My sweet and talented photographer pal Jeanie celebrated her awesome husky pup’s 1st birthday in August and she asked me to make a cake in his likeness! Man I fiddled with his husky dog cake face for quite a while and finally settled on going for a cartoony look which I think turned out pretty darn woofin’ cute.
Have you ever loved a pet like it was the furry child from your own womb? It’s a real emotion and it’s something that only other pet owners understand – those little pals become your constants, your best friends, your always-there comfort. Even with all the room-clearing gas and occasional barfs and poo-picking-up and furniture-ruining, the love for them persists. My heart still aches for my sweet old cat Coco, who I had to put down in 2007. Yep – I named my cake business after my old cat, a feisty little orange-haired jerk with fluffy fur pants who was possibly insane, but she loved me and I loved her. When I had to put her down after a long illness, I sobbed into her fur telling her it would be ok, and then suddenly her little life was gone – it was like hugging a stuffed animal and it was so surreal and sad. When we finally drove home from the vet, empty-handed, cat carrier without cat, the house felt so eerie and hollow without her scampering around, those little paws pattering about or her annoying gunk-gunk-gunk scratching under my bedroom door to try to get in, Jack Nicholson in The Shining style. A little while after she passed I had a tiny memorial party at my house with close friends. I made a slideshow with pictures of her set to Brenton Wood’s Oogum Boogum (I used to call her Boogie) and the Mamas and the Papas “Dedicated To The One I Love” and just sobbed. I think having a weird little funeral for her helped me grieve though. I still miss that little barfmaster and hearing those songs again makes my heart hurt a little…
So yes – I’ve suffered a few broken hearts over the years from pets loved and lost. Today, with this husky dog cake, I’m celebrating the love of pets – and also remembering another animal that just passed away – my brother-in-law’s giant fluffball malamute named Zeke. Here’s to all those nutty animals that help us get through life.
Rest in peace, Zeke! xo Lyndsay
CakeSpy
How do you keep doing it? Making cakes that make me coo?? I love it!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw thanks sweet pal! xoxo
Michelle @ MakeMeCake.Me
Aw! Yukon’s cartoony likeness is wonderful! Also, I love that Coco lives on in your joyful cake site and business. Pet love can be truly deep :)
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thank you michelle! ^__^ yes, hooray for sweet animals! xo
Natasha @ The Cake Merchant
Aww, what a lovely post. Pets really are like out children, and it’s so sweet that you named you business after you cat. I love all of your animal cakes!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
thank you so much natasha – nice to hear you feel the same… :)
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Best post ever, Lyndsay! I read all of these dog blogs where owners write about putting their dogs down and I bawl like a baby, anticipating how horrible it will be when Abby gets old/sick. I love that you named your blog and business after your cat and that you held a funeral for her. Why the hell not?! I threw a puppy shower for Abby to welcome her to the family. I wish I had your cake decorating skills because a cake like this would’ve been totally rad at the party. This is adorable!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw nancy … i hope i didn’t get you worried about abby! :( i love the idea of a puppy shower!! hehe! so fun. abby’s a hilarious nut with many many years in her! little dogs live long lives and abby is sure lucky to have you guys!
Kate @ ¡Hola! Jalapeño
How did you make the fur?!! You never cease to amaze!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
aw, thank you kate! i used my trusty multi-opening piping tip, usually referred to as the “grass” tip! ^__^