Animal Companion Remembrances

In loving memory of Samson, one of triplets, a stray cat taken in by Maria and Albert DiMeglio, along with his brothers. “Samson was always a shy, gentle, nervous, and loyal cat. He loved to sleep on top of my head every night and give me little love bites on my face. He loved eating pizza and any kind of cheese, which I shared with him, while he sat next to me watching television. He loved playing with his brothers especially using straws as his favorite toy. I will miss how his big eyes looked at me adoringly and how he would be nuzzling my neck. He was a mamma’s boy and he was my boy!”  Remembrance donation by Maria & Albert DiMeglio, September 2018.

In loving memory of China, companion to Maria DiMeglio.  “China was a stray calico who apparently did not have enough to eat, so her growth was stunted and she always remained a kitten. She was adorable, sweet, gentle, demure, feisty, delicate, a little lady. She was so small, I used to call her my China doll. She had her own cat house and we miss hearing her snore inside of it. She also liked to sleep nestled right on my neck and I miss that. China was Augustus’ girlfriend, [See the December 2017 tribute to Augustus], and we believe because they loved each other so much, she died of a broken heart. China will be one of God’s littlest angels in Heaven but she will be the one with the biggest heart!”  Remembrance donation by Maria & Albert DiMeglio, September 2018.

In loving memory of Dakota, companion to Kenneth and JoAnn DeKoven.  “She was the gentlest and most loving of souls, ALWAYS at our side and always happy to see any and every creature she encountered. Our beautiful Golden never met a soul she did not like. Although we have lost our most beloved companion, her legacy lives on because, as a member of The Seeing Eye’s breeding program before joining our family, she was the loving mother of 28 potential future Guide Dogs who will help other needy souls.  Run free and healthy at the Rainbow Bridge until we meet again! We love and miss you, but you’ll always be with us in spirit and a part of our very beings.” Remembrance donation by Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin, June 2018.

In memory of Sherlock, loving companion to Jacqueline Birnbaum and Dean Surkin. “We will always remember Sherlock’s boundless energy, and the way he played with Jacqueline every morning, the way he herded us into the kitchen when it was mealtime, the way he responded to learning new commands, and the way he mastered doggie puzzles. We will sorely miss Sherlock snuggling up to us every night to go to sleep.”  Remembrance donations by Jo-Ann & Ken De Koven and Peter & Mickey Bickford, June 2018.

In memory of Madison, our friend Judy Wolfe’s grumpy companion (Judy is the artist responsible for the painting of Binky that adorns our website). The following is an excerpt from her montage tribute to Madison from her website, While at the Zoo:  “In October of 2001 the superintendent of my building called me up and asked if I wanted a cat. It seems that a kitten had walked into the lobby of my building and just sat down. I rushed downstairs and found a little bundle of fur. And that was that. Fast forward almost 17 years and Madison crossed that very crowded rainbow bridge this week. Truth be told, she was not a very nice cat. That was part of her charm. She harrumphed around the apartment, hissed at her roommates and generally had a bad attitude. All of those aforementioned things made me love her even more. When she came to live with us I had two other cats, whom she learned to hate. A few years later Benny the dog came to live with us. She was not fond of him either. She outlived those animals and then got to share her space with kitten sisters Audrey and Roberta and eventually Jack the one-eyed dog. She did not like any of them either. Do I miss this grumpy cat? You bet.”  Remembrance donations by Steve Bass, Helen Risom Belluschi, Jamie Toste, Karen Pedevillano (for Juba, Leela, Picasso & Zack Cerbini), Terry & Jackie Phelan, Berni Leahy, April Rivkin, Veronica Gallagher and Peter & Mickey Bickford, February 2018.

In memory of Fiona: “We love you and miss you every day Fiona. You touched our lives with your gentle companionship, helping to raise little Gatsby and with the loudest purr west of the Mississippi.”  Remembrance by Valerie Garrett, December 2017.

In memory of Cole, aka Ch. Caledonian Cole Porter of Wolfpit, only 8 years old, beloved companion to Ken and JoAnn DeKoven. Unknown to his family, he had protein-losing enteropathy, and in December 2016 he suddenly died from cardiac arrest. Cole is survived by his adoptive quadruped siblings Arwen, Gretel, and Dakota.  Remembrance donation by Dean Surkin and Jacqueline Birnbaum, December 2017.

A few words about each of the cats from Maria:

Augustus, Jamie and Joseph were rescued cats who we took in when my mother got sick.

Augustus

Augustus was a big guy, very handsome and majestic. As big as he was, that’s how gentle he was. He was a true gentleman who had two girlfriends, Jamie and China, who would sleep with him and lick him on his head. We will miss this gentle soul, who was always so kind and loving to us and to his brothers and sisters. He was a trooper until the end.

Jamie

Jamie was one of Augustus’ girlfriends. She was a tuxedo cat and simply adorable.  As tiny as she was, she was a holy terror with the other cats.  She ruled the household in her own way. She loved to hide in the most unusual places.  We will miss her big eyes and little cries.  I will miss, most of all, her little head resting on my lap.  She was a trooper until the end.

We will love you always, Maria, Albert, and Julio

Homer, you were the best bunny ever. You were always a plush and cuddly bundle of personality and energy, a bouncy helicopter mini-lop with ears askew, who delighted in life.  Everyone who ever met you fell in love with you. You were a great companion to Harper, later engaging us in the playtime you had once shared with her. You lived to a ripe old age with no significant health issues till the end, for which we will be forever grateful.  Homer, we miss you!  Love, Berni, Kent, aunties Kathy and Sheila, and your former foster family, Marcie and Larry.  Remembrance donation by Judy Wolfe, December 2017.

In memory of Tyler, beloved companion of Artie and Debbie Schwartz, who lived a long happy life with his late adoptive brother Benny and recently adopted brother Toby. He passed away in November 2017, aged 16, from cancer.  Remembrance donation by Dean Surkin, December 2017.