An unusual project.

[Barryh]

Well I called on my 180 tonight when I really needed help with an unusual project. My little friend and buddy of 10 years had been sick for 17 days now. (My cat), I had to put her down Monday night and it killed me to do it, she died in my hands. I needed to get her out of the down stairs freezer, of course she was all wrapped up and in an air tight container. I took off the plow hooked up the Toothbar and shovel and took the PT out into the edge of the woods on the back side of my property. It really did great. The 4x4 ran over small trees and went through the snow and mud.

I snapped off at least 20 or more 2 inch + roots, while digging down about 2 or more feet in the frozen clay ground. The cab I built kept me dry except at the end when I had to do a little hand shovel work. The two 55 Watt halogens lit up the whole forest. I know the neighbor closest to me must have thought I was burring my wife or something, with all of the lights and digging. Anyway it was sleeting and raining non stop, but I got her all tucked in thanks to that little machine. Couldn't have done it with out the PT. I’m really going to miss that little girl she was special /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jfh28]

My condolences to you. That is without a doubt one of the most difficult things we must do in life. I've been there more times than I care to remember but I feel it is part of an unspoken agreement we make with our pets when we get them. They let us know when it is time and they'll be there waiting for us when it is our time.

Jack

 

[stray]

I too have layed to rest a few pets with my PT. I got them in the ground a little deeper and a little safer that if i were using a shovel. Hate to here about you cat. One of my pets was a well loved cat.

 

[Marlowe]

A couple of years ago my son had a very special Lab. He named her Matey. One day he took Matey for a ride in his Jeep. When they returned home, he put Matey in the fence. Matey was full of energy, way beyond most Labs I'd seen. This dog would load up in my pick up before I dropped the tail gate, and she'd be in the boat before we launched it. That kind of dog. One in a lifetime.

Only moments after my son put Matey in the fence, she saw a squirrel in the yard across the street. She hit the fence gate and knocked it open. My son hadn't secured it properly. With boundless energy, Matey pursued the squirrel. A car met her as she crossed the street, breaking her neck. My son lifted her in his arms, tears streaking his cheeks, and blood staining his clothes. He dug her grave with a shovel. When his mom asked if she could help, he answered, "No Mom, this is something I have to do myself."

My son didn't become a man that day, but he sure took a few steps closer. Some lessons come hard. At least your pet lived a long, good life. Still, it's hard to let them go. My old dog is fifteen years old now. On Thanksgiving day I found out she was deaf. I took her the traditional ham bone after our big feast. She ignored me, I thought, as I approached her. I didn't realize for sure what was wrong untill she jumped when I startled her. She didn't hear my whistles or me calling her name. Dangit! She's been a good old dog though. I guess fifteen years is a pretty good run for a dog. The good news though is that if she wasn't deaf, she still looks pretty darned good. Maybe she'll go another few years.

I know the worst part is saying goodbye, but remember the dance that led up to it.

Tom

 

[Barryh]

Thanks fellows. If anyone would have told me I could get this attached to a cat I would have laughed. She was a stray kitten someone tossed out in the dead of winter one year. She was living out in the back yard of a townhouse in the snow. I took her in. This was before I met the wife.

Funny how these little four legged creatures crawl up into your heart. Luckily I have two great dogs an Aussie and an Aussie Beagle. The day I had to take her up to put her down, I found the cat curled up in one of my old sweat shirts in my office. She has never gone in there before she knew that's where I go after I get home. Like you said Jfh28 she was waiting for me and telling me I am tired and it is time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Barryh]

Yes the PT did dig a deeper hole. It would have taken me much longer to do it by hand on a nice day that is. I love this 180 it does anything I need it to do. That said, this is where a backhoe would have cut the time in half and really shinned. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Barryh]

Sorry to hear about your son's dog Marlowe. I know that was hard to watch. 15 years wow, I hope your present dog stays in good health and is with you for a long long time. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[MuncyBob]

Barryh....hope the next PT job is a more enjoyable one!! We've had many pets of all sorts...most lived a "normal" amount of time.....my favorite dog died way too early(only 7) and that was almost 10 years ago...I still miss her and can still gets tears in my eyes at times over her as I mutter "darn dog"!....but we'll always have 2 dogs and who knows what else(currently cats and horses too). It's the joy and memories they they give us that helps us overcome the sorrow of letting them go.

 

[MuncyBob]

Marlowe...we have a 14 yr old dog(Buddy) that is now a "clap on" dog....almost totally deaf but can still recognize the sound of clapping hands. Has a tough time getting up every now and then but still enjoys a ride in the wheel barrow! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He wanted to get in the PT bucket one day for a ride but I didn't want to risk it.

