Angel Adopt '09

Hey guys!

Thanks again for holding this wonderful contest to promote adoption! I was saved when I was a sick boy and was given the most loving home and outstanding care. When it became too much for my Earthly body to take, my mom was there to hold me and comfort me on my journey to the Bridge.

Sadly, many pups don't get a chance to have that loving home. Many that are in shelters never know what it's like to have a comforting hand pet them, or toys to play with, or even enough food to eat. As a guardian angel, I watch over these pups everyday and when their time comes, I am here to greet them at the Bridge.

My wish is that everyone would be given the chance to know that joy and love for a rescue dog. These guys deserve a chance just like I did. There are far too many coming here before their time. :( I take them under my wings and show them around here, but am just left to wonder why it has to be this way. They should have run free on Earth and known that love of a special person. So please, the next time you think about getting a pet, remember those that are the neediest. There's someone out there for everyone!

Adopt 08 Contest

I'm going to tell you all my story. It's a little different than a lot of you, but to me it shows how wonderful it is to support adoption.

When I was six months old, I became very sick. I was brought into the vet to see what was wrong with me since I was stumbling, and acting drunk. Unfortunately when I was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure, with only a slight chance of recovery and the possibility of endless expensive treatments, I was going to be euthanized. Mom was there that day, and stepped in to say she would give me a chance.

The vet told her that I wasn't going to make it past the initial three days of teratment. Mom didn't care. She said that I was a puppy, and that if I was given a chance, that I would fight. So, for those three days, I was on fluids, mom came and sat with me, talked to me, and coaxed me through it. After only a few hours on fluids my behavior had changed completely and I acted like I wasn't even sick. After the three days, my kidney values had improved enough to where I could go 'home'. Mom took me in initially as a foster. She had every intention of getting in touch with a German Shepherd rescue group, but she knew it would have to be a very special and dedicated family that got me due to my medical problems.

I remember that first day at the house. I was afraid to go up or down the steps. I whined and paced and would lay down, and refuse to go anywhere. But there were so many cool things at this new house! There were cats to chase, toys to kill and Roswell to play with! It took about a day before I was running up and down the steps without even thinking. There were toys everywhere, and a nice yard to play in. And to think, just three days before, I was destined to go live with the angels. Three days, and I never would have known this much fun and love. But I was rescued!

Roswell and I became quick friends and I think our relationship made mom become a foster failure. We played together all the time. He'd knock me down, and chew on me. But I always bounced back up and would get him back. Mom always let me help her get him out of his kennel when she'd come home from somewhere. I'd whine and cry then race down the stairs to greet him. Then, I'd grab onto his neck when he got out and make him squeel! Hehehehe! I looked up to him, but I had my impish side too. I stole toys from him, and we had destuffing parties. :)) Man, it was soooo much fun!!!

As the rest of my diary indicates, I still was a sick boy. Through all the laughter and fun, I still had something going on inside me. But I fought hard. And without the love of my rescuer, my mom, I would never have known the joy that I felt for almost 8 months. She gave me a chance and ensured I had the best treatment possible. Above all, she showed me love. I got to do things, like play at the dog park, and wrestle with Roswell. I was never unhappy. I was always playing, even on my last day here. I chased a squirrel that last day. It was a wonderful thing.

My time here was cut short, but the memories and feelings will last forever. I am so thankful to my mom for taking me in, putting up with all my little quirks, and seeing me through my tough times. And when it came time to say goodbye, I was comforted to be in her loving arms, to hear her soothing voice letting me free. Yes, it takes a special person to save a life, but it also takes a special person to know when to release one too.

For everyone who has saved even one life, it is true that while you can't save them all, for that one that you are able to, it makes all the difference in their world. Thanks for loving me, mom.

My Tail of Devotion for Charlie (at the bridge)

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

Wings :)

Yay, I have wings and a Halo! Thank you so much Bambi for creating the beautiful picture for me. I love it!

I have also added some more pictures to my page. The quality isn't as great as some of the others, but they still are at least decent. Hope you enjoy them!

I'm seeing stars!!!

I just wanted to say thank you to each and every one of you generous Dogsters that have sent Stars and Rosettes my way. I have been furiously trying to keep up with thanking you each individually, and I sincerely apologize if I might have missed someone along the way. Being dog of the day was a very special honor and everyone's support has been absolutely amazing.

I have been chilling out here at the bridge. I met my mom's buddy, Bowser. He's been chatting me up with all of the trouble he used to get into. He's an interesting character and I can see why mom loved him so much.

I'm watching over mom too. She needs to be carefully watched... she tried to burn the house down the other day when she was looking at pictures of me and not paying attention to the chicken she was boiling for the other dogs.

It's all been a little chaotic still and I'm getting used to these wings.

Tribute Page:
Charlie's Tribute Page

Dog of the Day!

