| |
In
October of '02, I received a call from the St. Pete Old English
Sheepdog rescue group asking if I could spring a 9-10 year old male
from a Naples kill shelter. I was gone in a heartbeat. The sight that
greeted me, however, broke my heart. "Death Row" was populated with so
many dogs — many purebreds — all coming to the front of their cages
begging me to save. The stench of death hung in the air. If I coulda, I
woulda. But I was there for Max, so terrified when the attendant threw
a noose around his neck that he peed & pooped. Everyone at the
shelter kept asking me if I really wanted to take this dog.
Well, I can understand why — he was infested with ticks, had very
little hair, testicles down to his knees, a raging ear infection &
toenails at least 2 inches long that gave him a very strange gait he
never lost, even after getting clipping them down. The shelter
personnel refused to even touch him!
I paid the fees, got him into my car & drove back to Cape
Coral. Since it was obvious this dog couldn't be adopted out, I kept
him. He stood patiently for 3 hours as I plucked off the ticks (at the
vet's the next day, I was told I did a magnificent job — that only a
few remained). Luckily, all of Max's problems were outward — no
heartworm or other major health issues to deal with, save for the nasty
ear infection.
Max finally grew hair, except on the knees & elbows, which
were scarred from rolling around on the cement slab in the trailer park
where he had previously lived (& been tethered with a chain). He
loved to go in the pool but didn't swim — would just sit on the 2nd
step & bark, but it was barks of joy — would sometimes sit there
for up to an hour! He also loved the chaise lounge on the lanai &
would hang out there until I made him come inside, always slept at the
foot of my bed, & became as adept a beggar as Nikki & Casey,
looking for handouts at dinner. He was the only one of the 3 who would
eat veggies, so he always got lots of treats (my mother has never
learned to cook for anything less than an army). If a car door opened
he would jump in — eager to go wherever we were headed. Even though an
'ancient,' he was frisky & energetic & ran with the best of 'em
— barking all the way.
About 6 months ago he became incontinent, which drove my mother
wild but which I dealt with. He also started having trouble getting up,
unless he was on carpeting. His downfall came on so suddenly — on
Sunday he was running around the back yard & on Monday he
collapsed, unable to get up at all. Just like that. I kept him
comfortable by putting him on blankets & turning him every few
hours. He drank water like there was no tomorrow, but refused food.
On Tuesday I knew what I had to do, though it broke my heart. A
neighbor carried Max out to the car with his blankie — Mother drove
while I sat in the back seat with Max, who lay with his head on my lap.
The compassionate staff brought a gurney to carry him into the
hospital, & we were all admitted through the side door. I held him
throughout the procedure — with his last breath he raised his head
& looked straight into my eyes. Then he was gone. My tears wouldn't
stop. I held him for a long time after — crying, saying how sorry I
was, how much I loved him. My heart was completely torn apart. Thus at
4:20PM yesterday, Maxie left our world for a better one — one where he
is whole & well & playing with those who've gone before him —
who will keep him company until we can be together again...
Archives
06.25.2006 — My best friend...
06.16.2006 — Her 50 is the new 30?!?...
06.09.2006 — Laughing my ass off...
05.31.2006 — The quarterback, the linebacker...& me....
04.21.2006 — Two loves...
12.31.2005 — Adios & farewell, '05...
07.03.2005 — I'll be seeing you...
06.26.2005 — He had me from 'hello'...
05.30.2005 — New York City Grrls...
05.18.2005 — The blog that started it all...
Love's Illusions — poetic musings from the past...
|
|
