Today We Rescued Your Dog
by Pat Closher
Today we rescued your dog. We don’t know where you got him from - maybe you saw him in a pet store window or maybe one of your neighbors bred a few litters a year just to make some vacation money or because they loved their dogs so much that of course they wanted to have puppies. We don’t know much about how you cared for him either, although our vet thought that for such a young dog, his teeth were in pretty bad shape.
by Pat Closher
Today we rescued your dog. We don’t know where you got him from - maybe you saw him in a pet store window or maybe one of your neighbors bred a few litters a year just to make some vacation money or because they loved their dogs so much that of course they wanted to have puppies. We don’t know much about how you cared for him either, although our vet thought that for such a young dog, his teeth were in pretty bad shape.
Did you know they were going to keep him outside? At least it was a pretty mild winter. There were no heavy snows, not much heavy winter rain and only a few days of bitter cold. But for all of those weeks he had no companionship, no care, and no love.
For some reason, your grandparents took him to the shelter. Maybe a neighbor complained about him or maybe their own health gave out or maybe they just got tired of him. You know the local shelter is a kill shelter, don’t you? You know that their own statistics indicate that about half of the dogs that enter are killed, don’t you? Maybe your grandparents thought he would be adopted quickly. He is a purebred, after all. No one was interested in him, though, maybe since he’s an adult dog and not a cute little puppy. No one contacted the purebred rescue group either. They probably would have placed him quickly, since he really is a great boy. The shelter is a clean place and they take good care of the dogs. They get good food and they’re bathed and brushed. It’s still a shelter though, and is noisy and chaotic and frightening. He spent two months there in that confusion, away from everyone and everything he had known.
One day, we saw him on the shelter web site. We called and asked about him. The shelter workers were so happy to hear from us and were delighted to agree to bring him to a local pet store where they do adoptions. Do you want to know why they were so accommodating? He was scheduled to be killed that afternoon. He didn’t know that, but the shelter workers certainly did. It hurt them and he felt that, so he knew something was wrong. All of a sudden, though, the shelter workers were happy and excited and so was he. They bathed him and brushed his coat. We think they probably told him this was it - his big chance, or maybe he just knew it somehow. When we met him, we all fell in love.
He had to go to the vet to be neutered, of course, but then he came home. He has his very own 13 year-old boy. You know, it’s almost like watching one of those old Lassie movies, seeing how well they’ve bonded. He’s got good food and his own toys. He’s taken on walks three times a day, is regularly groomed and is taken to the vet for needed care. We’ll be with him always, even if we have to make that last, difficult decision, because, you see, he is our dog and we are his family.
He has a good heart you know, but then he is a dog, so that’s to be expected. He’s probably forgiven you and, with a dog’s grace, doesn’t even remember you dumped him. He’d probably even be willing to greet you at the Rainbow Bridge. But you know what? He’ll greet us and go with us at the Bridge, and then he’ll be with us forever, because he’s our dog and we’re his family.
The way we heard the story, you moved out of state and didn’t want to take him with you. You left him at your grandparents. Maybe you thought a lively, handsome dog was just the thing for them, and under better circumstances it might have been. Maybe they have been cleaning up your messes for your entire life and an unwanted dog was just another mess to clean up.One day, we saw him on the shelter web site. We called and asked about him. The shelter workers were so happy to hear from us and were delighted to agree to bring him to a local pet store where they do adoptions. Do you want to know why they were so accommodating? He was scheduled to be killed that afternoon. He didn’t know that, but the shelter workers certainly did. It hurt them and he felt that, so he knew something was wrong. All of a sudden, though, the shelter workers were happy and excited and so was he. They bathed him and brushed his coat. We think they probably told him this was it - his big chance, or maybe he just knew it somehow. When we met him, we all fell in love.
He had to go to the vet to be neutered, of course, but then he came home. He has his very own 13 year-old boy. You know, it’s almost like watching one of those old Lassie movies, seeing how well they’ve bonded. He’s got good food and his own toys. He’s taken on walks three times a day, is regularly groomed and is taken to the vet for needed care. We’ll be with him always, even if we have to make that last, difficult decision, because, you see, he is our dog and we are his family.
