Smudge Uselton, RIP

This is a picture of two of our pets taken just over a week ago. They were the best of buddies. Draeger is our almost 10 years old German Shepherd. Smudge and Draeger are looking out the front door, guarding the premises as they often would do, enjoying one an other's company. Smudge passed away today. He was 9 years old and he looked like a miniature cougar. He will be sorely missed by us all.

Smudge was Sheila's cat, he was her boy, and I feel so bad to lose him yet I feel worse knowing the sorrow and grief that Sheila feels tonight. Forgive my indulgence of writing about our loss but it really is all that is on my mind.

We have been fortunate. Every pet that we have had has been smart and very much a part of what our lives are all about on a day to day basis. Smudge was one of us. Smudge was a hunter. If he set his mind on taking a squirrel the squirrel didn't have a chance. As you can see, Smudge was not camouflaged by any means. He was white as snow. As I said, that never kept him from taking a squirrel, and Smudge was not wasteful with his take if you know what I mean.

Often times Smudge would not look so good after eating his "whole squirrel dinner". Some times it would take a day or two for him to shake it off. Last Thursday I came home and he was lying in the driveway and he looked pretty bad. Later on he was still there in the same position. He finally came in for the evening and went straight to his favorite bedding down for the evening spot. The next morning he had not moved. Sheila suggested I take him to our vet on the way to work and I did.

After several tests it was determined that Smudge was dying. We spent his last moments with him earlier this evening. There are things that you just can't fix some times. There are things that you have to do and have to go through that are just hard and there is no getting around it. This is one of those times and one of those places and you hurt all over.

Sheila named him Smudge because when was a kitten he had a grey patch - a smudge - on his forehead. He continued to have various smudges on his solid white coat over the years due to all of the things he would get in to or under. He was not one to be messed with either as he came home often times fairly well banged up and with his ear torn up or whatever else. I can only imagine what the other guy looked like!

I could go on and on but I will let it be. God blesses us in many ways, even through the unconditional love and remarkable companionship of a cat named Smudge. We will miss you.