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
No comments:
Post a Comment