Roo was put to rest on November 28, 2011 due to a complicated illness. Roo received the best of care from his veterinarian Dr. Peggy and her wonderful staff at Sierra Animal Wellness Center and also from his family but his recovery was just not meant to be.
We will miss Roo very much, we already do miss him, he was an amazing animal with such a kind spirit; he has touched our lives in his special way and he will remain in our hearts forever.
Roo is the other Rockstar in this family, he has been here the least amount of time out of all of my cats but rest assured, he is absolutely star material. Before I share with you Roo's amazing journey, let me introduce you to a pretty amazing cat, this is Roo.....
This is Roo when he first came here in 2008.
This is Roo today.
I have been reluctant to share much about Roo, I guess the uncertainty of his condition has been holding me back a bit.
A little background on Roo for those who are just meeting him.
I rescued Roo from Sacramento six months ago he had been living at his house his whole life but his owner died 2 years ago. She was an elderly lady and one night she went outside to feed Roo and she fell down and later died from her injuries. The daughter of the lady then moves in and blames Roo for her mother's death and decides to pretend that he just doesn't exist.
When I met Roo, my heart just broke in two, he weighed only six pounds, his mouth was so inflamed from bad teeth, his tongue stuck out and he drooled constantly. I took Roo to the vet for exam, their diagnosis was not good, he had been so malnourished that there was not much left of him. He had pharyngitis (strep throat), ulcers inside his entire mouth and he had an enlarged kidney, they recommended euthanasia.
Ok, well, I don't agree with making any animal suffer but I had just spent the weekend with Roo prior to his vet visit, I looked into his eyes and it was so easy to see that all Roo wanted was to be loved.
I told the vet 'no way' and I took Roo home. I wanted Roo to experience what it felt like to be loved and cared for, if even for a little while.
I put Roo on a round of antibiotics and have been hoping for the best.
Two days ago, I took Roo in to see a different Vet, he now weighs 10 pounds 14 ounces and he is thriving. He still has issues with his mouth but not like before, no drool and as you can see here, the tongue is back in his mouth. He will be getting a dental next week and they will be pulling a couple of teeth. The kidney is no longer enlarged but we will have to wait for the blood work to accurately diagnose any kidney problems. The vet said that Roo looks great.
You know, Roo walked in to my life when my life was already full and some how found a place that just belongs to him. He is my shadow, following me from room to room and when I sleep he is under my chin, always.
When I think back to time when Roo was out in the cold, starving, sick and all alone, as people did nothing but sit back and watch as he was slowly dying, I am angered and saddened all at the same time, I am thankful that I am not a person with the ability to just turn away.
I am also thankful that I said 'no way' to putting Roo to sleep that day, it only reinforces my thoughts that if one listens to their heart, your heart will show you the way.
WHEN I HEAR, "IT'S JUST AN ANIMAL!"
I HAVE BUT ONE REPLY.
SUPPOSE THOSE VERY WORDS WERE UTTERED
REGARDING YOU OR I?
WHAT IF WE WERE LEFT OUTSIDE
IN SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN?
DEPRIVED OF FOOD AND SHELTER –
FRIGHTENED OR IN PAIN!
AS HUMANS WE HAVE CHOICES -
TO HELP OR CLOSE OUR EYES.
BUT IT'S TOO LATE TO SAY WE CARE -
AFTER SOMETHING DIES!
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION -
TO OUR "FRIENDS" BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.
PERHAPS WE SHOULD REMEMBER -
WE'RE "GOD'S CREATURES", ONE AND ALL!
by Carole R. Preble
Model is Roo doing his public announcements against animal neglect and abuse. He is just trying to give back. LOL
This image of Roo made the Home page of Redbubble.com
The Meaning of Rescue
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed,
I'd like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry,
So much to regret.
Hmmm...Yes, there it is, right on the top,
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my perch hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave,
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things,
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage, to never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage,
Will you still want me?
Author Unknown
Model is Roo
They said he wasn't worth saving....
They Said
Tonight as I stood at the top of my stairs looking down into the kitchen, I saw him...this full grown cat acting as if he were kitten...batting around a top to a milk jug, he was all over the kitchen with that thing, tossing it in the air, sliding under a stool to reach for it.
So full of life.
Three years go, the vet told me to walk away, to turn my back on him, that it was too late to rescue him.
Tonight as I watched him play, I am so glad I didn't listen.
This is Roo and he was rescued in 2008.
He Remembers
As you can see here, Roo is alive and well, still thriving and as handsome as ever. Roo's kidneys are holding up. The vet said that his kidneys did suffer damage do to being so malnourished but since his health has returned he probably will not have any issues until later in his life...we will deal with it as it comes.
Roo has pretty much settled in now to our home...his home. Watching him now at 11 plus pounds it's easy to see that before he was ill, he was probably pretty tough because he is pretty tough now, ranking only under Mikey in a household of 7 cats. He has tried to bully Mikey a time or two with no such luck, Mikey is not having any of that but he has the others convinced that there is Mikey....and next comes Roo. lol
This photograph brings tears to my eyes because I know what he is thinking as he looks out the window, I can feel it. Roo has no interest in the outdoors at all this right here is it and who could blame him after being abandoned out there for so long...
I know he remembers.
As I type this Roo is curled up on my bed, on the heating blanket, he is sleeping, he looks so content. I hope someday he will forget the awful way he was treated and only have memories of today, Roo is loved now.
I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted,
skin that isn't flea bitten, good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on, someone to love me, to show me
I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me...
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other cats like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it?
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room...to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The cats before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
- Author Unknown
Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care!
I'm so tired of running and sick with despair.
My body is aching and filled with such pain;
And dear God I pray, as I run in the rain
That someone will love me and give me a home,
A warm cozy bed, and food of my own.
My last owner left me alone in the yard...
I watched as they moved, and God that was hard.
So I waited a while, then went on my way
To rummage in garbage and live as a stray.
But now, God, I'm so tired and hungry and cold;
And I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old.
They've chased me with sticks and hit me with straps
While I run the streets just looking for scraps!
I'm not really bad, God, please help if you can,
For I have become just a "Victim of Man!"
I'm wormy, dear God, and I'm ridden with fleas;
And all that I want is an Owner to please!
If you find one for me, God, I'll try to be good.
I won't scratch the carpet; I'll do as I should.
I'll love them, play with them, and try to obey.
I will be so grateful if they'll let me stay!
I don't think I'll make it too long on my own,
'Cause I'm getting weak and I'm so all alone.
Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry,
'Cause I'm so afraid, God, that I'm gonna die.
I've got so much love and devotion to give
That I should be given a new chance to Live!
So dear God, please hear me, please answer my prayer,
And send me somebody who will REALLY care.
Rescuing Roo
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