Success Stories: Khow

A Journey from Bangkok to a New Lease on Life

Khow's story begins when he was around seven - one of thousands of stray dogs scrabbling out an existence in the tough streets of Bangkok, Thailand. Even by street dog standards, Khow was in terrible shape: missing an eye, extremely thin, covered with lice, and calloused from sleeping on concrete. Pat Crusenberry, living in Bangkok in 1995, took a special liking to his gentle nature and sweet ways. Though restricted from having a dog in her apartment, she fed Khow every day and arranged for vaccinations, neutering, eye surgery, and delousing.

Six weeks after returning home to Alexandria, Virginia, she brought Khow to America. After six months of medical treatment and lots of food, he gained 30 pounds, his callouses disappeared, he grew a luxurious thick coat of white hair, and even learned to understand English. Khow lived the second half of his life in Virginia, for seven years and three months, before his death from kidney failure in 2003 - at about the age of 14.

If we're fortunate, we cross paths with a dog or cat who will live in our hearts forever. That's Khow. Pat Crusenberry truly rescued Khow twice - first in Bangkok and then when she brought him back to the States. Khow received wonderful medical care during his years in Alexandria from his vet, Dr. Peter Farrell, his internist, Dr. Kathy Arrington, and his cardiologist, Dr. Luis Braz-Ruivo. Thanks to the efforts and compassion of his owner and this wonderful team of vets, Khow's quality of life was good until the last few weeks.

Summing up his impact on those whose lives he touched, Pat says:
"Although Khow has been gone for two and a half years, everyone he met has strong and fond memories. He was a very special companion with a huge heart, and we miss him every day."

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