“my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping but I shall go on living.” ― Pablo Neruda
This is the most difficult letter I have ever written…
My fingers are shaking and can not find the keyboard , I can no longer see the monitor clearly since I have been crying since last night.Everything is foggy.
There is a common saying that everyone in the animal rescue community would say in moments like these;
”We can not save them all…”
This phrase denotes our ultimate weakness as human beings facing the challenges of reaching out to an animal or to someone in need.
We can not save them all…
Each time,knowing well we can not save them all, we take this challenge , hoping , praying and doing what we can ; our BEST.
But there are times when even our BEST or even the best of the best fails.
BEAU ; the most beautiful cat that could ever live in this world and certainly loved by everyone around the world passed on 21.12.2012 leaving us with a huge heartbreak.
BEAU after being transferred to the clinic in Europe , was diagnosed with more than 1 serious infection ; 2 strands of bacteria ;pseudomas aeruginosa and proteus miabilis and widespread fungi that had caused his post-op wound to go into necrosis.
The infection as we had shared through updates had caused him lose his frontal bone by 6 mms.
At first ; it appeared like this could be undone by fighting the infection and fungi and reconstructing the bone on the region which would serve him as a support to place the nose.With this intervention,he would be able to breath through his nose and his respiratory tract would be closed to other infections.
This was a race against time as the bacteria had penetrated his bone already through the gap and they were rapidy destroying the bone tissue.The doctors faced 3 challenge at a time ;
1- They had to fight against an antibiotic resistant type of bacteria ; no known cure existed except 1 rare case where a medicine that was used for humans worked.They estimated his chance of beating this bacteria by 1 %
2- They had to eliminate the bacteria as rapidly as they could as the bacteria was in the process of eating Beau’s bones literally.By each day the bone got a bit thinner . Each day the antibiotics did not work meant a bit more pain for Beau.
3- They had to keep Beau’s general state at top.
We have decided to take this 1 % minimal chance of survival as we had faith that nothing happens without a reason and we had not come that far to give up and lose the fight.
For days , we held our breath and we hoped for a miracle to happen .To hear that the new medicine worked and that we could go forward with the operation.
Sadly this never happened.Beau stopped eating in the last days and the consultations showed that the bone continued to go thinner.
The medicines were not working , the enemy was stronger.
This would eventually and quiet rapidly lead to a hole that would leave him open to many risks or cause him to die in the most terrible pain.
We had to let him go and spare him the challenge of a painful death.
No words are enough to express our grief.
Beau now rests in the most beautiful place our friend lovingly carried him for his last journey.An angel will be watching him there , carrying his light to other life forms that will forever be a part of his soul.
We thank you for letting him feel that he was loved and supported in his last days and for giving us the opportunity to offer him the best treatment options out there.Your loving support was the first and the last kindness he felt in his short life…
Thank you.
My heart is breaking for all. RIP Beau, please look for my Loki at the Bridge. He will be there with his little Angel wings.
Oh no, so sad, such a brave little soul, but eventually the illness took over. But you angels did all you could for him, making his last weeks the best of his short life. I believe that everything has a soul and sweet Beau had an enourmous soul and will be back once he has rested.RIP sweet prince
I am crying so hard and my heart is broken for Beau. I am very sad to hear about Beau and he is gone now. We prayed and prayed for his recovery. You all did your bestest to help and save him but God had other plans for Beau. Even though Beau was not mine, I felt like he was in my heart. Thanks for all you and your staff did to help him and love him as he knew. Rest in peace Beau … will miss you very much. You are in God’s tender love and care now … HUGS (“”) (“”) and LOVE <3
I will forever cherish the videos I saw of you. You were a sweet cat that deserved better but had the best of care. I am so sorry this happened to you. You will not be forgotten. RIP xoxo
You showed him that not all humans are bad, he had regular food (may be the first time in his life), you stopped his pain, you gave him love – this all is more than most of the straycats have. I am so sad, that little Beau could not live the rest of his life in “his” home, but he had a good time for the last weeks. Without you, he would have died, too, and his time would have been much harder. Thank you for all you gave this little boy!
God bless Beau.
My deepest condolences. Thank you for all you did for this sweet, sweet baby. He is a beautiful angel now.
I am so, so sorry.
