Losing A Beloved Friend

I shared a corner of my bed and heart with Cassie, the sweet black Cockapoo in the title picture for Dog Park Central. Cassie was very sick when I brought her home from the pet store. I suspect she came from a puppy mill. She had kennel cough, coccidia and distemper. The vets pumped her full of medication that weakened her immune system and gave no hope for her survival. The pet store offered a refund but I had already bonded with her and knew if I gave her back, she would surely die. (Note: that pet store was shut down shortly after). It was a costly investment to treat her holistically but one I never regretted. Every day for a month, I took her to a vet that specialized in natural treatments where she was oxygenated and treated with numerous herbal potions and detox baths for months. Finally as she rolled into her first year, she was a perky happy dog.

Perhaps it was her start in life that made her the way she was for Cassie was like no other dog. To this day I believe she was a little angel sent from God. She had a way about her that melted the heart of everyone she encountered. She was extremely sensitive to people's emotions. On many occasions she would open the door to share God's love with others... one time a woman visiting my neighbor was sitting alone on the back porch swing lost in her thoughts. Cassie moved next to her, put her paw on her shoulder and gently licked her cheek. Tears began to stream down the woman's face. She looked at Cassie and said, "I don't know what is to become of me." Her family had told her they were going to put her in a memory care facility. She had not spoken to anyone in a week until Cassie touched her. I watched as she fondled Cassie and told her, "you understand, don't you girl?"

After that I took Cassie to a memory care home to see how she might bless others. In the area with extreme cases of dementia a lady was sitting with her head face down on a table not moving.  I thought she had passed out or on. I called for an attendant that told me she sat that way every day and did not speak or acknowledge anyone. I put Cassie on the ground to see who she would approach in the room of ten or so people and she chose that lady. Cassie stood on her hind legs and put her paws on the woman's lap. Nothing happened, so I picked Cassie up so she could get closer to her face. Cassie licked the her ear and the woman sat up and started talking to her. The attendant was stunned.

There were many times when Cassie made a difference, but mostly she made a difference in my life. She helped me heal from personal heartbreak, was my constant companion, brought me comfort, laughter and abundant joy.

Cassie only lived a short time, like a shooting star that burns so bright but lasts only a short while, she died just before her fourth birthday. The symptoms from the distemper returned to claim her. It was truly horrible. The worse part was that in my desperation to save her, I fell into the hands of an unscrupulous vet that performed numerous surgeries she did not need. He claimed he did not know what was wrong with her but on the day I decided it was time to let her go, he said, "I knew it was the distemper symptoms returning." At that point, it was too late to turn back. Her poor body ravaged by the surgies...she could not walk or eat, was blind and having seizures.

After I had let her go, I had to forgive him. I am not sure which was harder. I just knew that if I carried the anger and bitterness around I would never heal. It's very easy to forgive someone you love but it's quite another thing to forgive someone who has hurt you or someone you love. That's where prayer comes in. There is still a place in my heart, a space that will always belong to Cassie and until I see her again, it will remain reserved.

A year later I stumbled into a pet store to see if holding the puppies would help...what happened will be in my next post. Stay tuned!

CANINE ROOMIES

This year my mother and her four year old Cockapoo, Sissy, came to live with me and my three year old Shipoo, Chelsea.  At first the dogs were glad to see each other, that lasted about five minutes.  Chelsea had been socialized from the day I got her and was very friendly but Sissy had only occasional exposure to other dogs and had become very attached to my mother.  We took them for walks together, turned them lose at the park to play (neutral territory) and even hid all their toys hoping they would turn to one another out of sheer boredom all to no avail.  We fed them separately and found they would each eat from the others dish.  If left untended, they did not fight over the food, but after about two weeks we noticed Sissy's belly dragging on the floor while poor Chelsea was taking on a model gauntness.  Sissy had been gobbling up all the food. 

Both happy dogs at one time, they now moped around and avoided each other, so we reintroduced toys and spirits lifted.  They did not fight over the toys surprisingly.  We decided to relax and just let nature take it's course knowing there is generally a big dog where one will take the lead.  They seem to be vying for that position in various ways and times.  Sissy started out eating all the food and marking all over the house (oh joy!) that has now subsided (thankfully!).  They seem to be relaxing and rendering more space to one other. 

