Snoopy Update

Things have been quiet on the Red Dog Blog due in large part to the intense care that's been required for Snoopy since his IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) diagnosis the week before Shiva died.  While many of you may be unfamiliar with this nasty canine foe, it behooves you to learn about it just in case.  Surprisingly common, the disease is described in detail here at our Knoxville Dog Health Examiner page. 

Although we're far from out of the woods, Snoopy continues to progress slowly, and his prognosis remains good.  He's a far cry from the pitiful, trembling creature we brought home from the ER after two blood transfusions and several days in critical care. Here he is that first night back home:

The boot covers the IV catheter placed for his daily blood draws...which I had to clear and flush with a heparin saline solution every four hours for the first three days.  It was hell.  The soft collar, of course, was to prevent Snoopy from chewing the boot.  Needless to say, he was not happy.

Fortunately for all of us, he's come a long way and seems to be holding his own.  He's gaining back his weight and enjoying some evening car rides.  It may be months before he's out of the woods, but every day above the ground and enjoying life is a good one.  Big thanks to Dr. Brandi Dukes for the quick recognition and diagnosis, and to Dr. Mitch & co. for the lifesaving care and treatment.  We are lucky ducks to have two such awesome vets and their teams nearby.

Special thanks to all of you who've sent thoughts, prayers and kind words to Shiva's Mom and me as we deal with the loss of this blog's namesake while simultaneously doing our best to keep this guy alive.  We promise we'll post more, as we owe the Red Dog the photographic retrospective and tribute she so richly deserves.

Spirit Hugs from the Red Dog

As you may know, our friend Luna lost a leg to osteosarcoma back in March, and we're happy to say she's continuing to do quite well.  So well, in fact, that her mom Shannon brought her over to visit recently to help spread some big dog cheer.  Here she is doing her best to give a little love to Shiva's Mom:



During the visit, Shannon also informed us that Shiva's survival was the inspiration for her to go through with Luna's surgery.  She told us that, in a very real sense, the Red Dog saved Luna's life.  Much joy - and a few tears - followed, as all of us reveled in the realization that our sweet Red Dog had just given us a Dane-sized spirit hug from the great beyond through her friend Luna.

All cuteness aside, it's sobering and humbling to us to know that our decisions and experiences have so profoundly impacted the lives of others.  Shiva the Red Dog was a hero, and we're just glad she invited us along for the ride.

Happy News!

Miracle of miracles happened, and Kitty was reunited with her person after going missing a few days ago.  In spite of injuries and dehydration, the 18 yr-old feline is none the worse for her experience.  Big thanks to those of you who helped with her medical expenses.  There is a very special place in heaven awaiting you! 

Kitty Please, Pretty Please

OK, so most of you know by now we aren't the types to ask for help unless it's for others in need; unfortunately, due to Snoopy's recent medical extravaganza (over $4,000 and counting), we hope to engage you in support of a kitty.  Of course, there's a story attached, and we promise to share the entire epic saga with you soon.  Until then, please bear with us and allow us to tell you about the kitty.

Found by us on the side of the road yesterday, the cat in question was in appalling shape.  Although affectionate, she was clearly injured, and the speculation is that her head spent a little unwanted time inside the mouth of a non-cat-loving dog.  In addition to those wounds, we found her to be soaking wet, underweight and infested with both fleas and ear mites.  Our first course of action was to order an FIV/FeLeuk test, as both diseases are fairly common in the outdoor cat population in our region, and the results would impact our future decision-making for her care.  We also had her scanned for a microchip.  All were negative.  She since has been given an antibiotic injection for her wounds, as well as treatment for the ear mites and fleas.  She will receive a thorough physical exam today, as well as an estimate on her age.  At that point, Dr. Brandi will make her recommendations and we'll act accordingly to help this sweet girl.

As you can see, she's a bit skinny and ragged, but otherwise appears healthy.  We do suspect she's older, though not elderly, and she may not exactly like dogs.  We're hoping to find a foster or permanent home for her once her medical status is clear, and she'll be staying with our friends at Boyd's Creek until we do so.  Which leads me, finally, to our plea:   

If any of our Knoxville-area friends are able to help with her foster or permanent care after she's ready to leave the clinic, please let us know.  We'll transport her to you to see how things might work-out.  

If you'd like to help defray some of her medical costs, please call Boyd's Creek Animal Hospital at 865-577-2738.  The sweet girl is listed as "Friend Douglas" under the "Brian & Debra Douglas" account.  Every little bit will help, as those $5 & $10 donations can really add-up!

If nothing else, please share with fellow animal-loving friends so this story, too, can have a Shiva the Red Dog-inspired happy ending.

THANK YOU!!

Little Fundraiser for Little Lucy

Due to Shiva's passing and Snoopy's illness, the following notice was put on the back burner.  Now, if you have a moment, please read it, and - if you can spare a few bucks - please help.  Thanks!

