ratherastory: ([B5] Nibbled to death by cats)
ratherastory ([personal profile] ratherastory) wrote2014-06-05 07:45 am
Entry tags:

Goodbye, George

Sorry to those of you who follow me in other places, you've likely already seen this.



At 17:00 I decided to take the dog out for a walk to go look for Pan-Pan. I opened the front door, and George slipped between my legs and headed out for the evening. I locked the door, turned around, and watched as a car drove by and hit him.

For a second it didn't seem real. Then it all snapped into place when I saw him writhing in pain. His eye had come out of his socket, and there was blood and brain matter all over the street.

I scooped him up in my arms and put him in the back of the car, unceremoniously shoved the dog back in the house (the poor dog was so confused about why he wasn't getting his walk) and drove to the vet, which is luckily right around the corner from where I live. Unfortunately, it was still too long for George. He died during the five minutes it took for me to get there. When I picked him up to carry him inside, I could tell that the life had left his body: he was limp, and his head lolled to the side.

Needless to say, I was hysterical mess by the time I got in the vet's office. I was covered in blood and cradling a dead cat, and I think the only thing I managed to convey was "Il s'est fait frapper!" which loosely translates to "He got hit." After that I mostly continued having hysterics while the vet took George from me, and the receptionist hovered and tried to get me to sit down and have a drink of water.

It didn't take long before they confirmed what I already knew. They let me wash the blood off my hands and arms, and we took care of the paperwork and the fee to get George cremated. They gave me back his collar, although I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.

I came home and sobbed some more, managed to pull myself together a little bit before [livejournal.com profile] pdaughter and Bean got home. She was fantastic, and even went out with a bucket of water to rinse away the blood and grey matter off the street so I won't have to look at it every time I go by in the next few days.

It's been three and a half hours, and I honestly still don't know what to do with myself. I'm mostly trying to keep myself distracted, because if I think about it for too long I start replaying the accident over and over in my head.

I knew, of course, that there was a risk this would happen. I knew as soon as I started letting the cats out that they might be killed by a car or by another animal or by any other means. I never imagined it happening in a way that was quite this traumatic, though.

[identity profile] ash48.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh honey. I'm so sorry to hear this. What a horrible thing to have to go through. I can totally empathise. Massive *hugs*

xx

[identity profile] klutzy-girl.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs* I am so sorry this happened to you.

[identity profile] yasminke.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
So sorry for your loss, my friend.

[identity profile] lunachickk.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my goodness. *HUGS*
I worked for an animal hospital for 15 years and have had my own pets for much longer. I can't tell you how to feel but I can tell you that I understand and have seen people experience similar traumas. I myself found a cat that had been hit while on my way home from work in a similar manner and was still alive. I raced her to the emergency vet but she died in my arms too.

You are in shock, honey, and it is normal. Allow yourself all the time you need.

[identity profile] cappy712.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Big Hugs, I'm so sorry for your loss....... BIGGGGGGGGGGG HUGGGGGGGGGGGG

[identity profile] nerthus.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
That happened with my little brother's black tabby kitten Sally years ago; she got out when he opened the door to go get something from the car and ran right into the street in front of an oncoming car. It was almost dark and I don't know if that car even saw a little black kitten running in front of it. The end result was not pretty, and my brother, who was only 6 or 7 then, was quite hysterical. About ten years ago we had this cat who was more of a neighborhood stray, he visited various houses in the block for food and companionship and was always outside; one day he'd been at our house and we fed him and petted him and I saw him strolling next door; so I had to go somewhere and got in the car and backed up, not seeing that he had decided to come back over to our yard; I couldn't see him in the mirror and ran over him. I ran over his head and it still haunts me to this day; I had nightmares for months about it, in which he would meow at my door and when I'd open it to greet him he'd be sitting there with his run-over head and detached eye just as when he died. It was horrible.So I feel for you, it is just a terrible terrible feeling. We have 3 cats now and they have all been strictly inside cats all their lives; it isn't worth the risk to us to let them wander the neighborhood and get hit by cars or attacked by dogs (the black lab across the street has killed half a dozen cats and the owner just laughs about it) or get into fights with other cats and injured. Sure, cleaning 3 litter boxes sucks, ha, and it can be a challenge keeping the house smelling fresh; but our cats are all 10 or more years old now and this is the longest I've ever kept any of my cats alive and healthy. Not to mention all the birds and lizards out there thank me for keeping killer kitties away, ha. But I am so sorry you had to see that and go through it.

[identity profile] pattyfeidt.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
So sorry hun, especially as you saw it. take care of yourself!
Edited 2014-06-05 12:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] ayane42.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
big hugs!!!

