January 7th, 1997 (approx) - January 20, 2007
A Rescued Dog
Sassy got more loving as time went by. She tended to be rather stand-offish - unless others were getting loved on.... then she was in the middle as well.
She had one of the most beautiful coats I've ever seen on a dog. It was soft and shiny without much maintenance at all! It was almost as soft as the softest human hair! She was high energy, loved to play and was quite the watch dog. She was usually the one to sound the alarm if she saw something outside the fence line and then went racing off in the direction of the offender!
At the end of 2006 she started having minor problems. She had a growth on her eye that was removed years earlier that wound up growing back and had to be removed again. She got a scratch to her eye that needed tending. She stressed out so badly with storms that she had to be sedated. And even then it only took the edge off. That one small pill totally put Missy to sleep. And yet, it only mildly calmed Sassy. Basically she wound up being very healthy through out her life.
Then, around the 12th of Jan, she started slowing down on her eating. I thought her schedule was just getting switched. What she didn't eat during the day at feeding time.. she ate during the nite at bedtime. That slowly changed over to eating less and less until she wouldn't eat at all.
On January 18th 2007 I found out that Sassy has spleen cancer that had spread into her lungs. In fact, she was in the very advanced stages of it. Her lungs should've shown up black on an xray, filled with air. And yet they looked like they had a blizzard going on. It was more white than black. Sassy was having trouble breathing. At the vet this day - she was very stressed and was panting a great deal. Once she was taken home she calmed down and things didn't look so bad after all. Her breathing was very obvious by looking at her body. It was moving the whole rib cage in and out.
The vet had said that he wouldn't put her down JUST yet because this wasn't painful. To watch her over the next day or so and then decide. The weekend was coming and I didn't want to get caught in an emergency situation and him not be available so Saturday morning would have to be the final decision making day.
I woke up early Saturday morning and thought of her. I looked to find her outside... still and again. I'd noticed that she seemed to prefer it outside, cold and all. Now however, I thought back and remembered that I hadn't seen her sit down or especially lay down in about 24 hours. I watched her closely and noticed that she seemed to keep shifting her weight, like she was tired of standing, yet she wouldn't lay down. I knew by looking at her that she was exhausted and that her time had truly come. Bad weather was coming and I couldn't have her standing outside in it all night long. She had lost so much body weight and was now extremely skinny, ribs showing a great deal and even her face was thining.
I picked her up to put her in the back of the jeep and it must've bothered something.. her throat? chest? I don't know. But she started coughing a lot and started dripping some yellow tinted fluid out of her mouth and maybe nose. Yup... it was time.
Without going into detail... she proved to be worse than she had let on. I usually sedate my babies first - THEN the final shot to end it all. Sassy was so bad that the simple sedation was enough to cause her passing. As she was getting groggy she leaned into my chest - still not wanting to sit. We helped her to lay down, which she fought and tried to get back up. The sedation was taking hold completely- even as she was trying to get up and she suddenly collapsed back ... and for all practical purposes, died. Her heart continued to beat for a bit longer. But worst of all, blood tinged fluid began running out of her nose and mouth. I know now why she didn't want to lay down. She probably knew that she would die. Drown actually. Though it was all quick... she died in a mini panic - trying not to give into it even as the sedation took control of her. I can only hope that she really went unconscious before feeling much panic. She was a strong, sweet fighter and she gave her all and her best to the very end.
God blessed me with many types of personalities in my furbabies and Sassy, with her exotic eyes and shiny coat fit in very nicely! I will never forget her sweet temperament, lovely eyes, beautiful soft coat and her "ladder climbing" action when scratched. She wasn't a LARGE presence with her quiet ways and gentle nature, but she was one that grabbed the hearts of all who saw her, or met her and she will be GREATLY missed!! Sassy my girl, enjoy your health once more and the warmth and sunshine of the meadows until we can meet again! I love you!
