Pet Loss Library

Love for Lizzie

by Lynne

My cat Lizzie was a truly unique cat. She acted like a dog, in that she ran to you if you called, she followed you or strangers down the sidewalk, visited the neighbors, she followed commands, and jumped from the ground into my arms. She was very vocal, and responded in meows when I spoke to her, so much that people commented that it sounded as if we were having a conversation. She was a very important part of my life.

Lizzie was an indoor/outdoor cat, and I thought she didn't go into the street. I had her for 8 years until the day that an ex-boyfriend curiously showed up at my work, with a strange look on his face. He said he had bad news for me, and held out his hand. I couldn't fathom what in the world he was doing with her collar, as he knew she needed to be wearing it. He described finding her on the road, hit by a car. He had taken her to a vet, but she was dead.

My head began to spin, my heart began to pound, and I felt the most indescribable pain and sadness that I can still remember to this day, if I allow myself to go there. (This was 8 years ago.)

He didn't seem to understand why I would want to get her body from the vet. Of course I want to bury her, I told him. I was unable go retrieve her, to hold her lifeless body when just that morning she was the epitome of life.

I asked my sweet Dad to get her for me. Unfortunately, the ex-boyfriend who admittedly was upset by the situation had not given any thought to the probability that I would want to bury her, and didn't give the vet my name or contact information. Without that info, the vet called the city to dispose of the body.

My father spent 2 hours trying to locate her for me, with- out any luck. Talk about added pain to an already agonizing day. The bright spot of the day was when a co-worker came to my house with flowers, and a card signed by almost all of my co-workers, and a granite marker with Lizzie's name on it. I may not have been able to bury her, but I was able to honor her in a beautiful garden setting at my mother's house. I will never stop missing her.

I am a pharmaceutical rep and I live in North Carolina, USA.