You know we adopted the blind 7 year old pyr mix. We loved him before we even got him, jut from his story, talking to the rescue/foster lady and his pictures. We adopted him Aug. 31 and lost him Sept. 23, ruptured tumor on his spleen. We only had that precious boy 3 1/2 weeks but loved him as much as if it had been 3 1/2 years.
He was the most liad back dog I have ever seen. You would think that being blind and having been so mistreated his first 6 or so years, he would not be trusting, would be nervous, etc. Right the opposite. He made himself at home right away, sprawling out on the cool tile dining floor, or sometimes in the living room. A couple of weeks we had company for supper , making 6 adults and 3 kids from 5 to 11. Shags was sprawled out in the dining room Everyone said to let him stay there, he looked so comfy. So kids walked around him, adults stepped over him. Only thing that moved was his tail as folks stooped to pet on him or just speak to him, calling him by name.
He had already learned the lay of the yard and the house and would patrol each every day at least once. He loved to visit with the dogs behind us thru the wood fence, his old tail just wagging. The last 2 1/2 weeks he wagged his tail so much we started calling him Shaggy Waggy. And he did so love his grain free kidbble plus the turkey stew I added to it--fed him 3 times a day. Some days I did add tuna instead and he loved it also. And he loved for me to hand feed him. He would take a few pieces of kibble at a time from my hand and all I would feel were those big soft lips. He knew where the patio door was by the sound of the water fountain next to it. He had learned where the barrels of rose bushes were, the tree stumps, the swing.etc. He knew the step down from house to patio, and in front the step down from house to porch.
He knew Jerry and I sat in our recliners separated buy a small table and he would go back and forth between the chairs for some good loving. When he first got here he had somuch pain in his ear that if you touched it he would pull back and shake his head. When I took him to my vet two days after getting him (the day between was Labor Day) my vet was shocked at the condition of the ear. He did say the antibiotics Shags had been started on 2 days before we got him were the perfect ones, but he also added a steroid. He said the ear needed a good cleaning and packing. Took him in the next Tuesday and they put him under and cleaned his ear real well and packed it with antibiotics.
Within a week, we could rub and scratch that ear. There was still redness, but it was not near so sore. We thought we were well on the road to years of healthy life for Shags.
Monday he was great. He even put a shine on his metal food pan cleaning it so well after every meal. He patrolled the yard twice and visited with the dogs next door--and even barked for the first time. I had started to think maybe his vocal cords had been cut to prevent barking by his first owners. he had an extra long brushing that day. Tuesday morning he didn't want to get up and go out to go potty, but finally did. He would not touch his breakfast I offered him one of his favorite treats--boiled chunk of sweet potato, and he wouldn't touch it--first time he had ever refused it. On the way to the car to go to the vet he collapsed and Jerry had to pick him up and put him in the car. Had to take him out of the car, but he did walk into the vets and collapsed on the exam room floor.
My vet and tech got down on the floor with him. His temp was 106. His gums and tongue were pale. There was brusing on his stomach and under his arms indicating internal bleeding. Blood work showed red and white ceils and platelets tanking. Ultrasound showed the dreaded tumor on his spleen that was bleeding out. He would not have survived surgery, and it was to late anyway. My vet does everything in his power to save any animals buthe said the kindest thing would be to let Shags go and we agreed.
It was so hard on him as he had been Honey's vet for 12 years and it had only been 6 weeks since he had to release her, and then we find that 6 days after Honey was sent to the bridge, he had to send his own 15 year old English Setter, Gracie, and now he was having to do it gain for me. We had the crematorium pick him up and his ashes were returned yesterday. They will be buried in the back with Hunter, Buck, KayCee and Honey. Some folks think it strange to have a dog cremated and then buried, but Hunter, Buck and Honey all loved to chase squirrels up that sycamore tree they are buried under. Kase never chase squirrels but she and Hunter were litter mates and she and Honey best buds and they played together out there, so it seems fitting all them should be buried in a place they loved. Shaggy never knew any of them but he also loved the yard, loved to patrol and feel like he was doing his job. We had promised him a forever and ever home (as we had done Honey) and long after we are gone, they will all be together near each other in their forever home. And yes, the pyr rescue is on the lookout for another senior dog for us.