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| www.bustersangelsrescue.com |
Those Who Wait at the Bridge . . . |
“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” -Konrad Lorenz |
Braysia
February 22, 2009
February 22, 2009
Braysia was just like her name, unique and beautiful. She was 110% Lhasa –
proud, beautiful, a little attitude and a mighty protector! She came to me as a
foster in November 2005 confused, sad and not healthy due to years of
untreatable allergies and lack of care. It took Braysia a long time to come out
of her depression because her previous owner dropped her off at the
groomers and never came back for her. Story has it, the owner was taking her
to the vet to be euthanized because she was tired of dealing with her
allergies, but was too embarrassed because of the shape Braysia was in so the
owner made a stop at the groomers first. The groomer found out what Braysia’
s fate was going to be and asked the owner to turn her over to a rescue group.
I spent a year and a half trying to get Braysia’s allergies under control. It
seemed no matter what I did, nothing helped. Until one day, a previous
adopter told me about Dr. Pitcairn’s book on animal health and homemade dog
food recipes. I took Braysia off of commercial dog food and began feeding her
homemade dog food, fish oil supplements, Vitamin C and a multi vitamin. Within
three weeks her allergies disappeared! She was a new dog! I can only imagine
how good she felt not to be biting and itching at herself. At this point, Braysia
was ready for her new world. My female Shih Tzu, Lily, taught Braysia how to
play with her and my male Shih Tzu, Mic, and how to enjoy life again.
As time went on, I received inquiries from potential adopters but nothing ever
came of it, mostly because of her age and the fact she would need a special
diet, which was not hard but most people want “easy”. What was stated to me
on numerous occasions is that they would feel bad taking her from me because
she had been with me for so long. In July of 2008, I adopted her and she
officially became part of my family. Braysia knew the day I adopted her too;
she smiled and wagged her tail all day and then we went to PetSmart to get
her official tag engraved.
Unfortunately, one month after I adopted her, she was diagnosed with
degenerative disc disease; it is a disease that does not get better, it
continually gets worse. Surgery was not an option at her age of 11 ½, so I put
her on meds and kept her comfortable for as long as I could. I told Braysia
that I would continue to do this until I knew her quality of life was no longer
there for her. That day came the morning of February 22. I could tell in
Braysia’s eyes that she wanted to be free of the pain and wanted to go Home.
It was a devastating decision but one that I knew needed to be made.
Braysia overcame so many obstacles in her life and was a fighter until the end.
She was a brave soul! Looking back, I realize the biggest thing Braysia taught
me was unconditional love. No dog is perfect, but if you learn to accept them,
overlook their quirks and give them a second chance you will find no greater
love. She is a true inspiration for all dogs that need a second chance when
their special someone has given up on them.
There is a large oak tree in my backyard that Braysia and Lily would sit under
and wait for their tree friends (the squirrels) to come down so they could play
the game of chase. Braysia’s eyesight and hearing had deteriorated so Lily had
to be her “chasing coach”, which she did not mind at all. Today, Braysia lays to
rest under that large oak tree and I know she will always be with us because
they never truly leave….their spirit always remains close; you just have to look
for the signs.
proud, beautiful, a little attitude and a mighty protector! She came to me as a
foster in November 2005 confused, sad and not healthy due to years of
untreatable allergies and lack of care. It took Braysia a long time to come out
of her depression because her previous owner dropped her off at the
groomers and never came back for her. Story has it, the owner was taking her
to the vet to be euthanized because she was tired of dealing with her
allergies, but was too embarrassed because of the shape Braysia was in so the
owner made a stop at the groomers first. The groomer found out what Braysia’
s fate was going to be and asked the owner to turn her over to a rescue group.
I spent a year and a half trying to get Braysia’s allergies under control. It
seemed no matter what I did, nothing helped. Until one day, a previous
adopter told me about Dr. Pitcairn’s book on animal health and homemade dog
food recipes. I took Braysia off of commercial dog food and began feeding her
homemade dog food, fish oil supplements, Vitamin C and a multi vitamin. Within
three weeks her allergies disappeared! She was a new dog! I can only imagine
how good she felt not to be biting and itching at herself. At this point, Braysia
was ready for her new world. My female Shih Tzu, Lily, taught Braysia how to
play with her and my male Shih Tzu, Mic, and how to enjoy life again.
As time went on, I received inquiries from potential adopters but nothing ever
came of it, mostly because of her age and the fact she would need a special
diet, which was not hard but most people want “easy”. What was stated to me
on numerous occasions is that they would feel bad taking her from me because
she had been with me for so long. In July of 2008, I adopted her and she
officially became part of my family. Braysia knew the day I adopted her too;
she smiled and wagged her tail all day and then we went to PetSmart to get
her official tag engraved.
Unfortunately, one month after I adopted her, she was diagnosed with
degenerative disc disease; it is a disease that does not get better, it
continually gets worse. Surgery was not an option at her age of 11 ½, so I put
her on meds and kept her comfortable for as long as I could. I told Braysia
that I would continue to do this until I knew her quality of life was no longer
there for her. That day came the morning of February 22. I could tell in
Braysia’s eyes that she wanted to be free of the pain and wanted to go Home.
It was a devastating decision but one that I knew needed to be made.
Braysia overcame so many obstacles in her life and was a fighter until the end.
She was a brave soul! Looking back, I realize the biggest thing Braysia taught
me was unconditional love. No dog is perfect, but if you learn to accept them,
overlook their quirks and give them a second chance you will find no greater
love. She is a true inspiration for all dogs that need a second chance when
their special someone has given up on them.
There is a large oak tree in my backyard that Braysia and Lily would sit under
and wait for their tree friends (the squirrels) to come down so they could play
the game of chase. Braysia’s eyesight and hearing had deteriorated so Lily had
to be her “chasing coach”, which she did not mind at all. Today, Braysia lays to
rest under that large oak tree and I know she will always be with us because
they never truly leave….their spirit always remains close; you just have to look
for the signs.
Benny didn't have a very good life until he came into rescue. He was found as a
stray and taken to the City of Houston Pound (BARC) that has a reputation of
being one of the worst shelters in the country with a high euthanasia rate. A
volunteer pulled him for a rescue I was working with at the time and he was left
at the vet for boarding. A young couple adopted him and a week later decided
they "were not ready for a dog" and returned him. Then a few weeks later a
retired woman adopted him and was going to have a puppy shower for him with all
her friends and it seemed like the perfect home for this little guy. Well, he
was returned to the rescue AGAIN because she decided he scared her yard
man with his barking. That was in 2004. No one wanted to foster him because
they were told he was "crate aggressive" so I took him on.
From the beginning he was a good boy at my house. I think he knew he was
finally "home". He was relaxed and happy and yes, he would bark at my yardman
and did all the things dogs are supposed to do, but he had the sweetest eyes and
a smile that would melt your heart.
He had been perfectly healthy and then one morning he stumbled when he got
out of bed and could not right himself. I knew he had had a stroke and I rushed
him to my vet. We treated him with drugs for a week and he seemed to rally
but he had another, much stronger stroke and we decided it was the kindest
thing we could to ease his suffering and let him cross the Bridge. He left us on
March 20, 2009.
I hope that I brought him some happiness in the 5 years he was with me and that
he is happy alongside Buster and all the other sweet souls that went before him.
Thank you, Benny, for giving me the chance to make up for the rough start you
had in life and making me feel you were "at home" with me.
| Benny March 20, 2009 |