Because Of You Chihuahua Rescue

I knew you were at the Moore shelter for a week, while you waited for your owners to come looking for you. I also knew you were probably not lost but dumped and so no one would come for you. But the rules say you must wait to see “If”. Well, I was right, and so on your freedom day, I was there to take you to a safe place.

It was October 2^nd, 2008. I looked at you laying there. As if you had given up. You were defeated and all hope was gone. But you were still frightened enough to be snarly. I talked to you, and were looking you over. I saw a front leg that had been broken and was not tended to, so it was crooked. You had cataracts on both eyes and a tumor growth on one. You looked grossly over weight. You were covered with ticks and large sores where ticks had been. Your toenails were long and curled and looked as if they had a fungus on them. BUT I saw beauty and a dog who needed me. Where was the love? I was determined to fix the things that were wrong, and make you whole and show you the love!

I gathered you up and put you gently in the front seat of the car. You sat up in the car seat and looked around. I thought you acted like you wanted to bite me, but you didn’t. I petted you all the way home. I named you Blondie….

I thought a bath and getting the ticks off, might make you feel better. You were so weak from laying in the cage at the shelter, you could barely stand. So it was quite a time. But I got you bathed and put a sweater on you so you would not get cold. I offered you some GOOD food but you did not eat. They had told me that you would not eat…You looked as if you could miss the meal and be fine, since you were so heavy.

You slept that night on a dog bed in the living room.

I worried about you all night and the next morning I took you to the vet’s office, early. We did blood work and he gave you a complete exam and we found out what was wrong! First of all, you were not eating because you couldn’t. Your mouth was just a mass of infection. (Rotten teeth, bloody gums, etc.)

The infection in your mouth had probably caused the infection that caused you to be in heart failure. Since the infection goes to the blood stream and then travels to the heart where it settles in the valves. You had a heart mummer. And you had a large tumor on your liver, (it was not your being over weight). And you hurt when picked up so you tried to bite. There were so many things wrong and Dr. Henderson said you were in such pain, we should put you to sleep. And through tears, I agreed because I did not want you to hurt anymore. And I knew you could never be healthy and whole. So I held you while he injected you with the medicine. You went peacefully to sleep and then to heaven where you are playing now!

You were not here with me for long, but you did not die alone in the cold cage at the shelter. I would have done whatever it took if I could have saved you. If only I had gotten you sooner. I will remember you!

Love, mom

You were a stray that we received a call about , late one evening, the woman said she could not keep you and if we did not come to get you, she would take you to the city animal shelter.

Susie went to look at you and we did bring you home, to Susie’s house………..

We guessed you to be about 10 months to a year old. You were thin, and we were told you had been in the neighborhood for about a week. A small blonde little boy, un-neutered and shy.

We immediately sat up an appointment to get your vet work done. Everything went well, but then a few days later, you quit eating and just laid around. Susie took you to the vet and a couple of days later, you passed away. They gave you antibiotics and fluids and ran tests but never did diagnosis what was wrong! (Only that his white blood count was extremely high and that it was not Parvo.)

You passed away softly on the morning of September 23^rd, 2009.

We are so sorry little guy, that we were not there with you when you gave up the fight to live.

We take comfort in knowing you are no longer hungry or in pain, but playing at the other side of the bridge, and we will all be re-united someday!

You will be buried in my backyard, with the others who have not made it. I planted a Redbud tree , in honor of you all….

Your name had been Belle, but I knew you probably did not even know it. Your name had been Belle, but I knew you probably did not even know it. So we wanted you to have a new start. Bonnie sounded close, and soon you were coming when called by it.

You were with me such a short time, about 2 weeks.

But we really bonded didn’t we?

You loved sleeping with me, but before you would settle down, you thought I needed a thousand kisses. I wish there were more of them now.

At first you were afraid to move on the bare floors. And when you did try, you only moved backwards. Like a baby learning to crawl. Of course it didn’t help that you had no toes on the back feet. (We were told they had been chewed off through the wire in your cage.)

I bought some new shoe things that looked like balloons, but were intended for traction when outdoors on ice, etc. But they worked great so you could go anywhere in the house you wanted!!! You then had a new found freedom. You followed me everywhere and soon liked riding in the car with me too.

We had your spay done, as soon as possible because you were in heat when you came here. And there was no problem. So why did you not make it through the knee surgery?

You were so crippled, myself and the vets were so excited to be able to give you a new and happy life where you could stand up straight and run.

