My big boy Squeaker was an awesome cat and obviously one of my best friends. But, unfortunately his body became old and weak and began to give out on him. When I brought him in to get checked out I didn't want to hear the final news but Dr. Cram advised it would be the best for him to be let go so he would not be suffering anymore. This would be the first time ever I would be having to make this extremely hard decision like this. When I finally decided to let my best buddy go, Dr. Cram told me to take as long as I needed no matter how long to be with him. With it being closing time for the hospital, understandably workers want to go home, but not Dr. Cram or his staff. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for being the awesome caring people that you are and letting me be with my best buddy as long as I needed at the end. Squeaker went back to his maker on 06-11-2004, miss you Squeaker boy!

Dominic

On June 12, 2006 our precious baby, Comet, died. He died suddenly, and he died quickly. One minute he was fine, and the next minute he was gone. I didn’t know that anything was wrong. He looked like he was going to cough up a hairball in one of his favorite spots, and a short time later I heard an awful noise from the other room…it was the last gasp of life leaving his body. I raced his lifeless form to the Emergency Vet, but Comet was gone.

My wife had left that morning for a weeklong business trip to Boston. She left me with our two babies. She returned tonight to one. Our two, now one, cats are our children…we have no others. She can remember everything good about Comet, while I have been dwelling on the end. What could I have done? Why didn’t I notice something was terribly wrong? What if I had paid closer attention?

Born on Christmas Eve, 1996 Comet was in a litter all named after Santa’s reindeer. We adopted Comet in early 1997 because we decided that our oldest, Starbux, needed a little brother to play with instead of our arms and legs. From the moment Comet came into the house everything changed. Starbux and Comet played and scuffled and cleaned each other up. They slept together. They kept each other warm. They scuffled some more, but never a real fight…just the rough and tumble that cats do.

Starbux had never purred, not to any audible amount anyway. Comet came in with purr like a two-stroke engine and before we knew it he had taught Starbux how to get his motor started.

In 1999 the Vet told us that Comet’s heart was enlarged. He needed medicine to keep him healthy. Giving him his heart pill became a daily ritual. I had never heard of HCM.

He was such a sweet and gentle soul. Comet never met a stranger. Whenever anyone came by he would greet them by flopping over on the floor and inviting them to rub his belly. And a big belly it was. Comet was a fat cat. We did our best to keep his weight down, but for him slim and trim was between 18 and 19 pounds. Luckily, he was not a lap cat…he was a snuggle-up-beside-of-you kind of guy. When you reached to pet him he would maneuver your hand to his belly, rolling over, kicking up a leg. He loved his belly rubs.

He needed belly rubs so badly that sometimes he had to wake me up in the middle of the night to get one. He would jump in bed (enough to wake you up) at three in the morning snuggle up under my arm to get himself in position. I would awake to find my hand on his belly and his motor running full blast. He would get his wishes for the few moments that it took me to dose back to sleep, then off he would go off happily into the night.

Comet had a hankering for plastic, and rubber bands in particular. He could sniff them out through drawers or in your pockets. We used to carefully hide all the rubber bands in a special Comet-proof drawer so that he wouldn’t choke on one. As we were moving to Kansas and our furniture was removed from our house we found two different treasure troves of severed rubber bands that Comet had snatched from us over the years. He had snapped each one until it broke and then carefully placed each into his secret hideaways…..so much for Comet-proofing.

Born to model, he would pose for me as I tinkered with the idea of changing careers in midlife. He inspired me to begin photographing cats. He taught me how easy it could be, and Starbux taught me how difficult it really is. Once Comet understood that a Whiska Lickin’s was offered as a modeling fee, he began following me into the studio, jumping up on my shooting deck and meowing until I gave him my attention. Even if I didn’t have my camera set up, Comet was determined to earn his treat. So we would go through the motions, with me teasing him into position with his favorite pheasant feather..until I was sure that he knew he worked for his fee.

Every year we took him for his heart scan, and every year he came through with flying colors. He just got a card in the mail a few weeks ago reminding us it was time again for a physical. His Vet told me that even if I had been in his office when this happened that there would have been little chance of him surviving. I wish we had had that little chance. We miss him so very much.

Well, I have rambled enough…writing this is part of trying to heal, to get over the grief. I could write a book on how cool our cat was and why we will miss him so much, but I have to get back to work now. But before I do, let me offer a couple of words of advice – pick up your kitty and give him / her some loving, treasure each moment that you have with your babies because those moments are fleeting. Get out your cameras and take pictures of them and don’t let the film go undeveloped or the memory card go uncopied. Enjoy the time you have with them. Play, cuddle, stroke…enjoy.

OK, back to work now…as soon as I pick up Starbux and give him a little loving, he misses his little buddy and has gotten a bit clingy since Comet has left the building.

