It’s been over two months since Scout died and I’ve been remiss in not thanking those who were so helpful during her final week.
First to the veterinary teams who treated her, Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital (our regular vet) and Northwest Veterinary Specialists (an emergency vet). We’ve been going to Laurelhurst since we moved to Portland over a decade ago, Dr. Abbott is our regular vet and saw Scout when we brought her in after she got sick, while Dr. Ross saw her at the end when it was time to euthanize her. This was our first visit to NVS and Dr. Brown managed Scout’s treatment. Everyone called when the said they would, the two groups communicated with each other and with me, answered my questions and gave advice, and everyone was friendly and supportive. They also sent cards after Scout died signed by those who knew her.
Thanks to cats unknown who contributed the blood for the transfusion that kept Scout alive long enough for her diagnosis to be completed, and let me spend one last day with her and be there when she died. Having cats donate blood is tricky since they have to sedated, and different places have different policies. The blood bank at NVS for example is collected from cats owned by the staff, while the blood bank at DoveLewis is collected from rescue cats they adopt.
Thanks to Apple for their iPhone and TomTom for their navigation app, as one drawback to NVS is that it isn’t close to us and is in an area I’m not familiar with, and I get turned around pretty easily. On the way to pick up Scout after her transfusion, traffic was a mess on the freeways but the little genius woman in the phone put me onto surface streets that were busy but not backed up, and I arrived in good time to get Scout, all without getting lost (and even more stressed).
Thanks to my wife for many reasons. Towards the end when Scout was getting her transfusion, the city inspector was also coming by to inspect our new heater. I had taken the day off work so I could get Scout at a moment’s notice. My wife repeatedly asked if she should stay home too to meet the inspector, since I was visibly upset, but I repeatedly said I’d be fine and she should go. But after she left I started to worry that there would be trouble with Scout’s transfusion and I’d have to leave right away. More than anything, if Scout was going to die, I wanted to be there with her. I started having trouble breathing so I called my wife and she came back home and met with the inspector. She also took care of everything when Scout was euthanized so I didn’t have to deal with anyone in my heartbroken state.
She’s also the reason Scout came into my life in the first place. A dog lover growing up, I fell in love with cats when I met her cat Templeton, and later she suggested we adopt Scout after her friend found a litter of kittens under their house.
And thanks to my black-and-white cat who I dearly miss. I’m close to all my pets but Scout and I were so perfectly matched, and she so completely devoted to me, that I doubt I’ll know a bond like ours ever again.
Rest peacefully, little one.





