Today I finally composed myself enough to email several friends and family members to tell them I have very, very sad news. My little Rascal passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2005. I rescued my darling little Australian Cattle Dog from the Reno Animal Shelter in 1992. It was love at first site and she saw me through so much in 11 years–my mother’s death, my career highs and lows, a divorce, a new marriage, and a cross-country move to Florida.
Rascal hadn’t been herself for several days, so Tony and I took her to the vet last Thursday, and Dr. Bailey arranged for a blood work-up. The next day he called me and urged me to come in immediately for medication (steroids and antibiotics), as the diagnosis was autoimmune mediated hemolytic anemia. Her red blood cell count was already less than half of what it should’ve been, but we prayed that she would respond to the treatment within the next few days and made a Monday appointment for another blood work-up.
My little baby never made it to that next appointment. She went into respiratory distress on Sunday evening at about 6:30pm, and she slipped into a coma 13 minutes later as we pulled into the parking lot of the emergency clinic. I had to make the difficult decision to end her battle, and I held her head in my hands while they stopped her little heart. I don’t know if she could hear me, but I kept whispering in her ear and kissing her cheek until well after she was gone. It was all very sudden and traumatic, and Tony and I are utterly devastated. I am typing this through tears, so I hope I’m making sense.
Fellow animal lovers, please pray for us… These last three days have been among the most difficult in my life (drudging up a lot of old feelings from my mom’s death, I’m afraid), and I’ve already been through so much in the last 2 years. Honestly, I feel like Job right now and I’m wondering when things are going to get better.
In an attempt to console me (and himself, I think), Tony has arranged for us to drive to Tampa on Saturday morning to consider adopting another doggie through a courtesy ad on the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue website. Her name is Ashley, and she looks like she could be Rascal’s cousin–a real cutie. Rascal was my doggie soul mate and she can never be replaced, but Tony is hoping that having another little baby to love and care for will help ease our intense pain. We’d gotten so used to being a two-doggie household, and poor Loopy (our Sharpei/Staffordshire Terrier girl) is
starting to show signs of depression, too.
To all of you who are grieving the losses of your own fur babies, my heart goes out to you. Please think of us, too, and
say a prayer for our healing.
Rascal, you will be in my heart forever.
You will always be my special girl.
| Vonny Manna |