 

[KubotaSteve]

Sorry to hear about your cat.
Glad to hear your PT worked well for you. That was some mess we had last night and this morning. I went out and cleaned the SUV off. I let it run for quite sometime and still had to chip off over 1/2 inch of ice. I bet the roads up your way are quite bad.

 

[Barryh]

Thanks Farmall140,

I guess this is something any pet lover can relate too. I am glad I at least had the 180 to get it done last night during this crazy weather. Sounds like you have a great dog there. Hope you and your family enjoy Buddy for many more years to come. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry to hear about your cat. That is a long time to have a pet and they become part of the family. Glad you were able to use the tractor to bury him. We've had several pets that have lived to ripe old ages. When they were getting on in years, I always feared haveing to bury them in the winter. Fortunately, we have been having such mild winters that the ground is never frozen more than a couple of inches and we have sand, so not much water, like your clay. A hand operated post hole digger makes quick work of the sand four feet down. Just right for small pets.

I had to put my 17 year old cat down last January. The cat was raised with dogs, so he was pretty funny. He could do a few tricks, like sit and shake hands and occasionally meow when we'd say "Speak!" We use to walk him on a leash into the vet's office and they got a real kick out of it. He'd beg from the table like the dogs. He was a big cat, too. 37" from tip to tip and 17 pounds at his peak. He'd stand on his back legs and put his front paws on the edge of the table right next to your arms. If you took your eye off him he'd reach over and slap the food off your plate. He was diabetic that last two years of his life. Had to give him a shot, twice a day. We'd throw a treat on the floor and shoot him while he ate. He didn't even flinch. My kids could give him the shots. Good buddy that we all miss.

We got two kittens in August. They are now six month old cats. Brothers. Wild beasts, to say the least. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif They like to lay under the Christmas tree and watch the ornaments move, are very affectionate and love the kids.

 

[Barryh]

17 pounds? that was a big cat. 17 years that was a good run. Mine was over weight around 14 pounds. I think that is what finally got her. Had her on a diet and everything she couldn't loose it. After 1,100.00 in Vet bills we gave up trying to save her. She stopped eating and kept throwing up.

They become family before you know it. My cat thought she was a dog too. She would hang out with the dogs laying around in the sun and go after there treats just to be part of the gang. With work and everything going on, the PT saved me a lot of back breaking work. Now today everything is starting to melt. The wife says no more cats but something inside is telling me we will wait and see.

 

[Barryh]

On a more PT related note. I did get stuck one time tword the end. I had the front end down in the hole and she just kept spinning. I remembered advice on here to try the PT wiggle. Worked great, pulled me up and out. The spinner knob really makes a big difference too. Now, I have to go out tonight and clean off all of the Mud and crap. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[NSBound]

Barry, so sorry to hear about your cat. I lost my 16-year old girl about 3 weeks ago and I guess I'm just soft, but it still brought a tear to my eye to read your post. There are some similarities between your cat and mine - freinds found mine when she was just a few weeks old, thrown out of a car miles from nowhere in the middle of winter. They saw her eyes shining on the side of the road, and picked her up. Since my previous cat had died about 6 months before, I was ready for another pet, and she turned out to be the best pet I've ever had. It's not like she was "like" a member of the familty, she WAS a member of the family, as it sounds like yours was too. It's hard losing such a good friend.

 

[Barryh]

Sorry to hear about that my friend. It amazes me how cruel people can be to a helpless animal. Nice to know there are people like you around. If that is her picture she a cool looking little girl.

I didn't mean to turn this thread into an animal discussion, but as you can tell I am an animal lover, and that is what I do for a living. If you or anyone would like to post pictures\stories of your pets to my new forum or Web Sites feel free to PM me and I would be happy to send you a link. Thanks to all for the kind words and PM's. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Don't apologize. We all like animals and PT's. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Attached is a picture of my best friend.

And if you click on my tractor in my signature, there's a picture of my other best friend. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

P.S. We didn't find our cat, he found us. It was a cold, windy, rainy weekend night just before Halloween. We were having a keg party(no kids yet) and I was in the process of keeping from lighting myself on fire while grilling burgers in a Dopey costume(yes, Dopey, as in Snow White and the 7 vertically challenged gentlemen). Anyhow, I hear mewing and this little orange fuzzball runs up to greet me. That was that. I told my wife I'd take him to the pound on Monday... I never did. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Barryh]

Looks like he is chillin and found the right owner. The guy next to me has a cat just like him except it is a she, same color and everything. I didn't realize the previous owner of my house here, left this little cat behind to starve. So my neighbor like you, took her in. She now has a good home. I was wondering why she kept creeping around our the place. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[J_J]

David, Your signature is not there anymore,