SAYING GOOD-BYE

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I am preempting the book review of Purr Therapy, which speaks to pet loss and grief, I had planned for today’s post in order to say good-bye to a truly remarkable person: veterinarian, Dr. Lorie Huston, who passed away on Tuesday.

I met Lorie on the airplane last May on my way to the BlogPaws convention. We were sitting across the aisle from each other. Mom Paula (Twinkletoe TAils) and I were sitting together and gabbing about our kitties (big surprise, right?) when Lorie piped up and asked if we were on our way to BlogPaws. From that point on the three of us chatted our way across the country as if we were old friends. She was friendly, warm, engaging and down-to-earth. We shared a 40-minute cab ride to the hotel. We crossed paths many times during the days at Blog Paws. Paula and I were so impressed by her that we attended her Table Topics lunchtime talk.

Dr. Lorie Huston with her award.

Dr. Lorie Huston with her award.

Paula and I were delighted when our new friend was honored with the Winn Feline Foundation Media Appreciation Award at the convention.

Lorie was well known, respected and loved in the pet blogging community, and she was the current president of the Cat Writers’ Association. (She offered to sponsor me for membership when I met her.) You can read a heartfelt tribute posted on their web-site here.

So many knew her quite well and have written lovely tributes to honor her. You can read Layla Morgan Wilde’s (Cat Wisdom 101) beautiful tribute to her here. Another tribute is on Mousebreath and yet another here at Cat Chat with Caren & Cody. You can read Lorie’s obituary here. And you can read about her on the BlogPaws website here. I suspect there are and will be many more well-deserved tributes.

I am planning on attending BarkWorld at the end of the month and had expected I would see and have a chance to get to know her better while there. Sadly for me, that will not happen.

Please join me in sending purrs and prayers to her family and the six cats she leaves behind who will need new homes.