Sa'di (Long-term Foster) ... RIP Sept 2013
(Means 'lucky, fortunate and blessed' in Arabic)
This poor little girlie (13 yrs+) had been living rough before going to the pound. So emaciated and shattered when picked up she slept for 3days after arriving and was not expected to make it through even the 7day holding period. Named ‘Chloe’ she became a firm favourite.
A post on the Rescue Helpers Unite website was asking for a rescue space although it was feared that due to the amount wrong with her she would not be offered anything. I saw her photo and my heart melted ... even when I got the vet report I knew I wanted to help her.
Her story was, unfortunately of late so typical of older dogs being dumped because they needed expensive treatment. This was not going to be a quick fix or even a fix at all really and I knew she would not be going anywhere but staying with us. I'm not sure that she is long for this world but at least she will now have all the comfort she deserves and the love.
This poor little girlie (13 yrs+) had been living rough before going to the pound. So emaciated and shattered when picked up she slept for 3days after arriving and was not expected to make it through even the 7day holding period. Named ‘Chloe’ she became a firm favourite.
A post on the Rescue Helpers Unite website was asking for a rescue space although it was feared that due to the amount wrong with her she would not be offered anything. I saw her photo and my heart melted ... even when I got the vet report I knew I wanted to help her.
Her story was, unfortunately of late so typical of older dogs being dumped because they needed expensive treatment. This was not going to be a quick fix or even a fix at all really and I knew she would not be going anywhere but staying with us. I'm not sure that she is long for this world but at least she will now have all the comfort she deserves and the love.
She is a tiny collie x (smaller than my Sheltie) and has the sweetest nature. Poor eyesight, deaf and her vet report was long - bad teeth, ear and eye infections, flea allergy which untreated had caused hair loss on her back, lumps in her mammary glands (even at her age they think she had not long ago had puppies), problems walking and a cyst on her back leg. The question was where to start.
Ear drops, eye cream, antibiotics and a daily medicated shampoo for her skin (she had already had Frontline spray at the pound to kill the fleas) then after her blood test came back clear she was given Metacam to ease the pain in her back legs.
In just one week of TLC, good food, meds and the attention she deserves she is a different dog. Her cheeky personality is starting to come out, bossing us about verbally if she cannot get her own way. She is fully house-trained and will bark to let you know she wants to go out. There is no problem with the cats, not because she takes no notice of them but because she makes a fuss of them, which they love. She has even started to play (gently). She has slotted into the Misfits Gang as if it is her rightful place and they all love her.
Ear drops, eye cream, antibiotics and a daily medicated shampoo for her skin (she had already had Frontline spray at the pound to kill the fleas) then after her blood test came back clear she was given Metacam to ease the pain in her back legs.
In just one week of TLC, good food, meds and the attention she deserves she is a different dog. Her cheeky personality is starting to come out, bossing us about verbally if she cannot get her own way. She is fully house-trained and will bark to let you know she wants to go out. There is no problem with the cats, not because she takes no notice of them but because she makes a fuss of them, which they love. She has even started to play (gently). She has slotted into the Misfits Gang as if it is her rightful place and they all love her.
One thing that is certain is that I don’t want her to be put through major surgery at her age. It was decided with our vet that she would have a very light anaesthetic so her back legs could be x-rayed, (this will give them a better idea how to treat the walking problem and keep her free from pain), the cyst would be removed because it really bothered her and her teeth cleaned to get rid of the infection.
She is booked in for surgery Monday (15.10.2012)
She is booked in for surgery Monday (15.10.2012)
The op went well and although she was a little unsettled that night she bounced back by the next afternoon. The xray showed signs of old, untreated spine injuries, arthritis and hip dysplasia so Metacam will continue although in a different dose. Ten days later she was due to have her stitches out but although she is full of it in herself and has even started to play with a ball due to her age the wound is not healing. The stitches have been replaced with staples and she is back on antibiotics.
Dec 2012 and what a difference.
She is getting slower and forgets what she is doing sometimes but she is loving life now.
We thought she was getting incontinent as occasionally she would wake from a deep sleep, wet her bed then try to lick it up but when she realised where she was she was mortified. However, we think it stems back to her street days when she could not find water.
It breaks our hearts to see her little face as she realises what she's done and thinks she will be in trouble. She is so deperate not to do anything to make this good life end ... I wish we could tell her that she is now safe and part of the family.
She is getting slower and forgets what she is doing sometimes but she is loving life now.
We thought she was getting incontinent as occasionally she would wake from a deep sleep, wet her bed then try to lick it up but when she realised where she was she was mortified. However, we think it stems back to her street days when she could not find water.
