet yesterday afternoon, we were seen right away.  I didn't want to end Endy's life if there was a chance he could be cured. I didn't want to give up any hope that Endy could return home, good as new and eager to eat his favorite treats. He seemed very energetic at the vet's office and I knew he didn't want to leave me that day.  I prayed that we only needed to adjust his insulin dosage so I could take him home again.  I told the staff that Endy and I didn't want to put him to sleep--we wanted to cure him by any means possible.   

The vet tech was unable to find a suitable vein to draw blood, so my vet came in and drew his blood.  Endy's veins were so small and his blood pressure was low, it took a little longer than normal to draw enough blood for the glucose test. 

As it turned out, Endy's sugar level was perfect.  No adjustment to his medication was required.  I mentioned that I thought there was something wrong with Endy's heart and that he could not walk anymore than a few feet at a time.  After listening to Endy's heart for awhile, I was told that, while he could feel his heart beating, he couldn't hear the beats.  Endy was immediately x-rayed and he underwent an ultrasound test. The test results were devastating.

Bottom line without all the long medical terms - Endy had a really bad heart and his spine was disintegrating.  When Endy returned from his tests, he was barely moving as he was exhausted from the examinations. Endy was not going to get better.  He was only going to get worse and he was having problems breathing because his lungs were compromised. Endy had been suffering in silence for some time and I never even knew it.   My brave, brave boy kept his condition from me, giving us more time together.

At this point, I knew that it would be inhumane to return home with Endy.  Odds were he would die while I was at work, and there were no guarantees that he wouldn't suffer.  

I made the incredibly hard decision to say good-bye to Endy, holding his body as he slowly and very quietly  slipped away from me.  Even though Endy was blind, I couldn't help but think we were staring into each other's souls as he slipped from his body to join his brothers Rex and Ardy in Heaven.

The house is so empty now without Endy's smiling face and cheerful tail wags.  He was always excited to see me when I came home -- such unconditional love I received from my precious Endy that I realized he was truly a gift from God. 

My only regret I have was I didn't take enough pictures of my precious boy over the years.  I took so many pictures of other animals, but not enough of my own.  

Below are just a few pictures I took of my "handsome hun, my handsome son, my handsome sunny bun";  I used to say this to my Endy boy all the time and he loved hearing the sound of my voice when I spoke these words to him.

My cats loved Endy, especially Twiggy as she was often seen "guarding" Endy while he slept.

Endy loved, loved, loved his treats!

 

Endy loved opening Christmas presents!

Endy, Ardie, and Rex loved traveling to the land where they could play!

Endy was such a couch potato!  Simon and Rex loved to hang around together...

May God Bless Endy in Heaven Forever and Ever.  Amen.

I love you Endy and you will always be a part of my life.  I pray you and Rex and Ardy are running wild and free together in perfect health and in perfect harmony.  Job well done, Endy.  Now be happy.  Be free for me.  Run like the wind, my sweet, sweet Endy...