Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I am so sorry





Yesterday was a very bad day for rescue dogs.


I hate, gentle readers, I just hate to have to share this with you, but I feel it would be somehow dishonest not to.


Last evening, Matt called with the very sad news that Elsa/Shelby had died. She was undergoing her heartworm treatment (they had opted for the more gentle six month treatment, due to her heart enlargement) and things were going well. Then she came in season, only to find she had pyometra. They had no option but to do emergency surgery.


She seemed to be doing fine post op, but while she was still recovering at the vet's, she started to hemorrhage intra-abdominally (a common complication of pyo surgery) and had to have a second emergency surgery. Unfortunately, because her liver and kidneys were compromised from her malnutrition and/or the heartworm infection, she was unable to recover from the second surgery, going into multi system failure.


Molly and Matt were with her, and, after hearing the news from the vet that her situation was quite hopeless, they had just made the decision to end her suffering. Practically at that moment, Elsa simply laid her head down and stopped breathing. She probably had an embolism, or she maybe knew that it was OK to stop fighting and rest.


Please, dear readers, hold Molly and Matt, and Deb and Merle in your hearts. I pray those four good people are able to take significant comfort in the great good they did for this dog. Elsa/Shelby knew love and pampering and couches and sleeping in bed and good food and treats and play and more love. Dogs don't know time, but they do know love. And thanks to those good people, Elsa/Shelby knew an infinite love.




hug your precious hounds




29 comments:

  1. How very sad! You all will be in my thoughts.

    Levi's mom

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  2. We are so sad along with you. What wonderful days of love and happiness Elsa/Shelby and her family has had. Infinite love measured one day at a time.

    Appreciating my hound,

    Kathy (I couldn't bear to tell
    Star)

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  3. Oh Patience, no :( My thoughts are with Molly and Matt and Deb and Merle.

    Run free Elsa/Shelby...I am forever thankful that, of all the people, it was Patience that found you and that you had a home where you were loved and cherished in the short time you had with them. Be at peace now.

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  4. Oh how sad. We are so glad her last few months were her being loved and cared for.

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  5. Very sad. Booker is sending a mournful hounddog howl. Remember there is love abounding at the Rainbow Bridge.

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  6. Dear Patience,

    Between the sad news about Elsa/Shelby and then the reality plus the story of Sweetie, plus -- if you read our latest post about Jakey getting into some chocolate and scaring the beejeebers out of me -- not to mention the crazy crazy world we are living in -- I feel an ache that just won't stop. I know times are tough for you -- do you need any help with Sweetie? Please let us know. You do so much for so many already!!

    Joan (Jake is under house arrest and not allowed to communicate and Just Harry is too busy saying nyah nyah nyah)

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  7. Oh that is so sad. But how wonderful Elsa-Shelby had such good parents at the end.

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  8. oh no... for some reasons we kept thinking of Shelby for the past few days she reminded us so much of our miracle dog, Genie who fought a fought battle and had managed to recover.

    We always thought that Shelby is going to have a happily ever after story but her happiness did not last too long.

    Our thoughts are with you and the 4 very special human who had made a big difference in Shelby's life. Patience, you are an amazing lady to have such big heart to be able to help so many dogs in need. Keep it up. We need more people like you to make this world a better place for everyone.

    Luv
    Snowball

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  9. Oh dear PL2 has those leaky eyes again.....There are many fine friends to meet her up there and she had the best taking care of her and giving her love..Love and kisses A+A

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  10. We are so very, very sorry! We're so happy that Elsa knew real love even if it was for just a short time! Our thoughts and prayers are with all that knew and loved her!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  11. talk about a bad day! Makes mine look like a walk in the park (but not with Teka)

    srrsly, we would do anything we can to help with sweetie, or if Matt/Molly need some Elsa/Shelby support

    b, g, and T!

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  12. Grief, grief and more grief...Good grief....

    My eyes are really needing a rest.....

    Hopefully there will be some sunshine in Paducah soon and a lot less black clouds!

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  13. Oh, that just SUCKS. When you posted about Sweetie, I wondered how Elsa/Shelby was doing. Poor girl. At least, she knew love. Run free, and may those that loved her meet her at the Bridge some day.

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  14. It is a sad day. I had a friend lose her little aussie today too (car hit him). Everybody obviously did the best the could. She had some good quality of life and lots of love & caring. We send our love and thoughts and prayers to you and her family.

    River's mom & hounds

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  15. Hi my name is Eduardo, I'm a snuggle puggle! I added you to my blog I hope you don't mind! Please visit my blog.
    Hugs & Snugs,
    Eduardo the Snuggle Puggle

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  16. Oh,dear,oh dear!! I,too, thought of Shelby/Elsa when reading the Sweetie story..again, they BOTH had pure,true love at the end..no matter how short in human terms..Whippie kisses and condolences to all concerned..Martha and the wonderful,deeply loved P-Doggy

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  17. I just can't take any more bad news.

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  18. Poor Elsa/Shelby and what a sad week all around. It is amazing to see her in pictures--knowing what she looked like before. When my ma ape is sad she likes to put her head in my chest and let me rest my head on hers. It does wonders for our hearts. Dr. Wally prescribes multiple whippet hugs.

    wally t.

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  19. "Dogs don't know time they know Love" both Elsa/Shelby and Sweetie left this Earth with love in their hearts and souls because of you and your family.

    Thank you for being a better person than I am...

    HJ & The Whippet Gang +1/2

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  20. You guys have had quite a rough few days over there and we are sending all the healing vibes to you and to all of those that were touched by Elsa/ Shelby. You guys all did a great thing in helping her.

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  21. I am so sorry to hear about Elsa/Shelby.
    I know they did all they could to help her.
    They are in our prayers.
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  22. Moly Matt,DEb and Earl, have our sympathies and thanks for giving Elsa/Shelby a taste of hooman love and care..We are so sorry for this news..but you said it so well..It's not the time, but the love the doggies know
    sad smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  23. We feel so sad to hear this. Though so, it's with comfort knowing that she's not suffering and had a loving time with people who loved her.

    Keeping you, Molly, Matt, Deb and Merle in our thoughts and prayers.

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  24. oh man that is so sad.

    but at least she didn't die of starvation. she had six good months of love and food. and that is no small thing.

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  25. how very sad...but all of you did so much to improve her quality of life overall...you did everything you could and showed her that she was worthy and humans can be compassionate and provide love and a warm house again. for that you should be proud or at least find some consolance.

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  26. We will add them to the circle of healing vibes. At least she went knowing she was truly loved.

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  27. I truly believe that, for dogs, one day of love and peace is a lifetime for an abandoned/lost dog, and all those concerned did what they could to provide that, and their actions and thoughts will be noticed. Take heart in the trust and love the dogs gave in return - it's a better reward than money, fame, or possessions.

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  28. I'm so sorry to hear this. Elsa/Shelby's family and friends are in my thoughts.

    Christina

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  29. Oh.. I'm so sorry.. But at least she had her life turned around and knew love and comfort and happiness before she passed!

    Hugs ,Ane

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