Aw, thanks so much Dogster for letting me have this honor :*). It really has made my mommy happy that I am being given this special day. There's been a lot of sadness with my passing and just knowing that you're thinking of her and my family is really touching.

We love all of you here and think you're the best!

Peaceful end to a rough few days

Tonight, mom took me to work with her as usual. While I was there, I was not feeling good at all. I was very weak, and my stomach just wouldn't settle down. I kept trying to get comfortable, going from bed to bed. I would lay down for a couple minutes, but then have to get back up again. Mom was really sad and upset tonight.

Towards the end of the night, she sat down on my bed next to me. She held me in her arms and told me that I was soon going to be free from all of this. She reminded me of our talk we had a few weeks ago. She said that I had been a very good boy and that she knew that she had to do what was best for me.

I'm not sure what happened next. All I remember is that there was a warmth that came over my body as a medication was being put into my arm. I starting drifting to sleep. It was so peaceful and my mom held me the whole time, talking softly to me. I felt her tears on me as she stroked my fur and told me she loved me.

When I woke up, I was in a beautiful place. I was surprised that my tummy no longer hurt. I was full of energy and started running around, happy. I no longer felt nauseous. It's so nice to not have to be sick anymore.

I will miss my family, but I know I will see them again one day.

A horrible night :(

Well folks, it's been a very bad night for me. I don't know what happened, since everything was looking so good for a while. Tonight, mom took me to work with her. She offered me dinner but I didn't want to eat. She tried getting me to eat stuffing, steak, and french fries, but I didn't want any of them. She gave me my fluids and epogen. When I got done with the fluids one of my 'aunties' gave me some a/d which I ate about a half a can of. After that, it was all down hill.

I got off the table and my stomach was just really upset. I had horrible watery diarhhea on the floor. Then I just layed down in my basket and went to sleep. I felt really miserable and was moaning and my third eyelids were up. After a few hours of sleeping, I started vomiting. The noise I was making was really scaring everyone.

Mom ended up putting a catheter in me. She gave me some pain meds and some reglan and brought me home with her. My blood tests from tonight still shows that I'm pretty anemic (17% and 4.6), so IV fluids might not go too well. She has some to give me if things get really bad tonight.

Right now my belly just really is uncomfortable. I am trying to sleep, but I keep getting up to go to the bathroom. Mom was hoping the pain medication would help me sleep so that she could see how I was doing by tomorrow. She is thinking again about those bad things... But she's still hoping that I will be the rebound king and come through again. She brought me home so that she could spend some time with me while she thinks about things. Its just weird how it all happened fairly quickly when things seemed to be going ok.

Thanks for all of your support. I'll let you know how it goes today.

Ugh, sick AGAIN!

Thankgiving was great! So many food smells and wonderful treats. My grandma gave my mom the whole rest of the turkey that they weren't going to eat. So now me, Roswell and Chichi are going to eat like royalty the next few days!

Today (Friday) wasn't the best day ever, but still not the worst I have been. The past week I've been doing pretty well. Thanksgiving I ate turkey and thought it was delicious! My energy wasn't that great, though, and mom started getting worried again. Today, I have just been laying around not doing too much of anything. My coughing returned, as did the vomiting. I also had diarhea several times in the house. I haven't played at all today, but mom wasn't feeling too well either, so the opportunity wasn't really there.

Tomorrow is another blood test and more epogen. Mom might also check the kidney values and put me on fluids if I keep acting like I am today. She has a new goal of me making it to Christmas. But she doesn't want me to be sick that whole time, so we'll see what the numbers show and decide what to do from there.

Feeling pretty good

What a roller coaster this has been! Thursday night I was a candidate for the Rainbow Bridge. Mom was sad all night. I slept in bed with her, but all I did was moan and cough. Every now and then I'd get up to vomit. But Friday was a new day. Friday afternoon, I ate some chicken and rice mom had made. It was the most I had eaten in several days. The best part was, that I kept it down! I also ate a late night dinner as well. So 2 meals in one day, it was just amazing! I also had a lot of energy, and was playing with Roswell. I wasn't just stealing toys and growling when anyone came near me.

Saturday I got another epogen injection. I really don't care for those. They seem to sting and itch quite a bit. I'm not sure if this is a normal reaction, but I do better for my SQ fluids than for that. On the positive side, they seem to be working. My PCV was up to 14% from 8% a couple weeks ago. Now, that number still is really low, but the vet thinks that it is responsible for my drastic change in atttitude. I probably will get tested again next week. The kidney numbers weren't tested today. There's not much a point in doing them until I start IV fluids because we already know they're sky high and we can't do too much about them otherwise. I ate well today. I ate some K/D and mom gave me a few pieces of steak. That was simply wonderful!

So far, so good the past couple days. I just need for mom to stay positive.