Farewell, so long, good-bye

WELL, DEAR Readers, it’s time to say good-bye. All good things come to an end (blah blah blah), even pet columns like this one, and today is my final column.

You know, some of you readers have followed the column almost from the beginning. Even those of you who joined later still mention animals I’ve talked about, remembering the circumstances of their lives and their deaths.

And I’m grateful.

I’m also grateful for all the stories readers sent me about their own pets, the funny stories, the unique qualities that made their animals part of their own families.

It’s not wrong, I think, to remember. Your pets were – and are – an important part of your lives.

Besides, a well-loved pet makes each family feel that they’re a little bit unique.

You readers constantly remind me of this. I remember writing about Yoyo, my brat cat, who joined our household with a bit of an attitude. Although only six months old, he immediately tried to take over our home, bossing the other cats around.

Because he was so young, the ladies tried to teach him how to be a cat. They protected him, taught him how to catch moths, and also played with him.

He slowly learned how to behave around the other cats, even rolling on his back and showing his belly to his seniors, a sign of respect.

Somehow, though, he decided that I didn’t need to be respected. I was his source of food, and as such, his personal assistant. “I want to be fed now!” he would tell me, and like a fond parent, I would feed him.

One night while I was sleeping, Yoyo and another cat began playing tag on my bed. One of them landed on my leg and automatically dug her claws in so that she could leap forward.

The pain was intense, especially since I had been asleep. I jumped up. The other cat disappeared, but Yoyo sat there staring at me. He knew I was upset. He was also confused.

He had considered me his personal servant, almost a pet, but in a second, I changed. His pet had turned into a monster.

Although he didn’t understand what he had done, he knew what he had to do.

He rolled on his back to show me his belly, the only way he knew how to show me respect.

How touched I was that Yoyo finally showed me that I meant more to him than a refrigerator! “How unique that cat is,” I thought.

As soon as that particular column appeared, readers began emailing me. They also had enjoyed such a unique moment, when their own kitten suddenly apologised the only way he knew how, by rolling over on his back and showing his belly to please his caregiver.

“I felt as I was an animal trainer, working with a wonderful, unique animal,” one reader emailed.

Another reader wrote, “Your story made me smile. My cat did the same thing just the other day.”

I’d like to thank the readers who have adopted rescued dogs or cats from animal-rescuer Tharinee (“Carrie”) Wipuchanin, who can still be contacted on (089) 669 1690 or (081) 451 2233 (and email pickapet4home @yahoo.com). If you want companionship, it’s not necessary to buy a dog from a breeder. Save a life instead.

Through the years, you’ve journeyed with me as I wrote about my own animals, or animals of other people, or extraordinary animals that we don’t usually hear about, like the wonderful little zebrafish, who’s helping scientists understand how to help human beings.

There are so many more stories, aren’t there! If you want to reach me, my email is [email protected].

It really isn’t necessary to say good-bye, is it – just “so long for now”.