Feline Hyperthyroidism Page 2

And They Lived Happily Ever After Page 3

Meet FFR Volunteer Shirley Brown Page 5

Workshop: Learn How to Make a Cat Scratching Post Page 6

President's Message Page 7

Featured Feline Page 7

Our Donors Page 7

FFR Update Page 7

By Susan Trout

Childhood. A precious time full of carefree days and innocent fun. So brief, childhood.

The time we spend with our precious animal friends can be likened to a happy, love-filled childhood. It is such a rich time. We revel in the fun, the antics, and the matchless unconditional love of these creatures. All too soon, they leave us.

This year has been a tough one for me in terms of loss. For nearly two decades I've been the guardian of numerous cats. Time crept up on me, and over the last nine months, I've lost six members of my feline family.

Grieving the loss of a beloved pet is experienced universally, but as individual as our fingerprints. Though grief is very personal, you need not suffer your loss alone. Countless sources of support are now available, including on-line grief support sites, bereavement counseling groups, hotlines, books, videos, and magazine articles. Grief can be short, lasting only a few days for some, or continue for years for others. Typically, grief involves these stages:

• Denial
• Anger and/or guilt
• Sadness, including withdrawal from regular activities and depression
• Eventual acceptance

Here are a few suggestions that will help you to gradually cope with and finally accept your loss:

• Reach out to other pet lovers who will lend a sympathetic ear.
• Research the Internet for pet loss support groups. They've been a source of great comfort to me, and now I spend time giving back to others.
• Write about your feelings. If you keep a journal, write about your pet.
• Create a memorial for your pet.
• Contribute in your pet's name to a shelter, rescue group, or humane society.

Thankfully, our society's perception of animals has gradually changed over the last 50 years. Millions of people have experienced the wonderful relationship a pet offers, and consequently their experience with loss and grief makes them much more understanding and sympathetic to others. Though co-workers and even family members can sometimes be less than supportive and sympathetic, it is rare not to find a fellow animal-lover who will reach out and help to comfort you in your grief.

Gradually, over time, the wonderful memories you have of your beloved pet will come drifting back to you like a long-lost friend. One day you will catch yourself thinking of them and smiling. I like to think that each animal I've loved has left me with a loving request to open my heart to another pet when the time is right. At some point in the future, you may find yourself thinking about a new companion. If you're like me, sharing your life with these wonderful creatures is an experience much too special to limit it to just once in your lifetime.

So, the next time you find yourself sitting home alone and longing to hear that soft purr or demanding meow, remember…that special feline experience is waiting for you at Folsom Feline Rescue's next adoption event!

(Thanks to Cherie, my roommate and fellow cat lover, for editing this article.)

Susan is a new volunteer with Folsom Feline Rescue and a lifelong animal advocate. She resides in Orangevale with her cat family, two Arabian horses, and a "saint" of a dog, Chance!

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