so sorry to hear of your loss..RIP Bella

Letterboxing in Palmyra, Missouri, over the weekend. Found a box in the crook of a tree. As I reached up, I pulled what I thought was a black vine aside only to have it move of its own accord. It turned out to be a 1 1/2 foot long rat snake. I think we startled each other as we both froze (after I'd jerked my hand back and moved backwards a couple of steps) and stared at each other a few moments before Mr Snake casually slithered away.

A good reminder to wear gloves when pulling boxes out of crevices, holes and removing bark. You never know what you might find. Also a good reminder to remain sharp and not get too focused on "Oooo, I found it!" and watch your surroundings.

Certainly got the ole heart pumping. :D

I was out with a friend.
She was so focused on reaching into a crevice to get the box that she put her other hand down on a slab to balance as she reached in and off balance.
The slab was covered with hundreds of slithery red somethings.
I stood there watching and wondering why the heck she didn't at least brush some of them out of the way.

No need to fast-forward to what happened next. It was fast as lightening when she realized what she had done.

Still makes me both laugh and have a "glad it wasn't me" moment.

I was reaching under a log for a box when I startled 3 or 4 baby rattlers. Yikes!

Give me a snake any day over a tick--at least I can see the snakes and they won't leave me with diseases. (Well, maybe not rattlers--yikes.)

This is a bit long, but really cute!
https://www.facebook.com/dawlishbeach/videos/726646421189355/

How many people have trail names that include their pet? Just wondering. Yesterday, we lost the last dog that was part of Tri-Colors Paws. The first one died last year, second earlier this year and now this one. Oh, it's been hard. I never gave it a thought that if you get all your dogs around the same time, they leave around the same time as well. *sniffle*

My cousin on AQ (who doesn’t post) uses her sweet dog’s name as her Trail name. I know the unconditional love of your dogs brought great joy. It’s hard. ❤️

Mine is based on my dog too! Foxy Roxy is my sweet girl! My husband suggested the Roald Dahl book, whom I especially love, as a pair to my girl.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I love mine to pieces and I know you will always miss your 4 pawed love. I was amazed how much healing my pup brought after the death of my previous girl.

I am so sorry! Loosing all 3 so close together must be very very hard! I lost one only kitty this year and it broke my heart! Your trailname is now your tribute to your buddies!

"It came to me that every time I losee a dog they take a pice of my hear with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart." -Unknown author

"Your trailname is now your tribute to your buddies!"

Well said.

So very sorry for your loss.

So sorry for your loss. I lost both of my fur babies within a year of each other. I miss them terribly every single day. My trail name is in honor of my sweet girl Marlee Sue. Our four legged kids are the purest form of love one will ever experience.

I had lost my last pack, 3 of them within 10 months of each other, all do to cancer. That was years ago and I have still not recovered, love them and miss them every day. That was before letterboxing, I picked up letterboxing in the dog free year between me losing the last one and getting Cricket. Now cricket is my signature stamp so if you’ve seen it, you can recognize me on the trail when I’m with Cricket.

So very sorry for your loss, they never stay around long enough.

David

So sorry for your loss - pets are part of our families, and it is so hard to lose them. My trailname is in memory of my horse, Brandi, and my cat, Sam. Both are gone now, but their hoof/paw prints appear every time I stamp a logbook.

Such wonderful support we have on here! ♥️
We, TCP and I, have had more losses then we’d like to count this year and are ready for the New Year to begin. Letterboxing has brought us closer and have helped us tremendously this summer overcome those sudden losses. Thank you all for your support and loving words. It means a lot.
Love this “family” we are apart of.

I cannot imagine your pain....but then I can.

