Pet Memorials

Chloe’s Story-by Terry Wong-Cook, a pug mom by choice

I became a pug mom by the mere fact that my former husband said that when I got angry, I reminded him of a pug. He had grown up with pugs as a child and was fond of them as a breed. We were actually thinking of getting a dog, since we were not having any human babies. Bill traveled a lot so he felt that a pug would be wonderful company for me. Chloe was the runt and was supposed to go to a family with a toddler. I was supposed to get her feisty sister. The breeder (I was so naïve about researching reputable breeders or considering rescue groups or shelters) felt that Chloe would be better off with adults since she was docile and sweet natured. So that is how my Petite Chloe Lee of Montclair became a member of my family for almost twelve and a half years.

I had always loved dogs as a child but my family was not dog friendly. Somehow I believe that I took after my uncle who had a fondness for dogs. I had also thought I wanted to be a pediatric nurse as an adolescent and ended up in elementary education, specializing in teaching reading and the acquisition of English as a second language. Little did I know that my science student assistant experiences for my biology professor, and my biology and physiology classes and candy striping days would come in handy for understanding and dealing with the care of my pugs.

Getting Chloe during Christmas break was so traumatic for me as a new puppy owner. Chloe taught me so many life lessons and how to become such an expert and in tune to the high maintenance of the pug breed. Her nasal fold was not as immaculate as my other rescue pug, Zoe, due to the fact that I was in the process of learning about how to care for a pug in the best manner possible. I always told Zoe, she had to thank Chloe for becoming a member of my family.

Chloe was a sweetheart and always had an agreeable and genteel manner about her. She won the hearts of all who knew her. Chloe also loved to play with her furry toys more than anything and of course she was good with pee-pee pads (due to no backyard at our home) put down in the human bathrooms for her to take care of business and she loved her nylabones and never had bad breath or tooth problems that I could see. She spent many days home alone as I went to work, and my ex-husband, Bill would be traveling or at work for long days. Her favorite place was to perch right in front of our huge windows overlooking the bay and the great view in the Oakland Hills, waiting for us to come home.

Then one day in July 2005 in her 9th year, our vet told us it was time for a routine dental exam finally at her age, and she would have to be put under for the procedure. With pugs, one always worries about their breathing in those situations (which is why we never took her aboard an airplane due to fear at high altitudes) so it was worrisome. However, what was revealed was that there was an abnormal growth and it was suspected to be a tumor. At this point we were referred to Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro, CA and it was confirmed that she had melanoma on her palate inside her tiny mouth and the tumor had to be removed. Dr. J and Dr. Siedlecki consulted with us as oncologists and then subsequently, a consultation meeting was set up with the surgeon, Dr. Doug Rohn, who would turn out to be our valued support system on a weekly basis for Chloe’s check-ups for the following two years. Little did we know that this surgeon would be our lifeline for Chloe and our anchor for her best care. Words can never describe our humbled respect and gratitude to this extraordinary and dedicated individual.

The surgery was four hours long and he sat up with her until that evening when he called to give me some news. That was the only time I have been speechless on the phone. It was terrifying to think that I could lose her. And yet, what choice did I have? I knew it was a dicey procedure and that she would also need reconstructive surgery as well to repair the hole left in her palate where the tumor was removes with good margins. Unfortunately, complications occurred and a few days after I was rushing her off to another lifeline, Dr. Patricia Smith of Animal Eye Care who saw Chloe as an emergency on a late Friday afternoon. Eventually, her eyesight was saved and her eyes healed thanks to the diligence of Dr. Smith and Dr. Rohn. Soon after she was seen by Dr. Smith in Fremont, I had to trek across town in commute Friday traffic back to San Leandro to leave Chloe for medical boarding at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists where they could really monitor her and apply her hourly eye ointments and treatments round the clock.