It was not to be…………… I cried all day, at your loss. I loved you from the day they showed me your picture. I had no idea you were in such a crippled state, but it would not have changed a thing. I was glad to have you and had hoped to make your life so much better. After all, you had no life while at the puppy mill.

I have to tell myself that you are much better off now, in Heaven, where I know all of your problems are gone. But you left behind a mom who misses you so very much.

I know we will meet again someday. So until then, I envision you running with God, in a warm sunny place full of happiness.

Loving you always, Mom

 I miss you so much, its taken me some time before I could write this. You passed away right there in my bed. I did not even know you had gotten into the bed. I wanted to hug you and hold you but I thought dogs liked to go off to be alone at the end. You were having so much trouble breathing. I was so wrong …….you wanted to be with me, as you were every other night. You crept into my bed and when I found you were dying, all I could think about was getting you to the ER vet. I should have left you where you were lying, and given you some peace. But I wanted to save you!

You died in my arms, and I sat with you for a long time that night. The other dogs were just sitting there looking at me, as if they knew something really sad had happened.

I wrapped you in a blanket , where you would be safe until morning when I could take you to the vets office, so they could send you to be cremated….

The house was so different. How I used to get upset with your biting my ankles, now I long for you to nip at my heals!

You were always ‘On Guard’ when we went to bed, making sure no one was coming and going, up and down the doggy steps.

You hiked your leg all over the house and that never changed, from day one. Now I find myself still looking at the corners, checking for your pee spots!

You liked to bark at the dogs next door. You would bite at the wood on the fence and I was always afraid that someday you would get a bad splinter! Now I look at the fence and see the marks you left, but there is no little guy there, barking.

You were always so happy! I remember that for sure!

You had had such a hard life before. I was sure you would be with me for many more years……… I look back and am so glad I had your picture taken a couple of weeks earlier. You were such a cute boy.

I know it is just a matter of time until we will be together again. SO until then, chase the dogs, and bite the ankles, and pee on the clouds.

And know that I loved you so much. I regret not having more time to spend holding and loving on you. I hope you understood that I was busy because I was trying to save others like you……….

Warm Doggy kisses, mom

It was sad day, August 5^th, 2010 when I had to make the decision to send Hercules, (Herkie, as I called him,) to be with his Heavenly Father.

He had come to me just a couple of months previous, from a woman who hoarded dogs in the basement of her home, where she kept them in cages.

He was so weak, thin and sick, when I removed him from the transport vehicle. I knew he was going to be mine for as long as God allowed. You see, there were more dogs than we had room for in our rescue program. We had decided we would only take a couple of adoptable females. The others would go to another rescue group. They were full too. They told the transport, Amanda, that they would evaluate the dogs and would euthanize the ones that were not adoptable.

Hercules, was the first dog I laid eyes on and I knew he would not be saved. I could not bear the thought that he had found freedom, traveled 7 hours to get here, only to have a needle stuck in his leg.

So, no doubt about it, he was going home with me!!

The next couple of months were such a blessing to me. He was so loving, and as he began to feel better, he began to do such cute things.

He was such a tiny old man, less than three pounds. He was fawn, with a apple head. His head was so large, it was hard to imagine he could stay on all four feet. It looked like he would tip over at any time.

He was extremely loving. He held no grudges for the life he was forced to live. He loved everyone he saw.

He had many vet expenses, (since like all the dogs who came from what we named “ The dogs from OZ”) they had rotten and infected mouths. He was not neutered and had a very large hernia, (that had probably always been there.) But he was too old to do any surgery……… we were able to do his teeth, by using light gas.

I just want you all to know that this little dog had a good life after coming here. He went to work with me at Paws (a pet boutique), where he was the door greeter to all who came in. And he liked riding in the car. He ate good food, slept with me and received lots of love and thousands of kisses. I was not ready to let him go, but I know that dogs that have had such hard, and neglected lives, do not live long lives like well cared for dogs. So when he began going down, he went fast. I wanted to keep him but knew he was suffering and so I knew it was time. I was with him as we gave him the shot that sent him to Heaven. I envisioned his flying up and through the clouds. And by the time he got there, he was young and healthy and I believe God was waiting with open arms……..

Herkie, I miss you so much. I sang a song that came to my head the day you left. It is by Sarah McLaughin, called : I Will Remember You

And it says: I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories………

I hummed that song for a week, I just could not get it out of my mind. I hope you were remembering me……..

Love, mom