People who don't like animals scare me too!

I just LOVE your "hor-o-scope" for Taurus...for the month of June!! thanks you are a real stitch and I LOVE reading your blog every day...

My Dad doesn't like animals much, and it's definitely an indicator of something wrong with his soul. The rest of it's OK, but there's a vein of not-niceness in there...

Laurie- I'm so glad that Jen has you because I have done a horrible job at consoling her throughout all this. I feel so badly for her, but I always manage to say the wrong thing and she starts crying again. I hope you know how much Jen appreciates your friendship! You are the greatest!

When my Golden Retriever died of cancer, it was the single most heartbreaking thing to ever happen to me-- no joke (she was with me through a very serious illness when I was a teen, and she was literally my only friend). It's AWFUL to see a pet get sick.

I'm sending Ethel happy thoughts.

My cats are like my kids. It's nice to know there are others out there who understand what pets can mean :)

I HATE that my dog can't give me a sign when something is wrong with him. When he wants a head rub, he nudges my hand with his nose...when he wants a belly rub, he turns on his back. But there's no way for him to tell me he's sick until it's gone too far.
At one time, I didn't like animals. didn't know what all the fuss was about. Now that I have a dog, I TOTALLY GET IT. He's such a ball of energy when he knows he's going outside...Or when I come home...I call him my ball of happy.

i completely agree with you Laurie. i once had an ex that told me i cared too much about my dog and 2 cats. he asked me "who would you pick, me or them?" here is a hint..if a man (or woman) ever askes that question, it's a big 'ol red flag. i hope everthing turns out well for Ethel and i sent my good thoughts to your friend.

Thank you Laurie for sharing about Ethel. I sent my support through Jen's site. It just breaks my heart when a kitty is not well and has to have a stay at the vet. We have been through it with each of our kitties. You are a great friend to both Jen and Ethel!

Pets give us so much unconditional love and ask so little in return. But they do depend on us to take care of them, and I know how guilty your friend Jennifer must be feeling, even though there was nothing she could have done. I'm sending good thoughts her way because I know that I've never felt more helpless than when my cat, Deano, was sick.

Get better, Ethel!

Sorry to hear about Ethel. My cat is sick, too, but treatable, for a while at least, so I know how she's feeling.

This is totally off topic but you have got to see this...

http://www.cafepress.com/bridezilla/155444

My kitties are my babies, and people who don't like my babies earn my instant distrust! I just cannot understand people who mistreat animals - it makes me sick to even think about it.

Sent best wishes for Ethel. My pets are my babies also. My husband died from cancer 2 years ago, and about 3 months later his favorite dog, who was 13 years old at the time got so sick. The vet said her old age and the grieving did her in, and I had to put her down. Oh God, just about killed me all over again. But, I like to picture them both in heaven, together again.

Laura, you just made me cry. Jen, my brood and I are cheering for you and Ethel. It's terrible when a pet is sick. You feel so helpless. And when non-pet people say: "geeze, it's just a pet," i want to scratch them and hiss.

"...i want to scarch them and hiss."
Amen!

I just came from Jen's blog, sending healing wishes to her and Ethel.

I lost my precious Jaxon in February. That cat was my soulmate without question. Now my Mickie is dying as I write this and it's like an open wound...

Pets are so loving and accepting, how could anyone not recognize how much they enrich our lives?

I watch shows like Animal Cops and Emergency Vets and thru my tears I try to fathom what kind of *thing* can hurt such a loving companion. And the ones that are saved, love again!! Astounding!! People could learn a lot from pets!

Sending along Good thoughts to Ethel and Jen! Our cat, bulldog and pug are our children, so I completely feel for both of them!

when i first started dating i could tell if a relationship was going to work out by whether or not my cat liked my boyfriend. i knew my husband would work out when he helped me raise a litter of orphaned kittens. the kind of person who can bottle feed a screaming, scratching ball of fur, and then wipe its bum, is a good person to keep around.

I had so hoped that Jen wasn't going to have to put Ethel in the hospital. Next time you see Jen give her a big hug from the crazy lady in Iowa that is stalking you both. hehe Seriously, I do feel bad for Jen and Ethel. I feel bad for Fred too. I'm sure he is wondering where the heck his buddy is at. I do hope she gets to come home real soon.

I mentioned in my comment to Jenn that I lost my 17yr old OJ last year, I know the fear and the heartache. I also know the power of love, and positive healing thoughts! Thru that I was blessed with some extra time with my boy, despite the fact the vet didnt think he'd make it thru the night!

Animals provide us with the purest love, and we are lucky to share our lives with them. Running a close second are the friends some of us are lucky enough to find in our lives, who will love us and support us thru the toughest of times - Jenn's lucky to have you Laurie!

And hey, when was the last time you checked your real life Crazy Aunt Purl mail box?

Get better Ethel!!!
We are back Aunt Purl! I am soooo sad I didn't get to see you again. Mommy keeps saying we will go back in July so maybe I will get to see you again then.

Laurie, you are truly the best friend ever. Thank you so much. I don't know how I would make it through all of this without you. I really don't.

I just sent lots of love over to Ethel! Thanks for the heads up, Purl.

Coco, Oreo, Spike, Cubby and I all send their love to Ethel! Coco and Spike are both doing really well after each of them had major health crisis. So hang in there Jen and Ethel.

Coco, my 14-year-old cat, still acts like a kitten after four tumor removal surgeries that removed malignant mammary tumors. Her first surgery was in November 2003.

Spike, my 4-year-old dog, beat parvo when he was just two months old. My husband had surprized me with the puppy two days before Christmas. Spike became increasingly ill, and had to be rushed to the animal hospital on Christmas Eve. At one point on Christmas Day, they gave him a half-hour to live. He spent two weeks in isolation at the vets. The only lingering effect is comprised kidneys, so he eats low-protein food.

I really hope Ethel is better and can go home soon! I know it must be really hard for Jen. I always loved animals growing up but my parents never wanted us to get a cat or dog, my mom said five kids was enough. There were plenty of neighborhood pets to play with, but it's just not the same. When I was 12 I found a cat up in the rafters of our garage and started feeding him and playing with him. And eventually letting him in the house. 13 years later and the empty-nest parents are treating our cat like he’s their little baby.

I adopted my own dog a little more than a year ago and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Every day Dexter makes me smile and feel needed and loved.

LOVE the Virgo scope - from your keyboard to the goddesses ear!

Hey - I'm in Vacation in Ohio (america's vacationland) and just acquired a small, lovely and lively black kitten. We're calling her Gigi, and BOY do I understand the unconditional love.

You'll also appreciate that EVERYWHERE we've gone on this vacation Atticus the amazing standard poodle as accompanied us. We didn't take him to the amusement park, but we discovered later that we COULD have (they have a pooch daycare there - great idea, huh?) It has been a terrific trip. But not as much fun as teaching you in class, my dear, you are a stitch and a hoot rolled into one!