Squirt's Mom
12-03-2012, 12:26 PM
Tasha and I first met about 10 months ago. I was at the vet’s when this tiny cute Boston came prancing down the hall. I asked her if she had escaped and one of the techs told me she was staying with them for a while. Her mom had passed away recently and the kids had dumped Tasha at the clinic. We talked a minute and I told her if weren’t living in the camper I would take her, foster her for them and try to find her a new home. Not long after, I knew we would be moving soon so the next time we were at the clinic I told Doc I would take Tasha as soon as we moved. He told me she had already been given a home by another client. Happy for that sweet girl!
A week or so after we moved into our home, we were at the clinic again. When I walked in the door, one of the techs said, “Guess who’s back? Tasha.” She had been returned and the reason depends on who you talk to –either she couldn’t get along with the ladies other dog, or she snapped at her toddler, neither of which I believe for one second. Tasha would come home with us that day until I found her a new home. As we were checking out, I ran my hands over her and noticed lumps, hard knots, on her belly. Doc said they were probably mammary cysts – she had never been spayed. Her medical records were sketchy, mostly allergy and yearly shots, they said she was about 12 and weighed 12 lbs. Her little tail was either deformed or butchered when docked; it was corkscrewed into the flesh of her rear, a source of much irritation and itching. They told me she was a little hard of hearing but she was basically deaf. I saw her react twice to sounds – a deep boom and the squeal of metal on metal. She had an eye injury that wasn’t healing well and she eventually lost sight in that eye.
She naturally felt misplaced when she first came to us and several times shot out the door as it opened, rapidly, purposefully trotting down the street. The first time this happened, I thought I would never catch her because she couldn’t hear me but she suddenly made a right hand turn onto a neighbor’s sidewalk. She pranced down the walk, up the steps onto the porch, and then stood at the front door staring with this hopeful look on her face. From then on, it was a battle to open the door and keep her inside. She got away a few more times and each time made a beeline to the same neighbor and would wait, staring at the door with that same hope in her eyes. I later learned that neighbor is dying of cancer so I decided there is a scent coming from that house she recognized and went there hoping her mom would open the door. Once the fence was up and she could roam free in safety, it became apparent she had always been on a leash when outside but learned to enjoy her time in the yard.
Tash settled in and was soon entertaining me daily with her goofy ways, constant desire to play, giggle bellies, leaps and bounces, and her hilarious sit-n-spins. She was a proficient, prolific nest builder and there were always rounds of blankets throughout the house where she had been constructing her nests. She would also hide in the blankets and pillows. I would look and look for her only to finally see that black and white face peeking out from under a pillow, grinning like she was really enjoying her game of hide and seek. Her little square face kept me in stitches. It was so very expressive Jim Cary should be jealous. Tasha was magic. I have a friend who is not a dog person at all; she’s a cat person through and through. But, she would come over just to look at Tasha and before long was sitting on her couch with her playing giggle bellies, both of them grinning from ear to ear. Tasha had a gift of knowing how to touch people, all kinds of people. We would go to PetCo and as we met folks their faces would light up in a big smile when Tasha looked at them. I could look over my shoulder and see folks staring after her, still smiling, eyes shining. Children were drawn to her and her to them. You could just see the giddy oozing out of all of them whenever she got to be around kids. Tasha had so many gifts and she shared them all freely.
Not long after she came to us, I noticed drops of bright red blood of the floor. Thinking someone had cut a paw, I checked everyone out but no cuts – nothing on any of them. Weird. It happened several more times and I could never find the source. One day I picked Tash up to love on her a bit and when I put her down, my hand felt damp. I looked; blood. Thinking she had an injury, I checked her belly for a scrape or cut – nothing, tho I could see where blood had smeared on her belly. Shortly after, I saw a large, fresh blood soak on the couch cushion where she had just been laying. I looked at her belly again and this time I saw a drop of blood hanging from one nipple. In further checking, I found two nipples that were leaking, one fairly steadily. Off to the vet we go.
X-rays showed several masses in her abdomen and chest as well as the mammarys. Probably more than cysts, said Doc. Subsequent x-rays showed steady growth of the masses. As the mass either in or on the lungs grew her respiration worsened. After a couple of rounds of pred starting high and tapering off, she started taking it every other day. This helped for a little while, then Lasix was added when CHF was added to the mix and that brought added relief. In time, she started coughing at night so she started taking Hydrocodone cough syrup at bedtime. She would cough up white slimy foam at times in spite of the meds. By now, she was taking pred daily. Soon she required more help breathing and she was put on a round of Temaril-P, which did wonders for her almost immediately so the pred was cut back to every other day again. Then that effect started wearing off and she needed the daily pred and cough syrup again, yet still hacked and wheezed. So I called and she was given another round of the Temaril-P. Again, it worked like a charm and fast. Two days later, she woke up disoriented then had a seizure after seeing the vet that same day.
