I got word recently that my 93 year old father is slipping away from reality and waiting to embrace death. This is the man who taught me compassion towards animals, especially cats. I will never forget in the home we grew up in, there was a drainnage ditch behind our house. My sister and I were playing in the backyard and she spotted a speck of white bobbing in the water below the ditch. Screaming, she ran into the house and I peered through the wire wondering what in the world this white would be?

Soon, here comes my father to the rescue Mr. Love (my maiden name) as he was known throughout our neighborhood. Ladder and net in hand, he climbed the fence and scooped the white object out of the ditch. He handed my sister Nancy, a wet, sodden bunny rabbit and then went back to scoop again. There were two rabbits some callous person had thrown over the fence to drown them. I believe that was the first taste of human to animal cruelty that I encountered. It would not be the last.

Under my father’s care these rabbits grew up in our home. We called the big white bunny Sherlock and his counterpart, a black and white bunny was of course Watson. They freely ran through the house with our cats and when the cats got so bold as to even get close, Sherlock would turn his enormous bunny butt and slam them across the room with one kick! They never ventured near him again. The rabbits pooped in the cats litter pan. They would scamper through the halls and sleep on our beds (much to the dismay of Mother) and brought us all such joy. Well, some of us anyway! LOL

I remember kittens coming home in Daddy’s mailbag from time to time. He used to walk to work every day and had to cross a field to get to the post office- he would often find abandoned kittens there and bring them home to show us how to care for them.

Now, he is withdrawn “cranky as all get-out” according to my mother and believes mistakenly that two of his daughters who worship him, hate his guts. He is near-deaf from an old war injury and his vision is clouded by cataracts that Mother couldn’t get him to have removed back when they could be- now it is to late and he is near-blind.

I was told he doesn’t want me near him- he doesn’t want anyone but my middle sister and she will go there and be with my parents (yes they are still married) once a week for a month.

I can do nothing at all except continue on in the tradition of this man I remember. The one who taught me how to bottle feed a baby squirrel found in the grass. The man who lifted me high over his head, so I could return a baby robin to the nest. His love for all creatures is what has driven me to the path I am in, and I can only mourn the passing of his mind and soon the rest of him- and embrace all he taught me, teach others and continue to rescue the creatures who need it the most.

It is my way of honoring him- today and for however long God wants me on this planet. Thank you “Daddy”for the love you gave me to pass on to others in need.

Speaking of critters in need- Google is going back to the vet today. We are going to have to opt for the bloodwork to see what type of bacteria has invaded this little kitten’s body. It will take a few weeks, I am told for the final culture to grow- but perhaps then we will have an answer as to why Google who eats like a horse is dropping weight daily.