Recently we were made aware of a terrible situation and were asked to help.  Rather than say no, Shiva's Mom and I decided to do what we could.  Here's the story (we've omitted the last names of all the rescue folks to protect their privacy):

Little Lucy is a West Highland Terrier (Westie) who spent her first 13 years as an indoor city dog with her dad and mom in Virginia.  A few months ago, dad died after a long battle with cancer.  This precipitated extreme health issues for mom, and the both of them (along with Lucy's doggie little sister) moved to be closer to a human sister in Arkansas.  Through no fault of Lucy's, the new living situation for her mom didn't allow for her and she ended up on a tie-out in a field.  In Arkansas.  In the summer.  When we were told about the situation, we also were asked if we could help coordinate Lucy's move to a better place.

Poor Lucy being rescued.  Note her black skin!

Thanks to our friend David connecting us to Westie rescuers Patsy and Diane, within two days Lucy made the trip (free of charge and with a lot of TLC!) from Arkansas, via Memphis and Nashville, to a temporary foster home here in Knoxville.
 

Two of the wonderful ladies who rescued and transported Lucy!!

Once in Knoxville, Patsy arranged for treatment of Lucy's terrible sunburn and preexisting skin condition.  She had her bathed and groomed, her horribly overgrown nails trimmed and bought her pajamas to protect her from the sun.

Lucy in Patsy's car waiting to meets us, only 2 days(!) after rescue!

Although her first foster home was short-term, it gave us time to arrange for her to stay with our good friends at Boyds Creek Animal Hospital for some more TLC while we searched for a longer-term foster or forever home.  (Special thanks to dog-lover and friend Dr. Chitwood for underwriting Lucy's care while at BCAH!)

After a couple weeks of spoiling by Dr. Brandi and the girls, Lucy was taken-in by a wonderful Westie lover in the Oak Ridge area named Kaye.  Kaye is retired with three terriers of her own (one Westie and two Yorkies) and has worked with the breed for decades.  At this point (about a month into it), Lucy seems to be adjusting quite nicely to her new digs.  In fact, she decided to assume the role of "top dog" while no one was looking!

Lucy 30 minutes into her stay at Kaye's.

This brings us to the favor we want to do for Kaye:  While the love she has for dogs is limitless, the money isn't.  Like so many retired folks, Kaye is on a fixed income.  She's comfortable and able to care for the needs of her now 4 pets, but we know Kaye will need to fund ongoing intensive care for Lucy's skin condition.  To help with that, we are asking all our friends out there to consider making a small donation of $5, $10 or $20 directly to the veterinary clinic so that it won't be a financial burden on Kaye.   

Simply call Jackson Square Animal Clinic in Oak Ridge, TN at 865-483-5994.  Tell them you want to make a contribution to the "Wimberly, Lucy Rescue" account.  If you'd rather send a check, call the clinic for details.

Although your donation is not tax deductible, you can be secure in the knowledge it will be going directly for the care of one of the sweetest little dogs to escape the fires of hell/Arkansas that you've ever seen!

Please post a comment or send us an email once you donate so we can keep track of who to thank!!!

Reminder of Why We're Here

Lest we forget - amidst all the sadness - why we are here in the first place, allow us to remind ourselves (and you) what an awesome, irrepressible spirit Shiva was, and continues to be.  Even just a few short weeks after her osteosarcoma diagnosis and amputation, she blazed around the pool like she had an Evinrude strapped to her tail.  Those who saw her recently will be amazed at how robust and powerful she was back then...in spite of her new limitations.  Although eventually slowed by arthritis, cancer and age, Shiva lived each day in the same manner...even if her body was no longer able to perform what her spirit wanted.

Remember this:  She had more than 3 good years beyond that sunny day.  Her cancer wasn't a death sentence, it was an opportunity to live each day to the fullest.  She lived - and ultimately died - that way.  Enjoy!

The End of an Era

These are the hardest, most painful words I've ever had to write:  In typical Red Dog fashion, Shiva decided the party was over yesterday morning, and she left this world while in the loving care of Dr. Cheryl and the gentle embrace of Shiva's Mom and me. 

She exited our lives the same way she entered them: in decisive fashion, and with barely a look back.  From swimming Wednesday, car rides and Voodoo Thursday, to a subdued Friday, and finally earning her wings Saturday, hers was a blessedly short transition with little time for pain.  Never one to shrug off a challenge, Shiva remained true to her nature and charged headlong into her next assignment, granting us the one final gift of a graceful and sudden exit.  No muss, no fuss and - most importantly - no suffering.

And so we are left with a wreckage of emotions, knowing in our minds it was time, that Shiva had wrung every last drop of joy out of this broken body and miraculous lifetime, but feeling in our hearts the seemingly-irreparable pain of separation, the dropping of the veil between us and  - in many ways - our best friend.

As we come to terms with this gut punch and move through our grief, we'll add more details to this latest chapter of her story.  Until then, thank you for loving this crazy dog half as much as we did - and do.  Seeing her reflected in each of you showed us - without a doubt - the impact she had on her world. 

If there's one thing you can do for us and for Shiva, it's this:  Please support the fine folks at Tripawds.com, as they guide people and their pets through the post-cancer diagnosis and post-amputation world, and the wonderful team at Morris Animal Foundation, a dedicated group of people working diligently to kick canine cancer's butt once and for all time.