For the next two years, Dr. Rohn supplied us with the tools and ability to feed and hydrate Chloe via a feeding tube. The hole in her palate was there and she would never eat normally again. In order to save her life, the feeding tube was established for her in her neck and weekly visits to pick up syringes and food etc. for her. I have pictures of all the creative designs for her bandages that were lovingly made by Vet Techs like Brandon and Devin at Bay Area Veterinary Specialists. Kim Larsen who works emergency at BAVS was a continual lifeline until Chloe’s demise. Whenever something went awry and it was after hours, I was comforted knowing that Kim was there in the wee hours of the morning to field all of my calls and questions to help Chloe…Every week, without fail, Dr. Rohn would come out to greet us sometimes in his scrubs, or he would send a doctor or Vet Tech out for him to check in with us. I made that after work appointment and drove in peak traffic every Monday, then Thursday, and sometimes Fridays. Eventually, Dr. Heuter performed another procedure to place her feeding tube in her stomach instead which was less problematic than the feeding tube. Initially the neck was the best option and she flourished. Eventually, the neck feeding tube became more problematic with Dr. Rohn always there for our SOS when the tube broke, etc. Chloe was indeed the miracle dog for almost two years, as our next referral, a vet internist, Dr. Eleanor Dunn of Lake Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, CA spoke of with much admiration.

Eventually, Chloe suffered a setback with her cancer returning and we opted to give her the costly melanoma vaccine to head it off, but it was too late for my beloved and brave little one, I often felt that her strength and resilience was due to the love that she felt from those who loved her, but we could not beat the cancer that had returned to claim her. Somehow, as sad as it was to lose her in August of 2007, I knew in my heart that I could not be ungrateful for the two year borrowed time that her successful surgery had provided for us. From there, I drew my strength and resolve to feel the positive synergy that had radiated from Chloe to all who knew her and created a lifelong bond between us as a “heart” family. I learned tremendous life lessons that have been channeled into a legacy of working for the good of the pug breed and quality of life. Dr. Rohn, Dr. Dunn, Dr. Smith, Dr. Siedlecki, Dr. Heuter, and Dr. Andres, other doctors and so many other Vet Techs, receptionists, and veterinary staff had contributed to Chloe’s, and thus my own, quality of life. Our team at BAVS gifted us with a beautiful book autographed by the staff and a donation was made in Chloe’s memory as well. We were so touched to know that our Chloe had made such an impact on so many wonderful people.

After losing Chloe, I decided to adopt from Pug Rescue and channel my sorrow into giving back in a positive way to another pug. That pug was my first rescue, Zoe. She was surrender at 9 and I adopted an older pug and gave her almost two years of quality life. After losing Zoe to the disease thrombocytopenia in a weekend in June of 2009, I have taken on fostering another rescue pug named Ashley who is 2 and has not had a stable life being placed in a shelter in Northern, CA and then rescued by PROS and given the luxated hind leg patella surgery. She is currently being rehabilitated by me. I hope to adopt her when she gets medical clearance. I am continuing my learning with each new pug…and I can contribute to the quality of life, even if it is one pug at a time.

All this brings me to the importance of Veterinary Specialists and how they have all played a role in each of my pug’s lives. The ones I have known and established relationships with have indeed graced the lives of my pugs, and subsequently, my own as well. For this end, I continue to be grateful and hope that the ACVIM Foundation can pursue research into a cure for melanoma and how to detect earlier symptoms when a pet is diagnosed with thrombocytopenia.

As a longtime educator for elementary students, the next chapter for me will most likely be with dogs, as that has become my great passion. Pets give love unconditionally and they provide so much joy to one’s life. Thank you Chloe for starting me off on chapter one…here’s to all pugs!

We Have a Secret

We have a secret, you and I
that no one else shall know,
for who but I can see you lie
each night in fire glow?
And who but I can reach my hand
before we go to bed
and feel the living warmth of you
and touch your silken head?
And only I walk woodland paths
and see ahead of me,
your small form racing with the wind
so young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim
in every brook I pass
and when I call, no one but I
can see the bending grass.Author Unknown