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06.03.2008

Stow Away

Author: Brookie Judge

I remember being a little kid and reading the top of a box of Cheerios; it said to fold plastic lining to preserve freshness. So help me I took those words to heart.
My whole life I have annoyed my mother, boyfriends, roommates, and my husband with my insistence of preserving freshness. Baggie clips are on everything in the pantry and a good amount of food in the crisper.

When kittens became a part of my life I continued this preserving trend of mine. Back before I knew what I know now I used to give Annie and Oliver dry food.
At first I would push all the air from the bag and roll the top down as much as I could. But I figured that wasn’t good enough.
I then added a trusty baggie clip.

But I felt that wasn’t good enough either. So I invested in some Snapware. At first I was drawn to the adorable design. I do love paw prints.

With their dry food in an air tight canister I felt much better.
Even though my 4 kiddos do not eat dry food, my Snapware containers are still mighty handy. I keep one in the pantry filled with bonito flakes and another in the bedroom filled with treats for Oliver and Annie.

Dry food only maintains its freshness in a bag for 3 weeks so I truly encourage anyone who feeds dry food to their animals to not buy the 700 pound bag.
Or, if you must, pour the food into air tight jars. Nothing bugs me more than when I see on open bag of food. Besides being wholly unsanitary, it’s not very nice. Food goes stale. It’s that simple.

I have given away so many bag clips over the past couple of years that yesterday I bought 4 more for my own kitchen because I ran out.

With my own eyes I see food in pantries with rolled down plastic bags and boxes of crackers closed up to maintain freshness yet that same principle doesn’t travel down to the pets. Why?!
How hard it is to get clips or jars or lids for cans? It’s not that hard. I know because I do it all the time.

I am often sorely tempted to open bags and boxes in cupboard and pantries when I see open pet food. “There, now your food is stale too. Watch out for spiders!”

Be good to yourself, be good to the animals in your care. Simple.

07.11.2007

Stella Mary Judge: 7.1.05 to 9.12.07

Author: Brookie Judge

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Stella’s last full day was Tuesday, September 11. About 45 minutes into September 12 she died in my arms while Mike and I were heading north on the 405 to get her to the emergency animal hospital.
We drove past some late night construction and the work lights lit up the car, that’s when I saw her.

It was horrible. It wasn’t a quiet or painless death, it was horrible. I have many regrets (which I think is to be expected) and one of them is that we didn’t get her to the hospital in time.

That’s why pets are euthanized right? So they don’t feel pain?

Her death floored me. I suppose I always knew the day would come but the pain of losing her still haunts me.

Stella had a heart murmur like our other kitty Penny. It was believed that Stella’s murmur was low grade but earlier this year she started having attacks. I don’t know how else to describe them except by saying they were like reverse seizures. She would lose control of her legs, her eyes would get glassy, and she became unresponsive. They were definitely scary.

I look at her picture all the time but I can’t really let myself think about her anymore. It’s like I’m standing at the edge of a very deep cliff. If I think about Stella I’ll fall in. I have no idea how long it will take me to pull myself out.

Thankfully I have 4 other kitty cats who need me and require my care and attention. If Stella was our only cat I don’t see how I could get out of bed every day.

There’s a good chance I’ll never recover from the loss of Stella; it was just so tragic. She was only a baby, a young and tiny 2 years old We had her for 16 months and she loved us unconditionally. Mike and I loved her right back.
Her favorite thing in the world was giving kitty kisses and being close to her people.
We were very lucky to have such an amazing little creature.

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Archive for the 'sick' Category

Stow Away

Stella Mary Judge: 7.1.05 to 9.12.07