I was on the phone w/a dear friend skimming my emails when I saw a memo from He’Art of Rescue, and from the way the memo opened, there was no way around it: I was about to read the most dreaded news, that our precious beautiful furry angel Beau had crossed onto another plane of existence. Needless to say, I had to drop the phone call and read carefully… My tears are mingling w/those of all Beau’s devotees literally around the globe–I feel as if my insides have been ripped out–I feel as raw inside as Beau’s poor little face was on the outside :’( The only positive spin I can put on Beau’s leaving us is that he’ll no longer be subject to the heinous cruelty that runs in the black hearts of the many rotten to the core humans that occupy this ravaged planet. He’s forever safe and intact and whole again. Of course Love never never dies, and Beau has a forever home in my heart. Godspeed sweet little Prince… Miss you terribly my dearest, bravest little trooper.
RIP Beau. A victim of a brutal crime, resting in peace now.
Most people would have done nothing but you did everything you could and loved him as well. He is in a better place. We mourn his passing but the angels celebrate his homecoming x x
He is with so many other angels at the Rainbow Bridge, my Jasmine being one of them.
I am listening to music of the season…of all the holidays of light that happen at this time of the Turning of the Wheel….may we wrap our aching hearts around the knowledge that Beau now shines down on us as one of the most beautiful stars in the heavens…. you are so very dearly loved, Sweet Beau…
My words can’t express what I feel. I can’t stop crying. Beau was in my prayers every single day since I first read his story. I’m so deeply sorry for his loss but also grateful to all the people who cared for him and who tried to save his wonderful valuable life.
Beau will always be in my heart. Mine is a broken heart today. I’m so deeply sorry. My condolences.
Rest in peace, little angel. Your life has not been an easy one but you will ALWAYS be part of my life as well as of many people’s lives.
I will never ever forget you, my dear Beau. I will always love you. Rest in peace.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Poor baby… No creature deserves to go through that much pain… Rest in Peace, beautiful… You’ll feel no more pain where you’re going…
To Beau’s carers – you did what you could… don’t beat yourself up about his passing.
You gave him love, something that every creature is entitled to, but too few get in their lives… Be proud that you weren’t the soul that hurt him, you were the soul that rescued him and helped him fight his last battle to live… You would have given him strength by being with him, as creatures who are lonely usually die much faster… I appreciate your kindness and your struggle to help as much as you can, and I’m sure he did too…
Thank you Avril Shalen for being able to put into words what I cant. Sittting here crying along with all of you and feel such devastation at this terrible loss of beautiful little Beau.
Thank you He’Art of Rescue (all of you) and to the wonderful vets and all his supporters. Can I please ask who was there with him at the final moments and if he passed peacefully. I’m so so sorry for this, and somehow we will move forward, so we can help more of these beautiful angels…
This baby finally knew a soft hand, a kind word, and warm patch of sun. Sometimes they are too broken even for angels and miracles to fix. But he knows you tried and knows how many people around the world loved him- all that love he felt stronger than the evil than the one that hurt him- this is what he felt when he left this earth- love. That is the greatest and sometimes only gift we can give these precious broken souls.. love. Fly high sweet little Beau. There WAS love for you here- so glad you got to feel it- and even more love for you up above.
I’m completely in tears now, but I have to say I’m so thankful you tried to help the sweet little, helpless Beau. You did your best, but the sweety couldn’t survived. It’s hard to know the story behind this little kitty and I’m really mad at the children who did this to Beau. I hope Beau didn’t die for nothing, but to let the world know, that no one is allowed to harm any kind of animal and I hope everyone will speak for the ones, who cannot speak for themselves. In my broken heart, there’ll be always a piece of little Beau. Goodbye sweety!
saddest moment of the year
im so so sorry 
RIP Beau, say hello to my dear Kilinkis on my behalf.
My heart has just broken into pieces,I was really hoping that Beau would beat the odds…I know you will not have any shortage of furry friends to play with at the Bridges’ green meadow,now you are healthy and happy once again. R.I.P. Sweet Beau. :’( <3
Just saw Beau’s YouTube videos, and SO sad to hear he did not make it. Could someone tell me how he was originally injured? By children?
Hello Jackie,
yes Beau had been injured by children/teenagers around where he was straying.The vets confirmed that the irregular phsyical damage inflicted on his face is concordant with the story we have been told about his condition.