My neighbors up the road (that's country slang for folks what live a half-mile from you) had to go to the nursing home last week. She's got an inoperable brain tumor. The old man is tougher than woodpecker lips and even though he's getting a paracentesis done periodically, he's stiil out there piddling in his yard. But he's not well enought to take care of his wife. He's in his mid-nineties, she's a couple of years younger.
The kids have been staying with them at night and on the weekends. They have a sitter during the week days. My neighbors really didn't want to go, especially the old man. The main reason for their reluctance?
Two cats. Both around six or seven years old. None of the kids want them and it seems nobody else does either. In a community with its share of barn cats, these are strictly climate controlled critters.
I do hope they find a home for them...