Sally the Survivor!

Kelli Jo tells the story of her special girl, Sally:

Sally's story begins 3 years ago when I saw an ad on Craig's List selling her.  I contacted the family right away and the next evening went and picked her up!  She was shaved down and resembled a red lab more than a golden.  She was the sweetest girl and hopped in our car and never looked back.  She fit in with our pack perfectly.

We knew when we got her she had some issues. Both her rear knees were bad and needed surgery and she had a large mass on her neck that needed drained often.  Sally underwent both rear knee surgeries and never once flinched!  She is the first dog I have ever had who "talks" to me.  That is, she growls and howls just say hello! 

 Once her knees were better we began taking her to visit my Aunt in the nursing home while she recovered from her own knee surgery.  Sally became fast friends with everyone she met and in the event I visited my Aunt without her, everyone was disappointed she was not there.  It only seemed right to contact Pet Pals to see about volunteering.  

Unfortunately, she had a few set backs with her knees that required rest but recovered with no problem.  We then got a call from the Pet Pals volunteer regarding a training and I had to share some concerning health news about Sally.  She had a lump removed and there was concern it was cancer.  We had one surgery and it confirmed Soft Cell Sarcoma but not enough was removed.  It required  second surgery to try and get clean margins.  Sally underwent the second surgery and is now cancer free!  

She never acted uncomfortable and still dances out the door to the car for her staple removal and check ups.  She faces this world head on, with a smile and a wagging tail no matter what challenges she faces!  She is a true inspiration to me - I hope that when my day comes and I face serious health issues I handle it as well as she did!  We sure could learn a lot from dogs! :)  She will be attending the Pet Pals training in February!

Just in case you want to check it out here is the link to the fundraiser we set up for her.  We used all our savings for her first surgery and had to resort to a loan with extremely high interest to get the second surgery done before the cancer spread.  

Please pass it on to anyone else who might help or pass it on also.  

Deb and Daisy's Miracle Meeting!

Deb has known a lot of heartbreak.  I will tell you some of her story and then let you in on a little miracle that has happened in her life.

When Deb was pregnant with her youngest daughter, her middle child (Kelly) was diagnosed with leukemia as a toddler. Kelly had gone through almost 4 years of radiation and chemo, but was in remission when they moved to Hudson in the late 1980's. Divorced, it was Deb and her three young children.

Not long after moving to Hudson, found happiness with a local named Scott and they were married in 1991. They had two dogs: Pete, a dalmation, and Lady, a blonde cocker (Deb's second cocker). Lady got cancer at age 7 and had to be put down. A few years later, after Pete died, they tried to adopt a "mutt" puppy, but Maggie Mae (Scott picked the name) was just too hyper. She never settled down. Deb's daughter Kati and her family took her...it was a better fit with a young couple with young children. They never got another dog.

When Deb's daughter Kelly was in her late teens, she had two children and almost immediately thereafter she developed serious heart problems...cardiomyopathy. Turns out it was a side-effect of an experimental chemo drug she had received as a child. All the kids who had received that particular drug developed this condition. Her heart was basically failing. She went through a lot over the next several years, in and out of the hospital, blood clots, all kinds of problems.

In the spring of 2011, Scott was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Shortly thereafter, hospice became involved. It was tough to watch as he got sicker.

Just before Christmas in 2011, Kelly was watching movies at a friend's house and her heart stopped. After revival by the emergency crew, a second stroke and surgery, Kelly passed away just before Good Friday, 2012. She was 33. 

On May 26th, Deb's husband Scott succumbed to lung cancer.  With these major heartbreaks, Deb has been struggling to cope. The past few years were very tough. Her friends looked out for her and help out where they can.  Some suggested she consider getting a dog for companionship, and she wasn't sure. She said if she ever got another dog, she would want a cocker. Those are her favorites.

She had been to see an "Angel Reader" from Waverly a couple times, and she believes she helps her communicate with Scott and Kelly.  Earlier this month, Deb and her friend Dawn (a PetPals volunteer) were hanging out when Dawn noticed on her phone that there was a message from Cedar Valley Pet Pals about the cocker spaniel that needed a new home. The dog's owner was very elderly and had passed away.  Dawn immediately exclaimed out loud to Deb to look at the posting. The dog had been in foster care and needed a new forever home.  When Deb saw the notice,she almost cried. She immediately wrote down the number and called.  Everyone agrees...the whole thing "felt" right.

It worked out so that the next day she made the arrangements to adopt the cocker spaniel.  Deb said she started crying upon meeting the dog, and they seemed to hit it off immediately. The dog's name is Daisy Mae...reminding her of how her late husband Scott had named their last dog Maggie Mae.  The other "signs" continue.....

  

Photo:  Deb and Daisy Mae with her grandson Karson

When Deb told the dog's foster family about Scott and Kelly's recent passing, how she loved cockers and how that the timing was so perfect..... the lady reminded her that dog spelled backwards is God.

Lucky little Daisy Mae is now enjoying a lot of love, attention and pampering.  She follows Deb EVERYWHERE.  She is friendly with others, but clings to Deb. Does not want to let her out of her sight. Sits on her feet when she eats. Cuddles in the chair with her while watching t.v. Sleeps with her. She has bonded already!

 .........Oh, and Deb said Daisy Mae snores...just like Scott did! Such an amazing story of what companionship can bring into a life! It is incredible what a loyal, loving companion can do for healing!  A genuine little miracle that they found each other and it worked out that they could be in each other's lives.

Stay tuned for updates!

Happy Friday!

Staying warm!?

Seeing-Eye-Goose Befriends Blind Dog

4.25.2011
Take a gander at this animal odd couple!


A blind Boxer named Baks has gotten a whole new lease on life thanks to a good samaritan goose named Buttons. Yes, you read that right. This is not a joke.

Baks has been taken under the 'wing' of Buttons, a four-year-old goose who now leads her vision-impaired pal around everywhere either by hanging onto him with her neck, or by honking to tell him which way to go. How hilarious is that?!

Owner Renata Kursa of Lublin, Poland, was heartbroken when poor lil' Bak was left blind after an accident last year. But gradually Buttons got him up on his feet and starting walking him around. They're inseparable now - they even chase the postman together,' Kursa tells the Telegraph UK.

Go Buttons! What's good for the goose is also apparently good for...the...boxer.

Itsh Shtarting to Feel like Fall!

Om nom nom

I ruvv roo.

Aaaaah

Dog Days