I noticed most recently that they take their cues from us...if we are at ease and laughing, they romp and play together. If we are snippy, they are too.  It's kind of like having a mirror held up to our behavior.  So we try not to bicker in front of 'the kids'...ha!  They are both very sweet and smart...hmmm, I wonder if that is also a reflection?

I have a feeling just when they finally get settled in and all is well, we'll have to start over as we plan to move yet again but we hope this next move will present an opportunity for them to lean on each other in much the same way mom and I have learned to lean and bend and stretch and breathe.

It seems the bottom line is that human or animal, we all have our space, boundaries and set ways but over time we find our way with each other and love never fails! 

Chelsea And Her Ball

Chelsea Has A Visitor

My neighbor's dog Scruffy came to stay with us for a week and even though he and Chelsea had brief romps out front, I wondered how they would behave when he invaded her space. It turns out Scruffy was very possessive no doubt fueled by a feeling of abandonment if only for a few days (dogs have no sense of time). I was so proud of my little Chelsea for her sensitivity and hospitality. She gave him her favorite pillow, chair and spot on the bed but the real love came when she walked over and laid her favorite toy in front of him and nudged him to take it when she saw he was blue. They says a man's best friend is a dog...I think in this case, a dog's best friend was a dog as well.

Good show Chelsea!

Cassie August 2005 to June 2008

To lose a beloved pet is hard enough but to compound that suffering due to a bad vet makes it all the worse. When Cassie's distemper symptoms came back...it was with such ferosity that in one week she had gone blind and lame. The seizures were unending the night before I decided to put her to peace. The tragedy is that we ended up in the hands of an unethical and heartless vet that performed numerous unwaranted surgeries... he knew she was dying, knew what was ailing her from the start but did not disclose it until after she was gone. On the day she was put to sleep he accidentally let it slip out. His objective was to make money off a vulnerable client. It is possible that her little body was weakened by all the procedures to the point that she could not fight back. I have had to forgive this man and myself for trusting him so blindly or I would not be able to go forward. It has made me skeptical of all vets and I no longer trust anything they say without checking into it first by doing research on the net and getting other opinions. This vet had me so convinced that he was looking out for her because he reduced every bill as if he was doing something kind. So be careful who you trust with your precious pets sometimes they are wolves in sheeps clothing.

Cassie was like no other, she went everywhere with me and was in a way, my little furry soul mate. She lived just under four years and was just coming up on her fourth birthday August 20, 2008. I will never forget her.

If anyone has any questions about distemper or how Cassie was originally treated as a puppy, please let me know.

I thought I would never have another dog, but one day, I stumbled into a pet store just to see if I could handle being around dogs again. What transpired will have to wait for a future blog.

How About Some Salt & Pepper Taco Bell?

Wednesday July 22, the famous Taco Bell star Gidget died at 15 years of age, (let us have a moment of silence), adoring fans everywhere speculate...can anyone ever fill those precious paw prints?

Did you say 'precious'? Precious sits pensively reflecting on her life to date and wondering if she might someday find her way to fame and fortune...one thing is sure, if she ever decides to make the dash to Hollywood, her cohort and partner in crime, the infamous escape artist Maxie would be more than ready to meet the challenge.

Listen up Taco Bell, we be thinkin' you need to give equal time to the black Max! How about a little salt and pepper? Maxie & Precious await your call!

Maxi Runs Again!

In the ongoing saga of Maxi and Precious...today Maxi takes center stage. Don't let that innocent look fool you...this canine is actually the perpetual escape artist. Slipping (or chewing..uh oh) through any opening, he is ready to make his dash for freedom at a moment's notice. With his jet black hair and escape antics one has to wonder if he is a reincarnation of the long lost Houdini? So what is it that drives this cheeky Chiquaqua to challenge his boundaries? Maybe he just watched one too many Taco Bell commercials, 'run for the border!' Aye Chiquaqua!