Help Animals for Hops and Smokey

Hops always met you at the door to say hi. He loved brewing with us in the warmer months. He loved to meet new people, and often hung around when we had people over. Sure, he had his traits, like eating pictures, coughing up hairballs, and banging on the door handle at night, but he had such a great personality. He was friendly, patient, caring, loving, and just a lot of fun. You could do anything to him and he just took it in stride. Like turning on the treadmill when he was sitting on it. He would just fall off the end.

He acted like a kitten his whole life. He loved to play and make noise. He wasn't vocal, but he was like a bull in a china shop. Kind of a klutz, but you always knew when he was around. The hardest thing right now is how quiet the home is. Knowing that he won't come bounding into the bedroom looking for attention.

I'm not sure what I am going to do when Notre Dame football starts up again as he always sat with me to watch the games. I have no idea why he did this, but he did. I'll miss him flopping onto his back when he cleans himself. Just lying there on the floor like he is a person. I'll miss him curling up on my arm and falling asleep. I'll greatly miss his purr. He purred like a motorboat.

Our other cat, Smokey, is starting to realize that he isn't coming home. She still looks around when she eats to see if he'll come running. He was very protective of the food. I can tell that she misses him, as we all do.

On Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 @ 1:20 PM we had to put Hops to sleep because he had cancer. The Vets at TLC Cat Clinic in Plymouth, MN had tried everything before we had to come to this decision. We all hoped it was just irritable bowel syndrome, but it turned out to be cancer instead. We didn't want Hops to suffer anymore, so we had to put him to sleep. The Vets were very caring, professional, and loving. They only gave Hops, and us, the utmost respect. Nobody wants to have to make this decision, but we know it was for the best. His being out of pain was much more important then us keeping him alive for our own selfish reasons. He lived 11 happy years, and we are very glad to have known him.

We'll greatly miss you, and love you. We know you are happy in kitty heaven, and we hope to see you again someday. It isn't the same without you around here. It feels like the home is missing something. That our lives are missing something. As I write this, crying, I want you to know how much we all loved you. Good bye my buddy, and rest in peace.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Update: It is with great sadness that we have to report another death of an animal in the Beer Loons Family. Our cat, Smokey, had to be put asleep on November 9, 2011 @ 4:05 PM due to kidney disease. She lived over 14 years, and we got her from the Humane Society in St. Petersburg, FL. Smokey was a lap kitty that would sit with you for hours. She was a wonderful mother to Hops and Simcoe even though they were not her kids.

Smokey loved to sit on her pillow and sleep. She wasn’t a very active cat as she got older, but you knew she was always there. You could hear her coming from her little bell on her collar, and the clicking of her claws on the floor. She loved to jump in the shower after you were done to get some water. She was very picky about her water. Smokey was never any trouble, and just quietly went about her business.

Smokey was very territorial about me, Mike. She put up with Jennifer, but probably would have preferred that Jennifer was not around. Mike was her man. She would hardly make a sound around the house, but the house seems strangely quiet today. I keep looking to her pillow expecting her to be curled up in a ball and just be sleeping away.

Once again, our hearts are broken, our eyes are filled with tears, and our thoughts are filled with the pain of knowing she will not be coming back. She will not be waiting to jump on our lap and fall asleep. Once again, it is all for the best and we know she is in a better place, but, once again, it is us that are left behind to deal with the sadness. Even though it is a reality that our pets will leave us much too soon we still have them around, and love them.

As hard as this is to write it is time for us to say farewell. We will meet again, and we love you. Have fun playing with Hops again, and we will miss you hear on Earth. You were a fantastic kitty, and I will miss you every day. Rest in Peace Ms. Pretty, Rest in Peace.

Love,

Mom and Dad