Happy Halloween to all who enjoy tricks or treats, young and old.
I’m afraid this will be a very short ramble this week as I’ve spent less than an hour on writing.
On Thursday, our seven-year-old boxer, Tyson, began chemotherapy after several weeks of illness and multiple trips to the vet to determine what was wrong. I won’t bore you with all of the details, but the prognosis isn’t good–three to six months with the chemo, a matter of weeks if he doesn’t have the treatment.
Also on Thursday, our beloved FIV positive feline, Shadow, was euthanized. Since he joined us almost two years ago, we’ve made plenty of trips to our vet so he could receive the care he needed. Thursday marked the end of his fight; he was in severe pain and there was no other option but to let him go.
Earlier this year while I was taking an online blogging course, I posted photographs of our entire four-legged family. If you want to take a peek Tyson, Shadow and all the others, here’s the link: Shadow’s Family.
I hope to be back to my regular posts next Sunday. Regards to all.
Early this morning one of our cats was very ill. As soon as I could call the vet for an appointment, I did so. Digging the vehicle from beneath a snowdrift, we ventured out in the cold, traveling thirty-five miles.
A check-up, an IV, and three injections later, we returned home. Two hours after receiving his treatment our feline family member began squeaking for food. Fantastic–another recovery. Why is the so special? Most people would have put him to sleep when they received the news we did when we first gave Shadow a home. Initial blood tests showed that he is FIV-positive, similar to HIV in humans. We brought him home, read up on FIV felines and discovered he could still live a long and happy life, given proper care. So he is here to stay.
Let my introduce you to our current family of four-legged creatures:
Oliver (AKA Ollie)
Oliver is from England, twelve years old and a loner. He probably was a feral kitten that someone couldn’t handle and passed him to us, knowing we had experience raising feral felines.
Oliver
Hope (AKA Dosy)
Hope is about six now. She came to us a couple of years ago from a no-kill shelter. Always seems to be off in a world of her own, but a very loving addition to the family.
Hope
Lola (AKA Little One)
Lola came to us from a vet. She had been found in a dumpster, with a bloody ear and a dislocated hip. The vet took care of her medical needs and we took care of her home. Of out current crop of felines, she gets bored easily and will pick on the others for amusement. Sometimes that works and other times, fur flies! Lola is around four.
Lola
Shadow (AKA Squeaky)
Destined for the pound, a friend who already has five cats told us about Shadow (unnamed at the time). He joined us December 2014. Other information about him begins this post.
Shadow
Flora (AKA Lady Flora Fluff Bum)
Flora apparently accompanied Shadow to the pound. Couldn’t leave her behind to a sad fate, so she’s part of out family, too. Both are around two years old.
Flora
Charley (AKA Pumpkin Boy
The end of January 2014 was bitter, with nearly two feet of snow on the ground. We heard a commotion at one of the deck doors. Outside, clawing to come indoors, was a handsome stray cat. We hadn’t seem him before and living where we do, there was no possibility of him belonging to a neighbor, unless he traveled a long distance to find us. Never saw a “missing” poster and he’s now one of the family. Very skittish, hates loud noises, but plays well with others. According to the vet, he’ll be around two years old.
Charlie
Tyson
Tyson is the only canine in our family. He joined us in October 2013, a few weeks after our thirteen-year old German Shepherd, Minnie, passed away.
Tyson had been turned over to the same no-kill shelter as Hope. He apparently wasn’t good with young children, but we don’t know for sure. Tyson, who brought his name with him, celebrated his seventh birthday earlier this month, on the sixth. A great addition to the family, he breaks up any quarrels between the others, but is soft as anything. Saying that, there is no way a stranger would get in the house, but once he knows someone, they’re good to go!