Ugh. I really am not liking the thoughts about this lately. About a week ago my cat Embers left and didn't come back. She was 6 and I've had her since she was 3 weeks old.
A friend found her inside an old car in a junk yard. He couldn't keep her and reached out to see if I wanted her. Of course I did! And off I drove 3.5 hours to south Jersey to pick her up. She was the cutest little mostly black calico kitty with orange on her nose in the shape of flames. Over the years she became an indoor/outdoor cat, but always came inside for the evening. This was especially important because I live on a mountain, in the woods - so yeah, predators.
During the days I was home from work, I would take the dogs and Embers and we'd go for walks behind the house. She LOVED walking around with us, and kept the dogs from straying too far. Which is pretty funny because the dogs are shepherds...haha.
She would come when I called her, and she was always waiting for me when I came home. In a way she was like one of the dogs, but a cat.
Then about a week ago, she wasn't sitting on the deck waiting for me. I called and called for her, but no sight of her. I took the dogs out and we went into the woods looking for her. Still nothing. I contacted neighbors, animal control, and another kitty rescue place in town. They all pretty much said the same thing: pets go missing all the time, and they become snacks for the predators that live in the woods.

I know the reality of living where I do and allowing her to go outside. I took for granted that she always came back home every day/night. I hate myself for letting my guard down. And now all I have are the memories.

Sorry to share such sad news. I know in time it will get better, but right now it really sucks.

I'm so sorry to hear that. :( Hugs

Hi Sleaves,
I am sorry your kitty is missing. Don’t give up hope just yet.
You know your area and what
can happen, but sometimes they do come home. Put something like a sweater of yours with your scent on it outside, as well as the litter box preferably with something in it if possible. Hope this helps.
Here’s another site for you to post on. The more who know the better.
PAWBOOST.com
HOMEAGAIN PET RESCUE
Best of luck to you.
Buttercup60

Thank you buttercup60. I lose a little hope each day I don't see her but are still out there looking.


I will check this out!

I'm so sorry for your loss. I volunteer at our local animal shelter and the fact is that animals go missing all the time. They have a better chance of finding their way home on their own than if someone picks them up and takes them to the shelter or rescue. Sometimes they come home after weeks. Sometimes other people pick them up and keep them. Sometimes they go into the woods to die. And sometimes they do become lunch for coyotes 😢 . Just know that you gave her the best life and 6 years is a long life for a cat in the wild. 👼

My heartfelt thoughts for you.. I know that sadness.

Never give up hope. My indoor cat disappeared one day in January a few years ago. Never even saw her get loose. The temperature never went above freezing, but I found her hiding in the chicken coop 8 weeks later!

Oh wow! I don't think she is in the coop, but I will definitely double check.

Thanks for the positive thoughts everyone.

Don't give up yet. Years ago one of our cats went missing. A couple of weeks later I was talking to a neighbor about missing the cat and she said that another neighbor recently found a cat. A phone call confirmed that his new cat was ours. I brought her home and she lived many more years. Hoping for a good outcome for you. Hugs.

I have 6 experiences with missing cats when our cats were outdoor cats. Now we always keep our cats in. Two cats returned alive. One returned 5 weeks later ematiated. I think maybe the cat was locked in somebodies shed. The other returned about a week later covered in soot. Maybe he fell down someone's chimney. Sad to say the odds are not good for cats outside. We do grieve when we lose a member of our family.

I had such a similar experience and know how you feel. You will be looking on that spot on the deck for a while. The dogs will feel the loss too. Tears and hugs from here. hang in

The dogs have been moping lately. Embers loved playing with the dogs and when I’d call them, she would wait in hiding and then jump out at them as they walked by. It was pretty funny.

I am going to continue looking and calling out for her.

I hope she finds her way back. She sounds beautiful and fun. We love our pets to the moon and back! Hang in there.

Heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking. I’m sad for you. Sending lots of hugs.

But I agree that cats can be gone longer than seems like they should and still come home.

And remember that you gave Embers the best 6 years she could have hoped for, stray lives can be a hard life for kitties.

Hoping for a safe return. Be sure to keep us updated.