Today Ben lost his buddy, Morris. We called him Mo, Ben called him Mo-m (like mom, but with the long O sound.) If you know Mo, you know that he's had a long, battle-filled life. He started as 1 of a litter of 4, born in the fall of 2000. His momma would kick him in the head to get him off her because he was the last to stop nursing. When he was neutered, his testicles hadn't descended and the vet had to cut open his abdomen and go looking for them. In July 2004 he developed a skin cancer, which was removed. We were told it would come back, and would be relatively harmless until the tumor just grew too large. This ended up being the case, but before that, we decided to let him be an outside cat. He was a real Wilderdude. One day, in December 2005, he didn't come home. He was gone nearly a week when one day, as I was sitting down to eat a sandwich, we heard him meow at the door. He came in, purring loudly, with his foot grossly dangling at the ankle. He had been shot in the foot and still managed to find his way home. His leg was amputated. Six months later, he had to have another surgery to fix the nerves in his hip because they were causing him phantom pain. Then, in 2007, the cancer came back, and we had the tumor removed yet again. It had been harder on him this time, only having the one back leg, and all. We made the decision then that when it came back (and it did, rapidly and aggressively), we would let him live with it until it bothered him. Then yesterday, before we went to bed, we gave him his routine check over and found that the tumor had finally caused his skin to erupt. Knowing that it wouldn't get better, we decided that it was time to let Mobert go. He was buried in the field in Rutledge beside our other faithful friends Lance the German Shepherd and Garth the cat.
Mo liked small places. His other favorite sink was at Town and Country in the exam room.
The cabinet was another great place to play.
And in the linen closet.
Our "Wilderdude"
Here's Mo in his field in Rutledge...
On the move...
Hunting Mama.
Sunning after his amputation.
Mo adjusted well to life in his new house. But he still always loved outside.
Ben's glider became Mo's favorite chair.
Mo proves he can still play like the best of 'em.
Today before we left, Mo got to be a Wilderdude one last time. I'm not sure he enjoyed it.
Mo's Field and his Rainbow Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.
Mo liked small places. His other favorite sink was at Town and Country in the exam room.
The cabinet was another great place to play.
And in the linen closet.
Our "Wilderdude"
Here's Mo in his field in Rutledge...
On the move...
Hunting Mama.
Sunning after his amputation.
Mo adjusted well to life in his new house. But he still always loved outside.
Ben's glider became Mo's favorite chair.
Mo proves he can still play like the best of 'em.
Today before we left, Mo got to be a Wilderdude one last time. I'm not sure he enjoyed it.
