It’s been almost a Month, and I can finally talk about how hard loosing my beloved Dog Tyson was.
Tyson passed away Sunday August 19th. It was done Peacefully at Home, Thanks to Dr.Drabant and Riverdale Animal Clinic. It meant so much to Len and I that Dr.Drabant not only took my panicked phone call Saturday Aug 18th evening…he rushed to meet us and re-open the Vet Clinic just for Tyson, but he also came the following Day to our Home on what was clearly his weekend off. On the evening of the 18th, Tyson wouldn’t/couldn’t Stand up…he was fine just a few hours before…So we wrapped Tyson in a blanket, and while I tried not to drive like a complete Maniac, we rushed to the Clinic. My Hubby sat in the backseat with Tyson just laying there calmly, Tyson’s head on his lap.
The Calm car ride was the 1st sign this was really happening… the day I had been dreading for Months. Tyson was never calm in the car, in fact he always became so worked up his Tummy got upset, and he normally would have an “accident” or Throw Up in the back seat.
Tyson and I first met while I was working as a Veterinary assistant 15 years ago. Our Clinic was used by the Local No-Kill Animal Shelter A.R.M. which at that time was on Warden Ave.
His entire litter came in to our Clinic with Parvo. 4 looked very much like Pit Bulls, and 2 Looked more like their Mom (Shepard/Husky). We treated them, and they all went back to the shelter after about a week or so. But then the 2 little Shepard pups of the litter came back…. we treated them again for another 1-2 weeks…and sent them back to the Shelter. Only to receive them back at the Clinic the 3rd and final time.
We had gotten to know and love these 2 Fur-Babies… and were quite concerned, as they hadn’t seemed to grow over the weeks, and were weak and had no appetite yet again. We re-started their treatment, and noticed their Gums were White (anemic).
On a Saturday morning I was opening up the clinic, cleaning the cages, giving the current Animals their meds, and Breakfast. I went to the cage where the 2 little Pups were, and found the Boy was laying over his little Sister. She had passed away during the night. At that very moment it was decided, that little Boy was mine…. I scooped him out of the cage, and carried him around with me for the rest of the morning. Enough was enough.
When I told the Vet, who was the very same Dr.Drabant, my intentions of taking on this sick little Puppy, he grew concerned as he knew I already had a handful 2 year old Shephard/Irish Wolfhound and Multiple Saved Cats at home… and he once again said “Vanessa, you cannot save the whole world”…. to which he received my repeated response “Nope, But I can save this one.” I want his treatment to change, I want Blood work done etc. (the Animal Shelter could not afford all the Bells & Whistles… and honestly neither could I…but that’s what a “running Tab” was for)
Dr.Drabant shook his head at me and said, well he can’t go anywhere yet, we still need to treat him. And we can do Blood work if you want….put him back in the Cage and talk to your Mom first. Oh Yah… Mom… She’s not going to like this. Oh well.. she yells, and after 1-2 weeks falls in love with them anyway. I know the trouble I’ll be in…but it’s worth it.
The following Monday I skipped in after School to start my shift… went to the cage to see my new Puppy…. and he was GONE. Turns out Dr.Drabant said A.R.M. had been by the clinic, and ended up taking Tyson back to the Shelter on Meds. I was so upset, I hopped in my car and drove down to the Shelter…. demanded the Puppy…and after I located him, they waived the adoption fee and wished me well, all the while reminding me this was “A Very Sick Puppy”. Back to work I went… with Tyson in the passenger seat.
When I returned to work I said “Nice Try Doc…. now, treat MY puppy”. LOL
Tyson was a Sickly Dog his entire life, his Liver never came up properly on any Bloodwork… and he had developed Chronic Pancreatitis by the Age of 2. ANYTHING foreign… Dog Treats, Switching Foods, too much Grass, Kitty Litter surfing, Human scraps, etc would all send him into a VERY Violent Attack… so we eventually got him onto a Very strict diet, and had to Crate him while we went out to work, and again at night. This was to keep him from chewing on anything, being a “vacuum” along the floor, breaking into the Garbage, Kitty Litter Boxes, etc. I was convinced he was kinda Suicidal sometimes. Just never got the “I eat that….I suffer Horribly”.
I always felt so bad that he was always on the Verge of becoming so Sick, and I hated how his Freedom and Diet had to be so strict…. how much he was missing out on. But, we enjoyed our walks, playing chase around the hall/kitchen, he LOVED to roll in the grass (which was a Ploy…his mouth would grab grass with every roll) and at the end, for the last few months, I had to carry him down the Stairs to outside… which was a perfect time to give his Old boney Head a Kiss…. he always looked so cute with all 4 legs jetting straight forward in anticipation of being put on the ground.
I miss him so incredibly much. I will never forget Dr.Drabant suggesting we take him home that last night, he knew this was our time to say Good Bye, and later told us he was waiting for the Phone Call on Sunday. I laid with Tyson all night on the living room floor, he could not stand up, and was very lethargic. Just after we made the Phone call the following day and were waiting for Dr.Drabant, my Husband decided to cook Tyson a Steak… he even used Spices and Margarine to make it as Tasty as possible for him. When he put the bowl down, Tyson scooched along the ground towards it. Eyes sort if lit up, if he could have stood up, that would have been the time. He ate every last piece, and I could see how Happy that made my Hubby… Just before the First Needle was given I also had my opportunity to give him a few Chocolate Timbits! Even though the Steak was already reminding us why Tyson couldn’t eat Human Food… he fought to chew the Timbits. And then 2 needles later he was gone.
I will always remember Tyson, and his Big Sister Legend (Shepard/Irish Wolfhound) She had passed away from Cancer at 11 years old. They were such Joys in my life, and although the Pain of Loosing them was Horrific…. I would do it again, just to have them in my Life, and have the Years we did have with them. It’s a Trade off not too many understand… but it is something I have come to know as inevitable with Pet Ownership.
We normally out Live them, but if they are going to lead these Short Lives anyway…. I want to be there for it! Their Unconditional Love and Devotion to us Humans is something we should all aspire to have with each other. No judgement, just Happy to see you everyday.
RIP Tyson. I miss you everyday. I visualize Tyson and Legend meeting and Playing again on the Rainbow Bridge, and that fills my Heart with Comfort.
VBV
(And he kept falling asleep…I don’t think it gets any cuter)
