GOOSE

In 2021, I longed for a furry companion for my first time. I was struggling with my mental health and I was hopeful that a new friend would bring a glimmer of hope and a sense of joy. Our family walked into the SPCA and saw so many options, from cute little kittens to very outgoing adults, the options felt unlimited. My husband and our oldest found this beautiful little boy in a tiny kennel, hiding in a cozy house, scared. He didn’t want to be pet and there was vomit in his space. There was something sad in his eyes, something that felt like he too had lost hope, like me. We asked about his story and learned he had been returned 4 different times and experienced some potential abuse and neglect. I knew this was my boy and that we had enough love in our family to last him a life time. We took him home that day and started our healing journey together. For days he hid under the bed, I knew it was going to take some time to build trust but slowly and surely, he did, one treat at a time.

I was so excited, I bought him every treat, outfits, every cushion, blanket and cozy fun house I could find. He was immediately spoiled! But Goose was simple, he didn’t want or care for any of it. He was satisfied with cheap temptation treats and pets on the head. He LOVED a good brush too! He never liked to be held but always wanted to be near. If we were on the couch, so was he, if we went to bed, so did he! The mornings were his time to shine! It was the only time he was vocal and he would meow until his salmon temptation treats were given! We always would say out loud that we could never understand how anyone would ever return or harm him. He was an angel, kind, gentle, mellow and loved a good laser beam to chase! He only wanted to sleep at our heads and he never favoured any of us, he took turns in our beds, making sure to love us all equally! He had his issues, peeing all over anything that was soft but there was no way that this boy was going to re-homed again. We were in it for the long haul.

Sadly our boy became very sick 6 months ago and no matter what we did, no medical treatment was helping. He became so unwell and we had to make the most devastating decision to let him go. I didn’t know so much love existed for an animal, and the pain of how his life ended, way too early at 10 years old is profoundly heartbreaking. I pray there is peace for him and that he always knows the monumental impact he made on all of her lives. In so many ways, our lives were parallel, he saved me and we saved him. I am forever indebted to him for loving me back to health and giving my children and husband so many beautiful memories. I will miss his meow’s and his lips, and his sweet, precious, beautiful demeanour. He changed us and we will always keep his memory alive.