Front page Vallejo Times Herald article today mentioned the five souls I lost in the fire and the pet grieving events I was already actively trying to facilitate with Kathryn D. Marocchino and Carlene Coury. Hopefully this will trigger more donations in their memory in the link listed at the bottom of the article. I do like knowing that their memory will help other cats and dogs find homes and have better lives.
Category Archives: Pets
The Loss of Five Pets at Once
Apparently I’m not the only one in the world to be out of the home and lose FIVE animals to a fire, as unfathomable as the thought is to have lived through. I’ve started reading this book recommended by pet grieving expert Kathryn of the Nikki Hospice Foundation who happens to be a lovely neighbor I adore and who even speaks Italian with me. Some of you know that I was working with Carlene and Kathryn and others about the periodic pet grieving gatherings that we could facilitate, particularly in association with the Humane Society of the North Bay, but I never dreamed I would soon be the “poster child” for such things.
Dog Walk to Field in Westpointe
Westpointe is the area of the Glen Cove neighborhood my rental is in. Glen Cove is a neighborhood in Vallejo, California, of course. My house under renovation is also in Glen Cove.
Snoopy Sunning at Rental
Here is Snoopy on my garden furniture brought to the rental during a spot of sun we had today. I had to make room for the cleanup and renovation crews at the damaged house a few minutes away. Today makes a month since the fire and I’m counting the days until I can go home.
Got the ashes
I was touched at the paw prints for each of them. I’m still not sleeping all night, despite the comfortable surroundings.
Unpacking in Rental
Seahorse Move-in
Hugh’s dogs and Snoopy enjoyed the hill in the backyard now that it’s reinforced and unbreachable. I felt very loved when over a dozen folks volunteered to help me move furniture in and set up the rental house while my home is being renovated a few block away. These people took time out of their day even though it was a rainy weekday morning.
Can beauty come out of ashes?
That’s a line from a beautiful Celine Dion song.
I got a call from the veterinarian’s office downtown. I was told in the chaos of the fire that they would cremate all five dogs that were killed in the fire individually for free, which is very touching. I think one of my neighbors arranged that for me. The remains of the last of the five are expected at their office tomorrow, so I’ll have to pick them all up. I will make sure someone drives me because I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it.
Snoopy and I got approved to rent a house nearby in the Westpointe development of Glen Cove neighborhood in Vallejo starting next week. I’m glad I got approved, but of course it’s bittersweet under the circumstances. Having just become president of the community association for a second term, it made sense that I stay in the neighborhood, and my own home will be accessible for me to tend to the garden. I can also check mail with a modest bike ride. Thank you for all of the support my communities have given me. There is a lot to rebuild, but I feel weird asking for things. Last night I got a whole seven hours of sleep for the first time in two weeks since this nightmare began.
