Julie

IN MEMORIUM - "FLOYD"- REST IN PEACE
You are loved

Oh wow, what a pleasant surprise to receive a message from you! :-)
Yes, my husband and I've got 3 cats here! Einstein, Holmes & Scrooge -- they're all brothers. Holmes and Einstein are from the same litter, whereas Scrooge is their youngest brother. They brighten every single day with their hilarious antics, and their loving personalities.
As far back as I can remember, I've loved animals more than I could explain.
I lived in Ontario, Canada for 22 years, out in the county with 100 acres to play around on. I remember when I was little, when I would find a toad or frog or mouse (any little creature) that has passed away, I'd bury them and make a little gravestone over the soil, and say a prayer for them. As the years went by, my love only grew =)
The story of Floyd is a tragic but beautiful one, filled with pain, but that is not how I remember him. That precious bird changed my life.
My mom had always spoke of her love for crows, and in the summer of 2005, while we were out grocery shopping, my dad had found this little scared baby crow out in the lawn. We came home and saw this sweet (yet tough!) little guy in a big cage my dad had made all comfy with straw & blankets. I couldn't believe it. He was beautiful. After a day or two of Floyd hearing our voices and being fed by us, he came around completely. He was no longer shy, and would fight for our attention. I remember him being my wake-up call, every day at 6am or so, this loud squaking baby bird demanding his breakfast. He would demand this every half hour or so for the first month of his life. As he grew larger, my parents and I realized he needed a much bigger living space for night-time! My dad built this awesome "cage" (it was about 7 feet tall, and wide enough for him to spread his wings out and hop around). My dad had taken branches and all sorts of stuff to make Floyd feel safe and protected in there, and giving him lots of places to perch. We would wrap very thick tarp around it at night so nothing could see in, or try to get in. But one night, at around 11pm, we heard this awful sound. It was Floyd, screaming in a way I could never describe.... my parents and I ran out of the house with a flashlight, and my dad went and opened up his cage as mom and I stood back... my dad's reaction was all I needed to hear, to know that something terrible had happened. He wrapped Floyd up in a blanket and we brought him inside (I still didn't know what exactly had happened). We suspect a raccoon or possum (something with tiny arms) had weaseled its way beyond the tarp, and reached in between the wire, enough to grab Floyd's leg, and completely tear it off. It was, to this day, the most horrific moment of my life. Floyd was still alive, but in terrible pain. He passed away shortly after this. As I type this, I can't hold back my tears. It was unimaginable, and so unnecessary. My parents and I have kicked our asses constantly with "what if" scenarios -- we thought we were doing such a good job in protecting him, but we didn't. We've tortured ourselves over it. The pain has never left us. But as I mentioned above, his story is a tragic one, but it has so many life-changing memories that I choose to remember, more so than his demise. I can't tell you how many tears I've cried over his precious soul, but I think if he knew how much he affected us in such a short period, he'd be proud. I know I'm proud and truly blessed to have known him.
I could write more & more to you, but I will save it for another time! I would love to stay in touch with you, if you wouldn't mind?
Thank you so much for the message. You're a very special person.
- Julie