He has a good heart you know, but then he is a dog, so that’s to be expected. He’s probably forgiven you and, with a dog’s grace, doesn’t even remember you dumped him. He’d probably even be willing to greet you at the Rainbow Bridge. But you know what? He’ll greet us and go with us at the Bridge, and then he’ll be with us forever, because he’s our dog and we’re his family.
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Meadow came home with us in 2005 the day after we got home from our honeymoon. From that very first day she just fit right in and was a perfect. At the time we had 2 pugs and a lab mix as well and she loved being part of her pack. She was the sweetest girl – she brought so many smiles and laughs. We often called her donkey because she would jump off all four paws like Donkey in Shrek. She was the embodiment of girly – sunshine, flowers and rainbows. She loved a cozy sweater on cold days and had 4 blankets and 2 pillows that had to be just right for bedtime. She instantly loved our son when we brought him home. She slept beneath his crib and was never too far away from him. They grew to be great friends in the 4 years they had together. We will miss our Meadow so very much and her sweet little wiggly butt. Jacek, Christina & Chase
Meeka, one of Libby's pups, has passed away. She did not live long but she was safe and loved while she was with us.
I want to thank LSBR, and all the volunteers, who saved Meisha Marie 9 years ago; and thank Sharon for talking me into just coming to look at her :)
January 2007 began the worst months of my life. Meisha Marie had an episode of back pain, and had to be examined by the Neurologist I work for at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Dr. Randall Longshore. For the next 20 months he helped Meisha Marie and I stuggle against a recurrent tick borne disease that caused her spinal and nerve pain. In June 2009, she became increasingly painful and began panting, pacing, and started vomiting. She underwent a myelogram and further imaging to try to find a cause; I prayed it wasn't cancer like the Doctors suspected. Dr. Longshore and Dr. McAlister from Gulf Coast Veterinary Internal Medicine treated her again for the tick borne disease after they found no abnormalities in any of her testing. She continued to get worse, despite the medications this time, and we decided to try acupuncture as well. Dr. Harris helped make Meisha Marie comfortable and playful again for the next few months, until she became increasingly exercise intolerant. I started noticing nasal discharge, and even though she had chest radiographs and echocardiograms every 6 months, and had just had one in June, I asked to have them repeated when a mild murmur was heard during her physical exam for a high fever. The echo showed that both valves between the chambers of her heart, and the muscle of her heart itself, were in 30% failure. An EKG showed a conduction issue, along with an arrhythmia. She also had a severe UTI again, with a resistant bacteria. I couldn't help but cry when I took her for her last acupuncture visit with Dr. Harris and she told me not to worry so much about giving Meisha Marie her medications, or about the special diet for her heart. Alas, Meisha Marie had Boxer dilated cardiomyopathy and Dr. Harris expressed to me the importance of her happiness. She told me to feed her anything she wanted, let her go where she wanted nd do what she wanted, and she would let me know when the time was right. Sending her to the Rainbow Bridge was much like the day I first brought her home. A few treats (french fries, chicken which she hadn't had since she was3 because of her allergies, and an oreo McFlurry she'd always begged for) and a lot of love. I was blessed to have her in my life, and I can not thank all of the great LSBR volunteers for bringing us together.
Thank you,
Lari Brown AKA Meisha Marie's Mom
Mia, one of Libby's pups, has passed away. She did not live long but she was safe and loved while she was with us.
From the first day Mikey came home our lives would be forever changed. He showed us he was independent and that his blindness would not stop him from living his life to the fullest. Mikey explored every inch of his new home inside and out. As time passed it bought me joy to see Mikey run in his backyard. I knew he felt comfortable and safe in his home. He loved to be petted. Just a couple of minutes of petting was not acceptable. He required several minutes. If you tried to stop he would find your hand and nudge you and nudge you! He would "stare" (no pun intended) at his dad when he was eating. He always knew that his dad would slip him bites of whatever was being eaten. He enjoyed car rides, walks and especially his squeaky toys. He would make chubaka sounds as he played with his squeaky toys. He had a keen sense of hearing. Mikey would start his days with my off key singing and him rubbing his ears and grunting to please stop singing. He amazed and charmed everyone who met him. He will be dearly missed. Our home is too quiet and feels empty. Our hearts ache for our baby boy whose life was full but cut short. Israel & Diana Luna
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