Look at this! No, it is not snow — this is Los Angeles, after all — it is hail, and lots of it! We had an awful thunderstorm last night for about half an hour. The lightning was scary, and the thunder was even scarier. It was all very close to our house. And then these cold white rocks started clattering all over the place! I have seen hail a couple of times before, but this was ridiculous!
This is out back. I wonder if this is going to preempt Monday’s episode of Squirrel TV. Maybe not. It is not that cold here and most of the hail melted before bedtime.
We kitties are back to our normal selves, but the dog is another story. My human’s boyfriend had just put her outside right before all the commotion started, and when he and my human tried to find her, they couldn’t! You would think the dog would have had some sense and hidden in her doghouse on the should-be-catio, but no — she was out cowering by the trash cans, soaking wet! And she is still scared. My human’s boyfriend had to be her special escort so she could go pee outside before bedtime. Sheesh!
What a scaredy-dog! Even tiny, little me can drink out of her water dish — and she has no choice but to let me.
On a different note, any of you already know by now that Jack, the cat who was lost in American Airlines’ baggage department, has died. He had wounds from his ordeal that were unable to heal because of his severely malnourished condition. A vet on his case compared it to being burned over more than half of his body, and there was not enough healthy skin to close the wounds, even if he had been in shape for surgery. After consulting with multiple veterinarians, it was decided that the humane thing would be to put Jack out of his misery.
We are all very sad about Jack here, and more than anything else right now, we hope that he did not die in vain. Jack’s highly active Facebook page has over 24,000 very passionate fans, and I am hoping that together they can change the way airlines treat and transport companion animals. There is no such thing as “just a cat.” We are living, feeling beings that deserve special care — we should not treated like a piece of luggage. Please support airlines, and any new laws, that acknowledge that.
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We are all purring for Jack’s family now.
Wow… That’s a lot of hail. Sorry the dog got caught in it. Too bad he couldn’t find his dog house… has it moved recently…. what’s up with that? Anyway, sorry he had to go through that ordeal. So sorry to hear about Jack…. Thanks for the update.
pawhugs, Max
We are so sorry to hear about Jacik although hearing about his condition it is better that he has gone p
Dogs just aren’t as smart as cats and we all know it! Very sad about Jack–glad we get to stay inside and do not travel in planes anytime.
Purroves cats are supurrior! Sending purrs to Jack & his family.
That sure IS a lot of hail! Strange weather.
We also posted about Jack and transport of pets by airlines. We had not realized he had such extensive wounds and were hopeful he was going to be OK. It must have been an awful time for him when he was lost and trying to survive. We are glad his Mom Karen was able to see him again and be with him when he died.
We don’t know what was the matter when we tried to put our comment on earlier – it just kept jumping about all over the place it must be the weather!! Anyway just ignore it and now mum is back we are trying again. That hail must have been a nasty shock for you and it made us shiver looking at the pictures – it is freezing here today – just 5C after the 18C yesterday it’s like living in the freezer!!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
We are purring for Jack’s family. We have followed this story on FB from the get go, and are heartbroken that Jack didn’t make it. xx
We are so sad to hear about Jack. Our human says she would never transport a cat on an airplane. Too many uncaring humans think, “Oh, it’s just a cat!” We’re not “just a cat”…we’re a member of the family!
Wow! It does look like snow! We are no stranger to hail here in Oklahoma. Poor woofie, he must haf been skeered haf to death! The Mommy can’t efun talk bout Jack she is so unhappy! So uncalled fur. Purrs to his Mom.
I don’t like hail, I hope you were inside the whole time. FAZ
Your hail storm seemed pretty scary, Sparkle. Glad there was no damage.
Jack’s story makes us all sick and sad. We do hope there will be changes to pet transport on airlines. Here in Canada we *think* Air Canada still allows for one pet aboard, in a carrier (they had tried to change that a while ago and there was an uproar, so we’re not sure if that change went through), and West Jet still does. But that’s a small animal. Others would have to go as cargo, and sadly, pets have been lost here too. Frankly, some humans are so miserable that THEY should go as cargo, while animals go aboard!
Gasp – hail in California! How very scary. I know I’d be scared if I were outside in it. Poor doggie.
That is a lot of hail….we hate to admit it, but we kind of feel sorry for the dog. 🙂
Poor Jack and his family. We read there were other cats that were trapped there and we hope that people will adopt them in honor of Jack. Mom says she wouldn’t even put us in cargo….scares her too much!!
Oh no! We heard Jack had been found, but not that he had passed. How terrible. This should never have happened to him.
That sure was a hail of a storm Sparkle! Hey, I am so sad about Jack, he never, ever deserved anything like that, never.
Sounds like a scary hail storm in Southern California! We hope the dog isn’t so scairt today. She probably was wondering what the hail was happening!
We heard about Jack on FB yesterday and were very sad to hear the news. We didn’t know his injuries were so severe and had been purraying for him to get better. We hope the airlines change their ways due to this horrible tragedy.
I don’t think they did enough to find him in the first place. Poor kitty…I have flown kitties and thankfully they were okay but I would never do it again. They either fly with me in the cabin or we all stay home!
It is heartbreaking that Jack had to suffer so much. We are thankful that he is resting and not suffering anymore at the bridge.
WOWIE hail. That is scary becuase it is very noisy and slippery and distructive.
big bonks for a sunny day
Your poor dog. Dogs are funny about things like that. We were so distressed about Jack. We can only imagine the emotional turmoil his family must be in. The Woman doesn’t care if she has to drive across an ocean she’s not letting us go in cargo EVER.
It is very scary to have storms like that.