Preston

Misty
August 1988 – April 2006
Misty was the sweetest cat. She was lovable and huggable from the time we brought her home at eight weeks old until the time she left us in her eighteenth year. Her loud purr was always motoring when her family was near. She loved to fling herself down in our path for a rub-a-dub. She really enjoyed eating, and repeatedly meowed at the pantry door for a kitty treat. There was her stage of life when Dr. Cram gave us the “obese sheet” at annual check-ups, trying (unsuccessfully) to convince Misty and me that food was not love. She was talkative, always wanting our attention. She had her favorite spots to nap or observe: her bench in front of the window at our old house, her chair in the hearth room, Matt’s bed, a sunny spot in the living room, her own little bed, a place in front of the fireplace in the winter, and, on warm summer days, on the patio in the sun, or shaded under a plant in the backyard. She was our constant shadow, our affectionate companion, and forever made us smile. She will be missed so much, but we have many special memories. Thank you to Dr. Cram and his staff for taking such good care of her all of these years.

Bob, Patty and Matt McCall

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Buddy
The Brigandi family would like to thank you all at Trailridge Pet Hospital for your help with our Old English Gentleman "Buddy". Buddy was a captivating dog, several times if I was in the front yard with him families would stop their car and ask "can the kids pet your dog?" Buddy was in his glory. He loved people, and people loved him. We miss him so very much. We realize our Lord provides us with many pleasures in our lives but we also must realize that they are ultimately his and we must return them. After 12 years of a great life Buddy returned to his creator 2/14/06. Thanks for the memories forever.

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Candi
Thank you for all the wonderful care you gave Candi the past 16 1/2 years. She was truly our precious princess. She always thought she was a big dog packed into an 8 pound body. She never met a stranger and was always the boss. She was able to pass peacefully at Trailridge Pet Hospital on January 3rd, 2006. We will never forget her.
-- Craig and Diane Crease

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Racin' Mason
Weighing in at 32 pounds as the Heavyweight at the 2003 Weiner Dog Nationals, he was all muscle. Mason, a former fraternity house mascot, had a mind of his own. A classic lap dog, a beer lover, and protector. He will always have that special place in our hearts.

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Dear Dr. Cram, Jan, Traci, Brooke, and Sara:

I wanted to thank you all for helping take such good care of my little buddy Duke for the past 14 ½ years. I have always taken comfort in your advice and professional care of my dogs. I finally had to say goodbye to my Duke on July 16, 2005; he will always be remembered.

Dave Hilliard

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We never got the picture we wanted of Megan so we did the best we could while she was sick. Megan was a force that will be missed in the Jones home. Her wide eyed devotion to us cannot be replaced and we miss her and will continue to miss her. Thanks to Dr. Cram, Dr Vale and all the staff for taking care of her. She was one of a kind.

Glenn and Sheila Jones

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Dr. Cram, Jan and the rest of the wonderful staff:

Our family appreciates the tenderness and care given to our first rescue sheltie during her drawn-out battle with cancer. Initially Maddy dreaded the routine vet visits to drain her abdomen. But in the last 4 or 5 months of her life, she looked forward to it (she was so slim afterwards!) No matter how bad she felt, she always made everyone else feel good about life. She put the first 7 years of her life behind her after we adopted her. Maddy and our family started a new life together. After Maddy went to heaven, we have adopted 4 dogs since. Although we were blessed with her presence only 3 years, she was an inspiration to us and everyone she wagged her tail at!

Everyone at the clinic knew how hard it was for us to part with Maddy. They made that day for us us both peaceful and comforting. The Cusachs family thank the entire staff for the care and concern you give to all of our pets.

Jim & Brenda Cusachs

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Dr. Cram and the girls at Trailridge Pet Hospital:

We just wanted to thank you for all your kindness over the years while treating Emily. We want to especially thank you for the extra special care that you gave us on Friday when we had to say goodbye to her.

Dr. Cram, you and your staff helped to make Emily's life a happy one for 13 years and we will remember you if we ever decide to get another pet.

Thank You,
Laurie & Larry Sorenson

Emily, January 1992-July 2005

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From Traci, regarding Big...
I talk to clients routinely about euthanasia. And I've had to make the decision unfortually at other times. Quality of life means so many different things to each individual. Although Big's quality of life had changed over a period of time. Ultimately making the decision was his. He was "the potty partner", "the pillow kitty", "the attention getter". The last couple days were difficult for him. No energy to jump on to the bed, hiding, and finally following my husband into the bathroom only to fall over. We knew then...it was time to let go. He was such the laid back cat! Sitting up was only good if you had a wall to lean against. Dogs coming into his house was ok but only if they knew it was HIS house. He was my first pet as an adult and he taught me it's ok to lean against a wall and just watch. Thanks Big-I love you.--Traci

Big

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Jennie, our first sheltie, 1982-1998.
Glenn & Sheilla Jones

Josh, our first rescue Sheltie.
He was found in 1988 running along I-70 near the visitors center in KC, KS. Josh was a cancer survivor five times until kidney failure took him in 1999. I suspect Dr. Cram was able to send a file drawer full of files to storage after Josh passed.
Glenn & Sheila Jones

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