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Sixteen Years with Abby
Scared and hungry, she let out a loud whimper, which a dog groomer heard. He followed the sound and found her in a dumpster, abandoned at the age of 6-weeks. He cleaned her up, put a fresh red bandana around her tiny neck, and gave her a new start. I met her the next day, at the veterinarian’s office where the groomer worked. They handed me this little ball of fluff, and she cuddled against my chest. It was love at first sight! The veterinarian guessed her to be a Pomeranian/Sheltie mix, and she was adorable! I didn’t have any pets at the time, and being the Executive Director of a state veterinary medical association, I was encouraged to make her a part of my family.
My husband (at the time) and I were career-minded, and didn’t plan to have children. So, when our friends learned that we had adopted this tiny 4-legged baby, which we named Abby, they threw us a baby shower complete with “Pound Puppy” decorations and gifts – from chew toys to the very practical stack of newspapers.
Abby grew up and became my best friend. She loved going to work with me and was a seriously pampered pooch in every way. Even my mother (who was from the “old school” which believed that a dog’s place was on the floor and shouldn’t be fed out of the human’s dishes) gave into the spoiling of Abby, feeding her ice cream from a spoon and allowing her to sleep on her bed.
It wasn’t until I went through a divorce one year and breast cancer the next that I truly appreciated the unconditional love from this dog. She never left my side, and her companionship is what got me through a very difficult period in my life.
The years passed. I took a new job, as the Executive Director of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) where I have the privilege of working with the most skilled veterinarians (the Board-certified internal medicine specialists, cardiologists, neurologists, and oncologists), and I remarried. My complaint about my new husband was that he had such a kind, gentle energy, Abby decided she going to be HIS best friend, instead of mine, and I lost my “cuddling buddy”.
When Abby was 12 years old, she got very sick. We knew she had found something in the yard, and learned later that it was nearly 2 pounds of raw pork sausage. She had snagged a package as we were unloading groceries into the freezer. Our veterinarians did their best, but realized she wasn’t getting better, so they referred us to a Board-certified veterinary internist, one of the ACVIM’s members. Abby was very sick, and it was truly touch-and-go for over a week. She had surgery to open a blocked bile duct, biopsies, ultrasounds, a blood transfusion, and finally an upper GI scope. She lost 6 pounds – 1/3 of her total body weight. I visited her every day in the vet hospital, and the internist met me with each time to describe her struggles and progress. One day I told him how fearful I was that we were going to lose her, and he said “Not on my watch!” I certainly wasn’t ready to let her go, and the expertise and caring that he demonstrated gave me hope. Happily Abby pulled through this medical crisis and lived another 4 wonderful years.
At the age of 16 Abby was nearly deaf and had lost some of her eyesight. But she was still my precious child. So when she got sick again, and we once again were referred to the same veterinary specialist, I was hopeful. Unfortunately, the news this time wasn’t promising. Her gall bladder wasn’t working, so she couldn’t process food. Yes, it was possible to remove her gall bladder, but the internist warned us that the surgery would be very hard on her at her age and with her medical history. He recommended putting her down. Those words were harder for me to accept than being told I had breast cancer! I had always known that this dog would “tell” me when it was time, so we brought her outside into the yard. Abby clearly wasn’t done with sniffing, tail wagging, and delivering wet kisses. So, we postponed the inevitable and brought her home, where she seemed content and happy for nearly one week – a week where we treasured every precious moment.
The hardest day of my life came on a Saturday. Abby couldn’t keep her food down, and she looked at me with that look – the look that tells you “it’s time”. My heart broke and I sobbed. I finally found the courage to call a veterinarian and I asked if he’d be willing to come to our house to put her down. He agreed, and his wife came with him. Together we prayed, cried, and said goodbye. My husband and I held Abby in our arms as the veterinarian inserted the needle into her leg. We loved her right to the end, and she knew it. Later we laid her in her special resting place, where lilacs bloom every spring.
That was 3 ½ years ago. We’ve since adopted another long-haired blond dog, Bailey, who is equally as precious to us. (And yes, she too has chosen my husband as her best friend!)
How can anyone adequately show their appreciation to the veterinarians and veterinary specialists who deliver such professional expertise and caring to our 4-legged family members? One way is the way I chose -- to financially support the ACVIM Foundation, where animal studies discover better treatments for animal illness and disease. I made a donation and I put the ACVIM Foundation in my will, for ongoing support after I’m reunited with Abby.
June Pooley
