“I never thought I could be so emotionally attached to an animal like I am with Sally.”
Almost 3 years ago, my cousin’s girlfriend found a 4 month old Australian Cattle Dog on the side of the road in Patterson, CA. Both of her back legs were broken and she had a dislocated hip. There was some speculation whether she had been hit by a car or was just abused by some one, but the doctors said it probably happened around one week prior. Christina (my wife) had worked in various veterinary hospitals over the past years and has experience (and compassion) working with animals, so my cousin’s girlfriend had called her for help (like most of my family seems to do every once in a while).
Sally was taken to a local vet in Modesto, CA for a diagnosis. She needed immediate attention but there was question as to who would cover the cost. We contact some rescues and one of them covered the initial examination but that was about it. She needed some reconstructive surgery and an FHO (Femoral Head Osteoctomy). Initially, the vet had said that Sally would probably need one of her legs amputated, if not both. However, after some x-rays, he said he could pin both legs and since she was so young, it would probably work.
After discussing what the cost was going to be, Christina and I decided to put the bill on our Care Credit card and my cousins girlfriend agreed to pay some of the bill. All toll, it was about $1800.
As you may have seen, the surgery was a success. She retained the use of both of her back legs (in fact, she is quite fast considering). She is a very strong little girl. In fact, while she was at the vet hospital waiting for her day in the O.R., she was able to walk around on her own… on her front legs with her back legs propped up in the air. It was like she was a gymnast doing a hand stand. It was quite amazing to watch. Of course she was hopped up on morphine so she didn’t really feel much.
After the surgery, Sally needed physical therapy to make sure her legs would get some exercise. Christina wasn’t working at the time so she agreed to work with Sally to get her rehabilitated with the idea that we would find her a home with a nice family. Needless to say, after 4 months of constant contact Sally and Christina were practically joined at the hip (and I must admit, she was growing on me as well). So, I guess we did find her a good home… with us. Sally was here to stay
Over the past two and half years, we have pampered and cared for our little girl. She’s the best thing that has happened to us. We take here everywhere we can and include her is just about everything we do. She’s (generally) a very happy dog.
When we moved to Orange Co., we found a wonderful dog park in Irvine, CA (Central Bark). Christina began to take her there in the mornings at first and she seemed to like it. Soon after, Christina started a job, so we began to take her in the evenings. At first, it was just a couple times a week, but soon grew to every night (except Wednesdays when they’re closed, and Saturdays). Through Sally, we met a wonderful group of dog loving people (and dogs of course). We all became close friends and schedule things outside of the dog park (birthday’s, engagement parties and beach days). They are truly a kind and caring group of people and had it not been for Sally, we would have never met them.
I am so grateful for Sally. I never thought I could be so emotionally attached to an animal like I am with Sally.
Last Saturday, Sally had a high fever so we took her to an emergency vet in Tustin. They took her in and immediately began her on fluids and started running tests. By 10 AM they had some initial findings and the prognosis was poor. Her lymph nodes were swollen, her temperature had elevated, and she had fluid in her abdomen (which turned out to be blood). The ran a CBC (Complete Blood Panel) and several other tests. The CBC came back and her white blood cell count was low as were her platelets. They ran several other tests to see what was happening. All of the tests came back negative. They did a bone marrow aspirate and it turns out that she had only a few red blood cell precursor cells and no sign of white blood cell and platelet precursor cells. Basically, her bone marrow wasn’t producing white blood cells or platelets and they didn’t really know why.
Over the last week, we visited Sally every day. We could tell she wasn’t feeling normal. Her fever was still present and she was just uncomfortable. On Tuesday, they said her temperature had been normal throughout the day and that she could probably be discharged on Wednesday. However, her temperature started climbing once again and they advised against the discharge. Thinking she would be more comfortable at home and that we could medicate her on our own, we decided to take her home around 6:00PM. At the time, her temperature was around 106.1 and within 3 hours, it had risen to 107. We decided to taker her back to the hospital and put her back on supportive therapy. They immediately took her back and put her back on the IV fluids.
Dr. Diehl (whom was the kindest at a time that was terribly difficult) came to talk with us about Sally and she had concerns about her mental condition. She really wasn’t paying attention to things going on around her and she seemed somewhat distant. Dr. Diehl went back to get Sally’s chart and when she had returned, she told us that Sally had a seizure. They had given her Valium to calm her. It was the hardest thing to hear.
Dr. Diehl told us that they would take it on a day by day basis and see how she was in the morning. Hopefully the seizures would stop and her temperature would be under control. If her body was going to respond to the Prednisone, we would be able to tell after a week or so. She asked us if we’d like to go back and say good night to Sally.
As we approached her 4′ x 3′ space, we could see her; her eyes were open and fixed on nothing. She was on her side and she looked like she was having a difficult time breathing. It was the hardest thing to watch. To see her lying there, suffering and not able to do anything about it. She began to have another seizure. Her front legs began to paddle and her breathing quickened. The tech came over and gave her another injection of Valium. Her paddling soon subsided. As we sat on the floor of the emergency room floor, sobbing uncontrollably, we asked the doctor what her chances really were. She said that even if the seizing stopped, she probably wouldn’t be the same Sally and that she was concerned that she may be bleeding from her brain, and most likely would go into a coma before the night was over.
It was then. It was then we had to make the most difficult decision.
Dr. Diehl wrapped her up in a blanket and brought her into an exam room. She left us for a few minutes to say goodbye. It was the most difficult
time. We hugged and kissed her and told her how much we loved her. Dr. Diehl returned and gently administered the euthanasia drug. Within seconds she was gone and her body was still.
It has almost been a week since that dreadful night. Our emotions are under control, but our hearts are heavy with grief. I started writing this before that night (which explains the change in tense over the progression of this post). In a moment, our everyday lives were changed forever. We did so much stuff with Sally, that everything reminds us of her. She was a good dog. She made us better people. She showed us loyalty, trust and unconditional love. The worst part of it is that we may never know what caused this quick and sudden illness.
We will miss our Pootie.
OK, so I fell for a gimmick. I’ve seen this deal around for a while now, and I finally decided to check it out to see if it really works. Basically, all I need is 5 people to do the same and (supposedly) I’ll get my 
