Ranger MacLean

May 2008 - July 19, 2022

I may never have witnessed the birth of a child, though the chaos and craziness of how Ranger came into my life was the closest I believe I could have compared the experience.

Driving home from a night out with friends on a blistering cold Moose Jaw evening, I saw three small sets of eyes reflecting in our headlights, three small animals in the opposing lane of the main road towards the place where I worked. I was a passenger at the time and yelled for the driver to pull over. She broke hard and wanted to make a U turn but there was an oncoming car that was driving too fast to flag down safely. The car passed, oblivious to the animals in their lane, as their eyes were facing the other direction. It was far too dark and cold to see well with no streetlights.

Once the car passed I raced to the location where the eyes used to be. As I arrived I saw three cats, one which had been hit, and two that were dumbstruck, scared, and confused. I picked up the one who was struck and realized quickly I could not help. The poor thing died in my arms and I quickly buried it in the snow while thinking I had to help the other two lest another oncoming vehicle approach.

I dashed towards the other cats, snatching onto what would be my sweet princess Ranger girl, racing to my vehicle and throwing her inside. She screamed, my spouse screamed, but they were both safe and I had another cat to find. I headed back out in an attempt to help the other cat who I believe was larger, potentially pregnant, though by now she had gained her wits and raced away into a nearby field, out of reach in those conditions. I was disappointed that I could not do more, though I know cats are resourceful and resilient and I believe it was at least out of danger of being hit. I ran back to the car to see slightly less chaos though both the driver and the cat were still very vocal about the situation.

We took her home, gave her a room with all the amenities, and went to bed. In the morning she had used her litter, ate, and was fairly relaxed in her unfamiliar environment. I contacted the Humane Society, provided a picture, and hoped to find her owner as I know I would be extremely concerned if an animal of mine was lost. Much to my delight, over the coming weeks, no one came for Ranger and it was decided that she would become part of the family.

Ranger was most likely a barn or acreage cat. She had some ear mites though otherwise was healthy and strong. She grew into a fiercely independent, protective, and affectionate companion, though subservient to Shadow, her adoptive brother, whom she loved and cared for until his last days.

It wasn’t until Shadow passed that Ranger fully bloomed as she knew she had to fill the hole in my heart that her brother had left. She did so until recently when she started to become stand-offish, preferring to be alone, a telltale sign that an animal is sick.

During a routine cleaning and check up it was deduced, through testing, that Ranger had an aggressive, malignant tumor in her mouth and that she would not be much longer for this world.

Ranger may not have made every highlight reel of my public life, like some of my other animal companions. She was the constant. The dependable one who was known to protect the yard or house from any perceived threats and who took care of her adoptive brother, Shadow, and even her ridiculous new companion Scout, when he would let her.

She has been my only girl. My little princess. She will be missed fiercely, as fiercely as she was loved.

Farewell my princess 💔 You came into my life like a whirlwind, feisty, independent, and affectionate. A huntress in your own right, never backing down to anything, the first to let your people know you love them. I will miss our daily greetings, our snacks, and our cuddles. Thank you for sharing your life with me.

Ranger MacLean - May 2008 - July 19, 2022. 🌈❤️