Friday, December 24, 2010

Light A Candle-Misha




On May 30, 2009 in the parking lot at the Walgreens in Bloomingdale, Illinois I met the cutest little boy. Misha looked great, except that his owner had shaved him; you see Misha was 13 years, eight months old. His owner had gotten divorced and being a Dentist meant that Misha was left alone for 12-14 hours per day; plus his Dad put him in the kennel every weekend to visit his new girlfriend in Michigan. This went on for months and then his Dad decided that he should try to find a new home for the Keeshond that he had owned since Misha was a puppy. His Veterinarian gave Misha's Dad Turbo Kees Foundation's phone number.
When I received the call, I knew that this would not be a potential adoption; this was going to be Misha's retirement home, he would spend the rest of his life in foster care. He was asked to cover an estimated cost of life for a senior dog, he willing made the donation as he signed Misha into our care.
When I met him I thought that he had the cutest little smirk on his face; I found out later that his jaw was actually crooked due to a genetic defect. Although his personality was in fact adorable, he loved to eat and wander in our big back yard. From the moment he arrived he seemed to fit in; even though there were so many other dogs in house, Misha just went about his business. Cataracts had already taken some of his eyesight and age had worked away some of his hearing, it was also clear that he had arthritis in his back legs. At his first Veterinarian appointment his jaw defect was discovered as well as the horrible condition of his teeth in part due to that defect. His bloodwork was all good as were his heart & lungs so we proceeded with a much needed teeth cleaning. He came through the procedure with flying colors and so began my short love affair with the cutest little boy!
I was sure that I could remain detached until that first morning after his teeth cleaning. Misha stepped into the bedroom as I was putting on my slippers; there was a "young dog bounce" in his step! I couldn't reach to pet him right away so Misha got into a play bow inviting me to pet or play with him and this became our morning ritual! Whenever I came home, there he was at the back of the pack barking and bouncing. He would always wait until the younger, more active dogs had their chance with Mom and then came looking for attention. It wasn't long before Misha figured out that when I used the bathroom, well that was the perfect time to garner Mom's complete attention.
Boy, it almost sounds like Misha was perfect, doesn't it? The first time he had just a little poop on his back "skirts" I found out that he did have a dark side when he bit me. He turned into "Mr Hyde" whenever there was brushing, cleaning in general; nails cut; and of course you couldn't put a pill down his throat, so thank goodness he always took his pills in food! He also hated to be picked up, he cried and snapped! Sure, Misha has his quirks, don't we all? It's our imperfections that make us perfect!
Misha turned 14 years old in September of 2009 and in October he attended his first Turbo Kees Reunion picnic! Misha made sure to say hello to every person and at the end of the picnic he slept for hours & hours, spent by the big day. Everyone who ever met Misha was enamored by him and though he was just the cutest little boy; of course he was!
December 17, 2010 started like every other day with Misha greeting me in the morning; rushing me like all the other dogs to the door for their first morning potty and barking loudly while I fixed breakfast. Misha was now 15 years and almost 3 months old; his exams were all great as well as his bloodwork. When you're in your "80's" things can and do change so fast and by all rights Misha was that age. It was approximately 11:05pm when "it" happened; of course it had been many years, although I still knew immediately it was a seizure. It was the worst one I had ever witnessed and wouldn't stop; thank goodness I had anal injections of Diazapam to give him! 20 minutes later the worst of it was over; though in reality the effects lasted for hours. I stayed up all night with him and in the morning I took him to the Veterinarian.
As soon as I laid him on the exam room table he laid his little head in my hand. It was a very week attempt to bite the Vet when she put in the catheter; he was dying slowly and really didn't have the strength, but he still had some "huts-pa" in him. I kissed him and told him that I had a lot of friends waiting at the Rainbow Bridge and that I would find them all there someday.
Yes, he was old and I knew the day would come; although I tried to fight it, I had fallen deeply in love with Misha and my heart broke just like it has so many, many times before. Misha went to the Rainbow Bridge with dignity on December 18, 2010; good bye my love, my fuzzy little boy, I will always remember you! Lysa

Misha showed me the value of taking in senior dogs into rescue care. We have had a difficult year in rescue: taking in more senior dogs than normal, several fund raising events canceled etc. BUT there was never a time that I could look at Misha & say "nope, he is not worth it" Misha had such a sweet personality. As Lysa shared, he would wait until the wild crowd at greeted me.. he would slowly walk over to me & wait for me to bend down to pet him. Each month at our adoption events, I would laugh at his crooked grin as people would ask about his picture. He will be missed by many! Tracy


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Why is it that my male dog has to pee on everything?

We will feature one or two questions in each newsletter! If you have a question, please contact Lysa Bea via email: bbeabass@ameritech.net

Ask the Canine Behavior & Nutritional Counselor, Lysa Bea

Question:

Why is it that my male Keesie has to lift his leg to "pee" on everything when he's outside, especially on walks?

Answer:

One of the ways that dogs communicate with one another is the urine & feces they leave; it's kind of like email messages are to us humans. When male dogs pee they leave behind a message that says just how "male" or dominant they are by how high they can leave the pee. So when he pees everywhere he's letting the other male dogs know who he is, how dominant he is and that he's been there to say so!

What Would You Do?

We have been presented with older dogs recently because of the economy. They cost more - starting with the Vet bills, arthritis medication and even food that changes with age. We've been lucky with a few like Mikey & Giselle (the brother & sister featured a few months ago) who were adopted --- together --- at 10 years old!

On the other hand Misha, 15 years old. He's old, but not sick – he may be nearly blind & deaf, but he's a REALLY happy old guy! But it's very likely he won't be adopted --- and that means that every dollar we spend making his golden years the best we can; those dollars will not replenished through adoption. (Rainbow Bridge Dec 2010)


Then there is Mitzi; she was featured in the last newsletter, we had just begun treating her for a urinary tract infection. I was heartbroken when Dr Rodriquez of Hanover Park Animal Care Center (our beloved Vet) told me she also had Bladder Cancer. She was only 9 years old, but so badly neglected that the former owner would have been oblivious externally as well as internally! On August 24, 2010 Mitzi was no longer comfortable or enjoying her life; I stroked her gently and told her there would be no more pain. She spent only 128 days in foster care and we bought her all the time we could. Total Veterinary cost for Mitzi was $836.60; Grand total including food, supplements, and monthly preventatives is $1157.54!

What would you do when faced with the dilemma --- paying to keep these older dogs alive and well or at best comfortable --- or do you make the fiscally sound decision? What is the fiscally sound decision; it is euthanasia.

Tears roll down my face as I write this; I cry for these dogs who have no one and will not have that forever home they so deserve. I cry in the knowing that I am their "retirement" home; and that I will be the one that will hold them close when their time comes. That time will come sooner if the money runs out!

We had two events in June and one of those rescheduled in September to help raise money; unfortunately due to the weather they were both canceled and we didn't make a dime. The economy is still bad and life is difficult for lots of people which means that donations just aren't coming in and again we're desperate for money!

Please help with a donation so that we can continue to help those Keeshonden that need us; whether they are old, sick, injured or even young and healthy. Without your donation we cannot continue; with you, we can, and DO save lives! Send as much or as little as you can today; please.


Sincerely,

Lysa

Lysa Bea

President, Turbo Kees Foundation