I think Boy has more lives then a cat.
Many times, I have thought I was going to have to bring Boy to "the final vet visit". He has arthritis and sometimes it gets so bad he can't move. He is about 17+ years old. He has some pills that make him feel better, but the pills have the side effect of destroying his liver. So, the pills should be used sparingly.
After our last pet visit, we decided that Boy's arthritis was so bad that he was going to start taking his pills daily until his liver gives out. It was a tough decision, but at least he could move until then.
So, last Friday night Boy got out. It turns out that the latch on the gate was not locked, and all he had to do was push the gate open. He had his phone number on the collar. By the time Tuesday rolled around, I had written him off. He had gone four days without food or medicine.
I was pleasantly surprised last night when listened to the message of Dekalb Animal Control. They had caught Boy in our neighborhood earlier in the day. We could pick him up. Today I went down to pick him up.
When I walked the aisle of cages, the dogs were going wild. They were jumping up and down. They were barking up a storm. I came to where Boy was caged. He was just lying on his side. He wasn't moving at all. I got the paperwork from the front of the cage and went to the desk. I paid the $90 rescue fee. I waited for my ticket (fine to be determined by phone call) for the dog running free. All the while, I wasn't sure if Boy was ever going to be leaving the facility.
I took my receipt to the back. Then officer and I walked to Boy's cage. When we got there, boy tried to stand but he collapsed after getting a quarter of the way up. He then just lied there, looking at me by moving his eyes only. The officer was very sympathetic. She was sure that I would not take Boy in his condition. She said that when I needed to talk to her, she would be at her desk.
I sat there for a couple of minutes. If Boy had his medicine, he might be ok. If he only didn't run away, everything (well maybe not everything) would have been all right. With tears in my eyes, I made up my mind. It was sad, but I should let Boy go.
I would give it one more try. I stood up. I said, "Come on, Boy" as I clapped my hands. It was at this point, Boy stood up. He looked up at me as if to say " Gotcha" and started trotting down the isle back to the exit. I took him home, and gave him his pill.
One of these days, he is going to push it too far.