Unfortunately, many people don't
appreciate their older dogs and
"dump" them into
shelters, perhaps after
determining the dog has a
medical ailment that is not
"cost effective" to treat or
even check out.
We had to piece
together what little we knew
about
Amelia, but figured
her owners decided she was no
longer an important part of
their lives. In fact, she
arrived at the shelter in a
terribly disheveled state, her
flowing fur matted and dull. We
were told about Amelia and
decided she should get a special
home in her twilight years
through DAWG.
When we brought
Amelia to our vet, he examined
her and looked up in alarm. He
detected an enormous tumor which
he thought was attached to her
spleen. After much consideration
and preoperative tests to
determine Amelia's ability to
endure surgery, we decided to
operate. Unbelievably, an eight
pound tumor was taken from her.
From all initial indications, it
seemed the tumor was not
cancerous nor had it infiltrated
other parts of her body! We
were deliriously happy that
Amelia was one step closer to
living out the life she
deserved. However, we
celebrated too soon.
Amelia lay
listless, not interested in
getting up or eating. She should
have felt better with the
removal of the tumor, but she
just drifted. Her bloodwork came
back and it was improved. The
biopsy confirmed that the tumor
was, indeed, not cancer. Yet she
let food roll right out of her
mouth. We realized that Amelia
did not want to try. Her surgeon
spent hours with her over the
weekend, hoping that his
ministrations would help
her. Nothing made a difference.
Amelia was no longer interested
in living. We were sure her
heart was broken because her
people abandoned her. She was
finished with life. So, we
released her.
We know Amelia is
bounding up and down Heaven's
fields like a young dog again.
She probably looks down upon her
former owners with the same
loyalty that she gave them while
on earth. We are sure she knows
about our efforts to give her a
new life, and that she
appreciates that we accepted her
decision. It's hard to let go,
but Amelia reminded us that we
should put more value on
listening to our dogs than
asserting our human values on
them. Thanks for teaching us,
Amelia. That was your final
gift.
Till we meet
again...
Amelia
August 3 --
August 8, 2005
