Polly

Polly Lidbury
1993-2005

Last night, Kathy had to have her beloved little Polly put to sleep.

Polly had a rough start in life. Abandoned by her mother as a kitten, she was sickly and weak when Kathy and her daughter Helen came across her. They were at the farm to adopt a little black and white cat they christened Lucifer. Helen insisted on also taking Polly home.

Kathy never expected Polly to make it to 12 weeks, let alone the 12 years she reached. She had terrible diareah the first few weeks, and at first the family didn't realize that the tip of her tail was actually a yellow-white color.

But Polly got over her kittenhood ailments and became a lovely little pet. She terrified the dogs, got snippy with her sister Flissy, and was sweet and loving with her people.

She had a quack for a meow, liked hearing me sing "Polly Wolly Doodle," and enjoyed only the poshest food money could buy. She also loved naps in the garden and basking in the sunshine.

Polly was a sweet little dear, but she was never as healthy as most cats because of her rough start. From time to time she would go off her food, and Kathy would take her to the vet for antibiotics and a steroid shot. Usually the shot would give her a much-needed boost, and she'd be back to her normal self.

This time, however, it was not to be. Polly's embattled kidneys just couldn't fight anymore.

So Kathy made the most difficult decision those of us owned by a pet ever have to make: she chose mercy, and relief from the pain and slow poisoning that Polly was experiencing.

She brought Polly home and tearfully buried her in the garden, in a spot where Polly liked to bask in the sun. The whole of the Lidbury household, tenant included, felt immense sadness as Polly was laid to rest in her favorite spot.

It just goes to show, that having pets does not come without the heartache. But I doubt Kathy and Derek would trade one minute of the joy Polly gave them to get rid of the pain they feel right now.