I had decided on the way home that day if she wasn’t significantly improved by morning, I would let her go. I had also convinced myself on the sly that this was no biggie – “I can handle confusion.” When she seized, the blinders fell from my eyes and I knew. This sweet angel was ready to see her first mom.
Food and giggle bellies were about her only joys these days and the giggle bellies made her very short-winded and increased the bleeding so they have been limited, as has her diet. But Sat. and Sun. she got anything and everything she wanted to eat and several sessions of giggle belly to boot. She had salmon, turkey, beef and calf liver, chicken hearts, peanut butter, cheese, cheese and crackers, PetCo treats galore, cod, sweet potato fries, broccoli/cheese/rice, Pork & Beans, bean and cheese sandwich, and vanilla ice cream. She loved every single bite. If you have never seen a Boston Terrier eat peanut butter, put it on your bucket list right now. The sight brought sobs and laughter in equal measure.
I put her on her lead to walk to the mailbox like we sometimes do but she was too winded by the end of the drive so we took a slow meander around the front yard instead. She tried to eat a rock and when I took it out of her mouth like I have 1000’s of others, I broke down. I laid the rock back on the ground and Tasha promptly swallowed it down with glee. We both felt better for it. She always resented me taking her yummy rocks away.
She slept most of the day and was restless at night, pacing, standing and staring, then pacing some more. During her waking daytime hours, all the dogs would gather where ever I happened to be. Usually they are each about their various activities but this weekend they knew our family needed to be together, and we were. Tasha never went outside by herself this weekend; one of them always went with her without coaxing. While Sorrow was ever present, there was Healing in our home as well this weekend.
Doc was ready when we got there this morning, with big tears in his eyes. We had the place to ourselves. He talked to me a minute about her and what to expect, then played with her for few minutes. He looked up at me and said, “You know, I love this little dog, too. She is the cutest and sweetest Boston I ever met.” We went into the exam room and they had a blanket laid out on the table for her. The injection was given and I help her in my arms as she drew her last breaths. Doc couldn’t stay, he ran out with tears flowing. The techs left us so we could be alone. Tasha drifted off peacefully, held against my heart, my tears bathing her body. I felt an outpouring of love from her and knew she was alright. I told her I loved her and thanked her for being part of my life.
Doc is going to take Tash to be laid to rest with her first mom, as were her wishes. Her human children did Tasha wrong but if the situation were reversed and someone else was caring for Squirt in my stead, I would want my final wishes honored regardless of how my family may have acted. As a mother, I completely understand. I know her mom was waiting on her with arms flung wide open, tears of joy coursing down her cheeks, as Tasha raced toward her.
Tasha came into my little world like the proverbial candle in the wind; struggling against insurmountable odds yet shining her Light in all directions brightly. I feel incredibly blessed to have shared in a small portion of her life.
Fly free, my precious angel, fly free.
A week or so after we moved into our home, we were at the clinic again. When I walked in the door, one of the techs said, “Guess who’s back? Tasha.” She had been returned and the reason depends on who you talk to –either she couldn’t get along with the ladies other dog, or she snapped at her toddler, neither of which I believe for one second. Tasha would come home with us that day until I found her a new home. As we were checking out, I ran my hands over her and noticed lumps, hard knots, on her belly. Doc said they were probably mammary cysts – she had never been spayed. Her medical records were sketchy, mostly allergy and yearly shots, they said she was about 12 and weighed 12 lbs. Her little tail was either deformed or butchered when docked; it was corkscrewed into the flesh of her rear, a source of much irritation and itching. They told me she was a little hard of hearing but she was basically deaf. I saw her react twice to sounds – a deep boom and the squeal of metal on metal. She had an eye injury that wasn’t healing well and she eventually lost sight in that eye.
She naturally felt misplaced when she first came to us and several times shot out the door as it opened, rapidly, purposefully trotting down the street. The first time this happened, I thought I would never catch her because she couldn’t hear me but she suddenly made a right hand turn onto a neighbor’s sidewalk. She pranced down the walk, up the steps onto the porch, and then stood at the front door staring with this hopeful look on her face. From then on, it was a battle to open the door and keep her inside. She got away a few more times and each time made a beeline to the same neighbor and would wait, staring at the door with that same hope in her eyes. I later learned that neighbor is dying of cancer so I decided there is a scent coming from that house she recognized and went there hoping her mom would open the door. Once the fence was up and she could roam free in safety, it became apparent she had always been on a leash when outside but learned to enjoy her time in the yard.
