Samantha – what a treasure! You came to us and stayed with us during some of our darkest times.
I first saw you as a little black puppy after a co-worker pointed you out; you were outside the building where I worked and it had just stormed, so you were soaked! I tried very hard to find your family but had no luck and could only assume someone had lost your or more unthinkably abandoned you. I thought I found you a home with another co-worker, but his dog did not like you, so to our good fortune you came to live with us and three other dogs. Boy, was our house full!
Daddy had recently been in a car accident and you helped him recuperate although I don’t think he appreciated you chewing his watchband while he tried to hold you. One time you chewed up a bar of soap and I kept expecting soap bubbles to come out of your mouth.
You grew into a beautiful black dog that looked almost like a Golden Retriever except for your shiny black coat. You were a willful little thing, full of spunk and determination. You thought it was great fun to run away from us; and always when we were in a hurry would you refuse to come in from the backyard. You taught Sunshine how to dig and the two of you would disappear causing me a lot of heart palpitations. Sometimes you played too rough with her and Biggin would bark at you; just that would make the two of you stop. He was definitely your boss. Nikki would play between your paws, a little white Peke against that beautiful black coat.
One day many years ago, after coming in from romping outside you began to stagger around like someone who had one too many. You couldn’t stand up and my first thought was you had been stung or snake bit. Daddy and I called the vet and rushed you to their office (they had their own emergency service at the time). Of course this happened on Thanksgiving Day. We were more than relieved to find out you had a very bad ear infection that had affected your equilibrium. I always made sure your little ears were clean after that.
In May 2001 we lost our beloved Biggin and you assumed control as the alpha dog, a mistake we allowed to happen, but didn’t realize it at the time. In 2002 we brought home a new puppy, a little boy named Chief. I don’t know whether you liked him at the time, but after he came home your dominance became an issue and you really lit into Sunshine. We talked to “experts” about your behavior, but never got a satisfactory result. Fearing the worst might happen, I begged your Grandma to take temporary custody of you (that was eight years ago). This “custody” change became one of the best things that ever happened to your Grandma because this was the same year my Daddy passed away. She was alone and having you helped her so much. I’ll never forget the first night you spent with her, she called me and said “Samantha is growling at me”. I became alarmed at first, but then I heard you through the phone and I had to laugh. You were a “talker”. We still laugh about that and probably always will.
Grandma loved you and did all kinds of little extras, usually in the form of her left over dinner. We were constantly watching your weight. The next eight years you saw her through bouts of pneumonia, hurricanes, broken bones and surgery. You had your share of issues, too. In May of 2008 your toenail became infected and after unsuccessful treatment, had to have the toe amputated. It didn’t faze you a bit. The following year things got a little more serious. In addition to increasing arthritic problems, Grandma told me your eye didn’t look right. We found out you had glaucoma, probably due to some kind of trauma or injury though we couldn’t think what trauma or injury you could have suffered. Our vet did everything he could, but nothing he did worked so we were referred to a Veterinary Ophthalmologist who tweaked your meds, also with negative results. Ultimately, your beautiful right brown eye had to be removed and then we discovered there was a tumor, but it was removed with no difficulty. You did look like Frankenstein’s puppy for a while, what with drains above and below your shaved face; but hair grows back and again you handled it like a trooper.
Then 2010 came with a lot of changes. You must have been so confused with all the packing. After Grandma had her shoulder replacement surgery, the two of you moved with us to Texas and you reunited with Chief and two other dogs. I hoped you would all get along, but you pretty much just ignored each other. I know you probably missed patrolling your old yard. Being in your 14th year I was concerned how you would do during the move, but again you hung in there with your old stamina.
Poor baby – growing old is not for sissies and you were no sissy. Your arthritis was flaring up, your right side especially bad and I was having difficulty finding a local vet that could perform Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulations (every vet should be able to perform this treatment). Finally I found a vet an hour’s drive from our new home, but she was very kind, very compassionate and very patient. We liked her immediately and I think you did too. She gave you some great massages that made me envious and of course there were those famous doggie treats. Then she suggested a new laser treatment that might be more effective. We did try and I think they were to a point, but I think your poor body was getting tired of it all. Everything was such an effort, getting up, getting in the car, etc. Then, last week during a laser treatment, the tech discovered one of several fatty lumps on your body started to ooze. When she pulled the hair away for a better look, it started bleeding quite profusely and it took cauterization and styptic powder to stop it. Grandma and I were concerned about it starting up again, which was quite likely, so we elected to have it surgically removed. The vet was not keen to do so because of your age, but Grandma and I thought it would be best. Maybe the procedure accelerated things, maybe not…
You were pretty weak after the surgery and we helped you walk with a towel under your hips. For the first few days we helped you up and outside and you did walk by yourself, but you seemed to weaken and before long I was doing most of the holding up. We were hoping you would get your strength back and Grandma fed you pretty much anything you wanted. Your appetite never failed and you loved everything. We had to watch our fingers a couple of times, there was nothing wrong with your teeth. But at some point, I think it all caught up to you and every movement was effort, even lying down. I talked to the vet and I even called our Florida vet for some advice.
Grandma and I made the heartbreaking decision that you should keep the rest of your dignity. Your spirit was there, but it was tired and being held in a body that didn’t work anymore. You needed to rest. It was so difficult getting you in the car; did you know where you were going? After the longest car ride of my life, we arrived at the vet and two techs came out and carried you inside. We sat with you and talked to you telling you how much we loved you. The vet gave you a shot that let you go into a peaceful sleep, and we stayed with you. After a few moments, she gave you the last shot you would ever have and you stepped onto Rainbow Bridge.
I know that you are chasing cats and squirrels all over the Bridge, free of pain and fast as lightning with your bluish black coat just shining. We miss you so very much, but you will always be with us. We feel blessed to have had such an incredible being in our lives; we needed you as much as you needed us. Please, be nice to Sunshine –
Missing you with all our hearts,
| Samantha |
| 4, Jan 2011 |
| Anita Merrell, J & D Altizer |