It breaks our hearts to see her little face as she realises what she's done and thinks she will be in trouble. She is so deperate not to do anything to make this good life end ... I wish we could tell her that she is now safe and part of the family.
Update - March 2013
Sa'di by the Sea
The relocation to Scotland sees us living in a house that looks straight out to the Isle of Arran and across the North Sea.
The beach stretches for miles and although her back legs fail her often she loves nothing better than a slow mooch along the seashore and a little paddle with the rest of her pack.
The relocation to Scotland sees us living in a house that looks straight out to the Isle of Arran and across the North Sea.
The beach stretches for miles and although her back legs fail her often she loves nothing better than a slow mooch along the seashore and a little paddle with the rest of her pack.
SAD NEWS ...
The battle with cancer has finally been lost and so it was with a heavy heart that at 11am on the 9th September 2013 we helped Sa'di to the bridge. We had the privilege of being able to ensure that at the end of her life she had all the things every dog deserves but she was not supposed to worm her way into our hearts ... it was so hard for us all :(
She slipped away gently having won the hearts of those at the vets. RIP sweet lady and enjoy Rainbow Bridge, with what you went through before landing with us you have certainly earned you wings.
She slipped away gently having won the hearts of those at the vets. RIP sweet lady and enjoy Rainbow Bridge, with what you went through before landing with us you have certainly earned you wings.
Tribute to a lovely lady
In September last year Lee who helps out a lot for the rescue took in an old poundie. Sa'di is a collie x spaniel and has been a heartwarming story for all those involved. My dad went to get her from the pound and in his words 'when I picked Sa'di up from the pound she walked so slow and I had to lift her into the car'. At the vets Sa'di was given a list of problems, she had mammary tumours, was deaf and nearly blind and her skin was in terrible condition. Sa'di was given just a few weeks to live. She was in good hands though and although Lee knew her time would be short with Sa'di she gave her the best possible life, and when Lee moved up to Scotland earlier this year it was a shock to see videos of Sa'di running happy and free on the beach without a care in the world. She was happy and still fighting to make sure the end of her days would be the best.
So it was a shock when I went to petsit for Lee that Sa'di was still fighting and was so happy and bubbly. Her little cheeky grin she gave when she wanted feeding really gave me a reason to smile. For the two weeks I was there Sa'di was going strong but sadly when Lee came home she took a downward turn. Her cancer had progressed, she had to be carried to bed and the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. Sa'di brought smiles all around till the day she went to rainbow bridge.
Lee knew she was on borrowed time with Sa'di but I don't think anyone expected her to surpass her few weeks to live by a year. She was a fighter and had the best last year anybody could possibly ask for a dog.
Now please consider this, when you get a dog they will get old, they will break your heart and they may get ill. But they only have you, they are so loyal to you so when it comes to them being old and frail don't dump them and leave them to die on their own, stand by them until their very last breath because they would do that to you.
When I came home from uni in December 2011, my girl went downhill from the day I went home. Before that she had been fine but she had waited for me as Sa'di had waited for her owners. And when it came the time to say goodbye I held her in my arms one last time and watched as she peacefully slipped away. It is heartbreaking having a dog but the amount of love and memories they will give you is worth the heartbreak so please don't forget that.
So it was a shock when I went to petsit for Lee that Sa'di was still fighting and was so happy and bubbly. Her little cheeky grin she gave when she wanted feeding really gave me a reason to smile. For the two weeks I was there Sa'di was going strong but sadly when Lee came home she took a downward turn. Her cancer had progressed, she had to be carried to bed and the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. Sa'di brought smiles all around till the day she went to rainbow bridge.
Lee knew she was on borrowed time with Sa'di but I don't think anyone expected her to surpass her few weeks to live by a year. She was a fighter and had the best last year anybody could possibly ask for a dog.
Now please consider this, when you get a dog they will get old, they will break your heart and they may get ill. But they only have you, they are so loyal to you so when it comes to them being old and frail don't dump them and leave them to die on their own, stand by them until their very last breath because they would do that to you.
When I came home from uni in December 2011, my girl went downhill from the day I went home. Before that she had been fine but she had waited for me as Sa'di had waited for her owners. And when it came the time to say goodbye I held her in my arms one last time and watched as she peacefully slipped away. It is heartbreaking having a dog but the amount of love and memories they will give you is worth the heartbreak so please don't forget that.
Now as heart wrenching as this post is to read, trust me it was a hard one to write and now to end it I will just post a video that has always made me hold on when I think of my Em.
http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html
Thank You Lucy
http://lucythedogfosterer.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html
Thank You Lucy
http://lucythedogfosterer.blogspot.co.uk/
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