Tash settled in and was soon entertaining me daily with her goofy ways, constant desire to play, giggle bellies, leaps and bounces, and her hilarious sit-n-spins. She was a proficient, prolific nest builder and there were always rounds of blankets throughout the house where she had been constructing her nests. She would also hide in the blankets and pillows. I would look and look for her only to finally see that black and white face peeking out from under a pillow, grinning like she was really enjoying her game of hide and seek. Her little square face kept me in stitches. It was so very expressive Jim Cary should be jealous. Tasha was magic. I have a friend who is not a dog person at all; she’s a cat person through and through. But, she would come over just to look at Tasha and before long was sitting on her couch with her playing giggle bellies, both of them grinning from ear to ear. Tasha had a gift of knowing how to touch people, all kinds of people. We would go to PetCo and as we met folks their faces would light up in a big smile when Tasha looked at them. I could look over my shoulder and see folks staring after her, still smiling, eyes shining. Children were drawn to her and her to them. You could just see the giddy oozing out of all of them whenever she got to be around kids. Tasha had so many gifts and she shared them all freely.
Not long after she came to us, I noticed drops of bright red blood of the floor. Thinking someone had cut a paw, I checked everyone out but no cuts – nothing on any of them. Weird. It happened several more times and I could never find the source. One day I picked Tash up to love on her a bit and when I put her down, my hand felt damp. I looked; blood. Thinking she had an injury, I checked her belly for a scrape or cut – nothing, tho I could see where blood had smeared on her belly. Shortly after, I saw a large, fresh blood soak on the couch cushion where she had just been laying. I looked at her belly again and this time I saw a drop of blood hanging from one nipple. In further checking, I found two nipples that were leaking, one fairly steadily. Off to the vet we go.
X-rays showed several masses in her abdomen and chest as well as the mammarys. Probably more than cysts, said Doc. Subsequent x-rays showed steady growth of the masses. As the mass either in or on the lungs grew her respiration worsened. After a couple of rounds of pred starting high and tapering off, she started taking it every other day. This helped for a little while, then Lasix was added when CHF was added to the mix and that brought added relief. In time, she started coughing at night so she started taking Hydrocodone cough syrup at bedtime. She would cough up white slimy foam at times in spite of the meds. By now, she was taking pred daily. Soon she required more help breathing and she was put on a round of Temaril-P, which did wonders for her almost immediately so the pred was cut back to every other day again. Then that effect started wearing off and she needed the daily pred and cough syrup again, yet still hacked and wheezed. So I called and she was given another round of the Temaril-P. Again, it worked like a charm and fast. Two days later, she woke up disoriented then had a seizure after seeing the vet that same day.
I had decided on the way home that day if she wasn’t significantly improved by morning, I would let her go. I had also convinced myself on the sly that this was no biggie – “I can handle confusion.” When she seized, the blinders fell from my eyes and I knew. This sweet angel was ready to see her first mom.
Food and giggle bellies were about her only joys these days and the giggle bellies made her very short-winded and increased the bleeding so they have been limited, as has her diet. But Sat. and Sun. she got anything and everything she wanted to eat and several sessions of giggle belly to boot. She had salmon, turkey, beef and calf liver, chicken hearts, peanut butter, cheese, cheese and crackers, PetCo treats galore, cod, sweet potato fries, broccoli/cheese/rice, Pork & Beans, bean and cheese sandwich, and vanilla ice cream. She loved every single bite. If you have never seen a Boston Terrier eat peanut butter, put it on your bucket list right now. The sight brought sobs and laughter in equal measure.
I put her on her lead to walk to the mailbox like we sometimes do but she was too winded by the end of the drive so we took a slow meander around the front yard instead. She tried to eat a rock and when I took it out of her mouth like I have 1000’s of others, I broke down. I laid the rock back on the ground and Tasha promptly swallowed it down with glee. We both felt better for it. She always resented me taking her yummy rocks away.
She slept most of the day and was restless at night, pacing, standing and staring, then pacing some more. During her waking daytime hours, all the dogs would gather where ever I happened to be. Usually they are each about their various activities but this weekend they knew our family needed to be together, and we were. Tasha never went outside by herself this weekend; one of them always went with her without coaxing. While Sorrow was ever present, there was Healing in our home as well this weekend.
Doc was ready when we got there this morning, with big tears in his eyes. We had the place to ourselves. He talked to me a minute about her and what to expect, then played with her for few minutes. He looked up at me and said, “You know, I love this little dog, too. She is the cutest and sweetest Boston I ever met.” We went into the exam room and they had a blanket laid out on the table for her. The injection was given and I help her in my arms as she drew her last breaths. Doc couldn’t stay, he ran out with tears flowing. The techs left us so we could be alone. Tasha drifted off peacefully, held against my heart, my tears bathing her body. I felt an outpouring of love from her and knew she was alright. I told her I loved her and thanked her for being part of my life.
Doc is going to take Tash to be laid to rest with her first mom, as were her wishes. Her human children did Tasha wrong but if the situation were reversed and someone else was caring for Squirt in my stead, I would want my final wishes honored regardless of how my family may have acted. As a mother, I completely understand. I know her mom was waiting on her with arms flung wide open, tears of joy coursing down her cheeks, as Tasha raced toward her.
Tasha came into my little world like the proverbial candle in the wind; struggling against insurmountable odds yet shining her Light in all directions brightly. I feel incredibly blessed to have shared in a small portion of her life.
Fly free, my precious angel, fly free.