I have had many animals pass away from old age, cars and animal attacks. It is always emotionally devastating :( It's like losing a family member.

many many hugs!!!
ext_840: john and rodney, paperwork (table)

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/ 2014-06-05 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, hon, I am so very sorry...

[identity profile] borgmama1of5.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so very sorry for your loss and how tragically it happened...I can't imagine having to experience something like that...so, so sorry...hug...

[identity profile] blackrabbit42.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'm so sorry this happened to your poor George. And to you. We lost our cat suddenly this week too (poisoning? vet couldn't quite figure it out). Bad week for cats.

((((hugs)))
elrhiarhodan: (Default)

[personal profile] elrhiarhodan 2014-06-05 02:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so very sorry, May his memory - of only the good times - be a blessing for you.

[identity profile] ariadnes-string.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 02:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss. Our dog was hit by a car and killed a few months ago, and it was (and still is) devastating. Take good are of yourself! *hugs*

[identity profile] jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sorry for your loss. George was such a good cat and very lucky to have been loved by you.

[identity profile] marchia43.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry to hear this.
What a horrible experience.
I feel for you
M
liliaeth: (grouphug)

[personal profile] liliaeth 2014-06-05 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss.

[identity profile] shoofus.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
i am very sorry your cat was killed, i feel very sorry for him losing his life so young, i hope you will keep the other ones inside

[identity profile] gabby-silang.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my god, I am so sorry. I am so sorry. That is absolutely horrible. Losing a pet is always terrible, but this is just. Absolutely horrible. I'm so sorry.

[identity profile] shinysylver.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[identity profile] cordelia-gray.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry. What a shocking thing to happen. These creatures we love so much are so fragile, and we can't protect them from everything no matter how hard we try.

My deepest sympathies, and *hugs*

[identity profile] zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh gosh honey that is horrible, I'm so sorry. *hugs*

[identity profile] akintay.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so, so sorry, hon *hugs*

[identity profile] claudiapriscus.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry to hear that :(

[identity profile] cassiopeia7.livejournal.com 2014-06-05 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, bb, that is just horrible. I am so, so sorry about poor George, and sorrier still that you had to see it happen. SO damned sorry! *great big hugs*

[identity profile] elliemurasaki.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
:( *hugs* I'm sorry.

[identity profile] khek.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss.
ext_14783: girl underwater (R - hug back)

[identity profile] lavinialavender.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh God, I am so, so sorry. What an awful thing -- yes, we know it's a risk, but we never think we'll watch it happen. I can't imagine how you're dealing right now, but I'm glad you have people with you.

I know it's going to be hard to think past his last moments, but I hope you're able soon to focus more on his happy moments. Don't be sorry you let him out of the house -- think of how much enjoyment he got from being outside, able to smell everything and feel the wind and chase birds and squirrels, everything he couldn't get indoors. That was a gift, and I'm sure he had a happier life because of it. I'm just sorry it was cut short like this.
tabaqui: (Default)

[personal profile] tabaqui 2014-06-06 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, fuck. I am so, so, so sorry.
*hugs*

[identity profile] runedgirl.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
The same thing happened to my best friend's cat when we were teenagers, right in front of us - her father drove us to the vet, but we also got there too late. I'm so sorry for your loss, and for the traumatic way that it happened too. *hugs*

[personal profile] ivorysilk 2014-06-06 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
I am so so sorry :-(.

[identity profile] mickeym.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss, honey. *hugs*

[identity profile] samantha890.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
oh sweetie, *hugs* I'm so sorry. This is a really scary thing to go through and I hope you get all the time you need. <3

[identity profile] jackien1968.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no! I'm so sorry :(

Many hugs,
Jackie

[identity profile] dazedrose.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
Sending you all the hugs honey

[identity profile] obstinatrix.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so so sorry to hear this. ♥ My little cat Gevvie was hit by a car last November, and when I found him, his eyes had come out of their sockets and I sobbed all the way to the vet with his little body wrapped in a towel. It's the worst thing.

[identity profile] little-tristan.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so, so sorry for your loss. Something similar happened to a sweet funny cuddly black kitty I had years ago, except we were already out for the day and spotted him in the road while driving by the house. I can't even imagine the horror of seeing it happen. *hugs*

It's good you got him to the vet right away, so you'll always know you were there for him the whole time and did everything possible. That might not help now, but it will.

[identity profile] ladykorana.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh how awful! It's always so hard to lose a beloved companion, but for you to witness that...I'm so sorry.
Take care of yourself and I hope that in time you can find comfort in memories of the happy moments you had together.

[identity profile] sagetan.livejournal.com 2014-06-07 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so, so sorry to hear this. *hugs*

[identity profile] callistosh65.livejournal.com 2014-06-07 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
I am SO sorry for your loss and the horrible way you had to deal with it and witness it ::hugs you hard::