We are all sorry about Jack the cat here
Hail is scary stuff! Where we lived a long time ago, me was outside when it started! Soon these big rocks the size of ornages was falling from the sky and me hided under Mommy’s car and would not come out for a LONG time even after it stopped. When me smells it now, me runs into the baserment and hides!
Me is so sad about Jack. One of the before cats was lost in a airport for a week, but he came home OK. Mommy was following the story about Jack very closely. And it made her cry.
Kisses
Nellie
We are having crazy weather too! What the hail is UP with this year?
Mommy is so sad about Jack; when Chuckles and The Baby flew out here they rode in the passenger compartment. The carriers that she bought were OK-ed by the airline, but when it was time to board they said they wouldn’t fit! Luckily the stew was great and The Baby and Chuckles made the flight in MAIL BAGS under the seat! They slept the whole way…they didn’t potty or howl at all. Mommy thinks the bags helped them feel cozy and safe.
Holy Cat! That’s a lot of hail, especially for L.A.!
We are really sad about Jack. There is no way that should have EVER happened.
We were all sad when we heard the news of Jack’s passing. He has crossed the bridge and we hope he’s happier where he is. Mama is still teary eyed each time she hears his name.
Wow! Hail in So. CA. I feel so bad for Jack and his owners. When he was found, the papers in NYC made it sound like his biggest problem was Fatty Liver Disease. Guess I’m lucky that we don’t travel by plane.
We actally feel sorry fer the doggie! Gettin cloberred by all the hail would be scary ta annyone an it must have thought it was bein punished.
Purrs for poor Jack. After all that, ta not make it…
Sparkle
We were deeply disturbed by Jack’s disappearance and then rejoice when he was found. Sadly now we grieve with those who find this a tragedy. We hope that this will shed light on the terrible awful procedures that need changing with transporting pets.
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Hail is no fun–sounds like it can come thru your roof. I”m glad the puppy was OK–would ve scarey to be out there by yourself–and just wet like that. I bet if your purr just for second Ms. Sparkle, the puppy wouldn’t be so fraidy any more… 🙂
And Jack…our purrs and prayers to his family too.
Noir
Awwww, poor pup……..that ice cold have hurt him. We hope he is feeling better now=^Y^=
Yikes that is odd for you to get a hail storm like that! Must have been scary especially for the poor woofie. We are very sad about Jack. We can’t even imagine how scared he must have been for those two months he was lost and how he survived is even a miracle. We so wanted him to make it. We’re glad he got to see his Mom Karen again before he went to kitty heaven. I hope it comforted him somehow.
Be Well Sweet Jack
Wow! That hail is almost like snow!! Crazy!!
We are so sad about Jack. But like you, we hope his dying is not in vain and changes will be made on how pets are handled when flying.
Wow! That’s really a LOT of hail!!! And hahameow about the “scaredy-cat” doggie!
So many purrs to Jack’s family and to those who surrounded him with love and care before he went over the Bridge.
Yes, I hope Jack’s story changes the way the airlines handle companion animals in the future.
I feel so bad for Jack. Unfortunately, I’m very skeptical about the airlines and anything they do or will do in the future.
Wow, that is some serious hail, Sparkle!
That is so sad about Jack. I really hope the airlines have learned something from his ordeal!
That poor doggy! Hope he’s OK. We’re visiting the Facebook page. Jake’s story is a disgrace!
I can’t imagine how scary that hail storm was for anybody and in California yet. Looks like snow. Hope the doggie wasn’t hurt from the storm!!!!
I’m so sad to hear about Jack. Hope the airlines will compisate the owners. My human mom would never take of her fur kids on a plane.
OMC! Momma says you should has seen Montclair, it had even more hail than your pictures. And those thunder boomers were scary huh, I can’t believes the woofie was all soaked! MOL
We get hail here but even that is alot for us!
We are so sad about Jack – with all his wounds – it makes you wonder how he got them all. I think AA is covering up some details about this – how did he get in the ceiling, to many unexplained things. Won’t use AA and won’t fly any pets after this!
Geez we gots a freakie tree snappin, power outtin’ snow storm recently an now yoo gots hail? What da H?
Fanks for da words about Jack. Any thots Mom had bout flying us anywhere dey want to go flew out da window after hearing bout Jack. We are purraying dat a squillion good fings come out of his tragedy.
What the hail? Crazy. Crazier though is that dawg’s reaction. Where in the world did the term ‘scaredy-cat’ come from because it seriously should have been ‘scaredy-dawg’.
We are so, so, so, so, so, so sad about Jack. Flying is no fun (Tiny has been around the world a couple of times in airplanes and would rather run off and live with a pack of wild dawgs than to do it again), but it shouldn’t be dangerous. Poor, poor baby. May he be happy on the other side of the bridge and may his wings now take him whereever he wants to go. RIP Jack.
Purrs, Lautrec, Tiny, Ellwood and Ginger
Hail is very scary, so I guess I don’t blame the dog. Poor thing. Too bad he has to go outside to go potty. 🙁
Bummer about Jack. Poor kitty!
I am fairly new to your wonderful website… Just to let you know, I love all of my family of kitties (present and passed on). Thank you kindly for being THERE!
Diane and all of her feline angels!!!!
When my ex dumped us, I had to move to an urban location with “quotas” and sadly had to airlift some of our large rescued feline family to sanctuary in a kinder, gentler nation. Our first experience included some disparaging comments and nasty looks from one of the airline personnel, which made my blood boil. A quick call to one of the folks who would be receiving our loved ones at the other end — who just happened to be not only a volunteer at the sanctuary, but also a pilot for the airlines — and the next time we went, this very same nasty piece of work couldn’t be more helpful. Guess it helps having friends in high places…
…and of course, we join the many thousands in mourning sweet Jack <3((((((((^^))))))))<3