Richard, You, Suzie, Charlie and Sue will be walking the beaches with Old Fella and Levi. Their spirit has just been repositioned into a yellow body. Levi and Old Fella are happy and playing at the Rainbow Bridge. I know this because Beau told me to tell you not to be in sorrow. They are having such a good time running and bouncing through the waters under the Bridge. What fun. They know that someday you will be able to see them again.
Dandy Dan dan218b@tds.net
Dan and Lori Branson, Anna 1 (the rescue)
and Beau (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)
2005 Dodge QuadCab 2500 4x4 Hemi
2009 Open Range 337RLS
RV.Net Ohio Rally Member
Just a quick note here to tell you the Good Year Tire and Rubber Company just sent me an email telling me they will reimburse me for the price of the new tire as I had asked for. Quick response from them I think. Since I had repaired all the damage to the camper myself and it didn't cost me anything except the labor as I already had the material to do it with, and what I didn't have CSRA Camperland gave me {material for a liner in the wheel well}. I didn't feel it was right to make money off of Good Year so I didn't ask for anything else. At least I am satisfied and feel good about it.
2005 Ford XLT F250 Supercab - 6.0 Turbo Diesel
2005 27RL Wildcat Fifth wheel/Reese 16K hitch
Wife Sue
Pets: Old Fella, Levi and Charlie at Rainbow Bridge. Suzie the Imp, Peaches the Princess and Izzie the cat.
Kudos to Goodyear, good to know they really stand behind their product!
Woodstick and Queen of the North
Woody and Patsy and our Furkids-Oreo, a black lab and Cookie, mix of Shihtzu, Bichon, Lhasa Apso
38' Sportsmen Sportster Toy Hauler
Pulled by 2003 3500 Dodge Diesel 6 speed Rolling Castle Blog
Patsy does all the posting.
This has been a hard week for my family and I as we lost one of our dogs to something we never knew existed in dogs...meningitis. It is very difficult to type this, but I want to warn everyone that I know who cares about dogs.
The background...Darlin came to us in April from a rescue at the city pound. She was a small dog, possibly a blue heeler mix. Her name suited her to a "T". I advertised her to everyone as "the perfect dog." She was a foster but I had stopped promoting her for adoption and intended to make her one of our permanent residents. I loved her to death. Everyday that she was with us, she made it known how much she appreciated being saved.
When we arrived home from the July transport, Darlin was acting funny and my family told me what she was doing (extreme hypersensitivity to touch or even when she thought she would be touched and she had a strange stature, she was, at times lethargic). I took her the next morning (Wed.) to our vet. She examined Darlin and treated her for a pulled muscle. She did not have a fever at this time. She put her on rimadyl and a muscle relaxer. She told me that if I didn't see improvement by Friday, to bring her back in. We did see improvement and continued the prescribed medications. Darlin still appeared lethargic, at times, but I attributed it to the muscle relaxers. She still wanted to go out and after a few days continued to go on her daily run to the ponds. This past Sunday Darlin layed around more than normal. She didn't move from her soft bed too often but continued to thump her tail everytime she saw me looking at her. On Monday afternoon I took her back to the vet. She would not walk and she layed flat out on the floor of the clinic. The vet took blood and told me to bring her back in the morning to do xrays, more blood work and a spinal tap. She was not comfortable doing a spinal tap but she was worried it was meningitis. She gave me two other possible diagnosis. She put her on antibiotics to reduce the fever that had developed. I took Darlin home and made her comfortable. The next morning Clifford dropped her at the vets office.
At approx. 10:30, the vet called with results from the xray and bloodwork. They showed nothing leading the vet to believe it was the other possible diagnosis. She was unable to do a spinal tap, but offered for me to take her to St. Francis for a confirmation. She wanted to treat Darlin, as if it were meningitis, with steriods. In the meantime I was doing alot of research on the internet and worrying as I read that there was only a 60% success rate. I still never believed that we would lose her. By 12:40 the vet was calling. Darlin had taken a turn for the worse and her brain was swelling. She was in a lot of pain and the vet suggested that euthanization would be the kindest thing to do at this point. It took us approx. 30 minutes to get there, to be with her. She was given valium to keep her more comfortable. By the time we arrived, Darlin has seizured and was brain dead. After saying our goodbyes, Darlin was euthanized.
It has been a hard week, a hard loss. Four months or fourteen years, it doesn't matter when you love a dog, and she was a very special one. I wanted to write this, not to make anyone feel bad or worry about my emotional health (which is or will get better), but to please pass along this devasting, often unknown, illness. Everything happened so fast, at the end. If your dog (or someone you know's) gets a stiff neck,please don't assume that it is muscular. If the other symptoms appear (hypersensitivity to touch, fever) request a spinal tap or to at least ask about the possibility of meningitis. I tend to think that I know some stuff about dogs, but I never knew that dogs could get meningitis. I hold no fault with the vet as I have read how rare it can be, especially with no infection known previously and no fever at the first visit. If I had to do all over again, I would have taken her in when there wasn't enough improvement made with her neck. My regret.
I feel blessed to have had her here these past 4 months. I just wish it could have been 14 years.
I came across this today and just wondered if it had been posted here or not. If it has please enjoy it again because I believe it helps us to understand our pets from their point of view.
Ten commandments for pets
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years or more. Any seperation from you will be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me. Don't break my spirit with your temper, though I will always forgive you. Your patience will teach me more effectively.
3. Please have me spayed or nuetered.
4. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for our kindness than mine. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up for punishment. After all, you have your job, friends, your entertainment, I only have you.
5. Speak to me often. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me. Your voice is the sweetest sound I ever hear, as you must know by my enthusiasm whenever I hear your footsetps.
6. Take me in when it's cold and wet, I'm a domestic animal and am no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me. Keep my bowl filled with water. Feed me good food so that I may stay well to romp and play. By your side, I stand ready, willing and able to share my life with you, for that is what I live for. I'll never forget how well you have treated me.
7. Don't hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, Iv'e been out in the sun too long, my ear might hurt, or my heart might be getting weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old. For you too will grow old.
10. When I am old, or when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my trusting life is taken gently, and be with me when it is time to say goodbye. Never say "I just can't bear to watch it." Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands. I love you.
Sad news about Darlin. May she romp and play at the Rainbow Bridge with Fella and Levi and all our beloved pets. I know my Buddy just made a great new friend.
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