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The Blue Angel & Her Garden of Pets

- by Nick L. Sacco

Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives. - Albert Schweitzer

As volunteers with a cat rescue group, my wife and I have often shared our most celebrated success stories with others. An abandoned litter saved, a kitten finds the perfect “forever home,” another nursed back to health from the brink of death.

Unfortunately, along with the many stories of success there are all too many stories of sadness. Sick cats left on a doorstep with little chance of survival, pets who have served much of their lives giving unconditional love only to be abandoned in shelters and on the streets, innocent unwanted creatures abused and neglected in innumerable and unfathomable ways. We watch too many of these broken hearted cats simply pine away and die; sad, alone, confused, wondering what they have done to deserve this fate.

A particular story comes to mind that is at once sad and inspiring. We had taken in an abandoned mother and her sick kittens that were no more than three weeks old. Despite our best efforts, within three days two of the three had died and by the third evening we knew the same inevitable fate would claim the last. Though serving my country as a Marine coupled with a career in law enforcement has toughened me in many ways, I tend to be a soft hearted person when it comes to these moments and I take the death of every kitten probably even harder than my wife who fights so hard to save them.

Late that night as I watched this kitten lie there nearly motionless in its cage, clinging to the last bit of life, I could just not bear the thought that this kitten would leave this world alone. I wrapped the dying kitten in something warm and cozy, and carried this precious baby up to bed with me and, keeping it cupped in my arm, lay down with it. The next hour seemed like an eternity as I prayed silently in the dark, listening to the baby struggle and fight for life, jerking every so often and letting out with a small, sad meow. I knew its life was ebbing away as these little gasps at life became fainter and weaker. In my prayers I repeatedly asked God, “What happens to the kittens when they die?” As a Christian I understand the concept of salvation and heaven, but I had to wonder about these innocents? What happens to them? Where do they go? What awaits them?

During my vigil of prayers, still holding this nearly lifeless kitten, I drifted off to peaceful slumber surrounded by my thoughts and prayers. I awoke sadly, immediately sensing the kitten was gone, but still feeling a presence of sorts filling the room. As I sat up and allowed my eyes to focus I was surprised to see a woman standing near me at the foot of my bed. What some may call a vision or a dream was as clear and real to me as anything I hold dear, and remains as clear to me today as when I first awoke. I felt no fear, only a sense of peace.

The woman appeared middle aged, with delicate features and chestnut hair that was parted in the middle and gathered in a bun. A flowing sash the warm color of blue sage was draped over her shoulders accenting her soft azure gown that billowed as if in a gentle breeze, though the air inside the room remained still and silent. I immediately knew in my heart that this must be an angel. Her smile instantly warmed me through to the depths of my soul as I paused for a moment to take it all in. I then realized that in her hands she was holding the small kitten who I had just held and comforted in its last moments of life not an hour before, the sad, empty shell of which still remained beside me on the bed. This small kitten of powder white innocence, however, was not the sickly, suffering, abandoned animal of a short while ago. Its coat was healthy and shined, blue eyes bright and clear, and it rolled and purred in the woman’s hands in ways it never had the luxury of doing before.

The scene suddenly transformed and I found myself no longer within the confines of my own bedroom, but in the most beautiful garden eyes have ever seen. Birds and insects flew every which way; wonderfully fragrant flowers and trees of all sorts grew in every direction, as lush meadows and blue ponds of water dotted the landscape.

This “Blue Angel” sat watching my wonder and amazement from across a small brook and finally she began to speak. In a voice as soft as a harp’s song she explained that she had been sent to me to answer the questions I had asked in my prayers that night. She told me how every living thing is equally important to God because they were created by his hand. Quoting the Bible she said, “Not a sparrow falls that God does not know about.” She then said to me the thing that most struck my heart: “I am an Angel who has chosen to serve here in the Garden of the Pets by my own request.” In an instant, without further explanation, I understood that every pet that dies goes to their own special garden where a truly special Angel awaits them. Together they will remain with the Angel, caring for, playing with and forever loving them until the day comes to pass that the pet’s one and true human companion comes over to join them. “But what if a pet doesn’t have a special human companion?” I asked, and the Angel simply replied, “Then we stay together here forever,” she said smiling. As the scene began to fade, images surrounding the “Blue Angel” became apparent, images of many kittens and older cats. Some slept soundly; some played in the lush green meadow chasing butterflies and tackling each other; and as any proper cat must do, some groomed lazily in the sunlight. Many of the kittens I could recognize as ones who had touched my life in some way before they died, and in my last image of the “Blue Angel” I saw her place the little white kitten on the ground as her two siblings raced up to pounce excitedly upon their sister.

Since that time I’ve continued to have visits from the “Blue Angel” during my dreams. Often these visits come after the loss of a cat or kitten for which I held a close, personal affection. It’s as if she wants to reassure me that all is well. It’s a busy garden with the “Blue Angel” as I watch happy, healthy, beloved kittens run and play around her. I always awake with a feeling of inner peace knowing these babies will be there waiting for the day when my turn comes to meet with the “Blue Angel” and collect my cherished souls.

Each year there are still sad times that come along with all the good, and sadly there will always be kittens we can’t save and each loss still hits me as hard as the last, but I smile inside knowing the “Blue Angel” awaits them. As I write down these thoughts I know a new kitten season is upon us and that many sick babies and lost souls are just beyond the horizon. Many kittens, like the one who first lead me to the “Blue Angel,” will come into my life as theirs nears the end. I’ve adopted a firm belief that no kitten deserves to ever die alone, never knowing what it is to be loved. So when the end nears I’ll wrap them up warm and safe and sit with them in my rocker. I’ll hold them close and through the tears will softly whisper comforting stories of the Rainbow Bridge, the “Blue Angel” who is waiting for them in the meadow that lies before it, and the wonders that lie beyond. Eventually the end will come and they’ll be laid to rest in my own personal garden of kittens behind our home, which, though quiet and peaceful is nowhere as beautiful as the garden to which their souls have already passed on.

Someday my journey in this life will also end and when given the choice I will proudly don my own robes in shades of blue, collect my kittens from the “Blue Angel” who has devoted her own afterlife to caring for them so that there will be more room for other souls to join her, and in peace become the caretaker of my own Garden of the Pets.

The Blue Angel & Her Garden of Pets

Nick L. Sacco and his wife Alisa live in Raytown, Missouri, and volunteer at the Kansas City Siamese Rescue:

www.kcsiameserescue.org

The painting on the preceding page was executed by artist Dave Marak of Kansas City. A full color rendition of this painting may be viewed at:

www.ccbpublishing.com/blueangel.html

Dave Marak works with Kansas City Animal Control and is a close friend of the Kansas City Siamese Rescue group. Additional examples of Dave Marak’s work may be viewed at:

www.kcsiameserescue.org/davemarak.html

The author may be contacted directly by e-mail at:

mr.marine@comcast.net