By Wendy Hunter
Animal Rescue of Fresno shares their animal rescue stories with KRL every month.
Harry: "You know how a year to a person is like seven years to a dog?"
Sally: "Yes. Is one of us supposed to be a dog in this scenario?" ~When Harry Met Sally
Getting old is no picnic, but it does share some of the same traits. Sometimes it's too hot, it may come as a last-minute invite, and occasionally has a selective guest list. And though there aren't any ants or bees flying about, sometimes the egg salad goes bad, and attendees complain about the venue. However, aging does have its perks, especially if you're a woman. In particular, you don't have to worry about an unwanted guest every month. Ugh, she's horrible. She shows up, she causes unhappiness, and after about a week, she exits the premises. And then one glorious day, this bedfellow packs up her cheap Samsonite luggage and disappears, never to return. Good riddance. Old age is completely different for men, since many of them get grayer and better looking as the years progress. Think Cary Grant and George Clooney. Yum. Of course that doesn't hold true for every man, think Mickey Rourke and Carrot Top. Eww. And then there are certain people of both sexes who age amazingly well. My mother, for instance, has dementia, and will be 92 in August. She still gets around, still has all her faculties, and still has a great sense of humor. She can be ornery, goofy, and completely out there on any given day. But she's still here, sleeping down the hall from me, getting up at some stupid hour of the morning, even though she retired at 55. Heavy sigh. Thankfully, I didn't get that whole non-sleeping gene. I got the lovely sleeping-until-noon gene from my Uncle David; and I thank him every weekend for that. Age is definitely what you make of it.
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. ~Rita Rudner
And it's not just humans that age, it's every living thing on the planet. And unfortunately for us, that includes dogs. They never seem to live long enough, and when they're gone, they leave a huge dog-paw hole in our hearts. But that doesn't mean they can't have the best life ever when they're older; they absolutely can. For example, let me introduce you to Bree, a fluffy poodle with a curly lamb's coat. Bree found herself in a shelter, got adopted, but sadly was returned to the shelter again. If ARF had not stepped in, Bree would have been euthanized. Ugh, we hate that word. ARF knew that we couldn't fail this girl, who had probably been a great companion to somebody, and somehow ended up in a shelter, not once but twice. Situations like this are heartbreaking. Bree is estimated to be about 10 years old, and she didn't arrive at ARF in perfect condition. On the contrary, she was in desperate need of a dental, and some follow-up care for abnormal bloodwork. Her white blood cell count was extremely elevated, and she also had a chronic cough. I think I may have the same thing, since I wake up every morning hacking my brains out. Yuck.
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| Bree |
After consistent veterinary care, Bree has made some real progress. After her dental and other treatment, her white cell count has some down significantly, and continues to trend in the right direction. Even though her cell count is still slightly out of the ideal range, this might be something she has to live with forever due to her diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.
Bree's white blood cell counts:
Ideal range: under 11,000
First draw: 24,000
Second draw: 23,000
Most recent: 14,000
Nasty facts: Bronchitis in dogs is characterized by inflammation of the airways, leading to a persistent, harsh, dry, or "honking" cough that often lasts for weeks or months. Common symptoms include exercise intolerance, gagging or retching (sometimes mistaken for vomiting), wheezing, labored breathing, and in severe cases, bluish gums, and fatigue. Exercise Intolerance: Fatigue or trouble breathing during activity.
Respiratory Distress: Increased breathing rate or difficulty breathing. Not pretty, not happy.
It's all I have left in my life, caffeine and a poodle.~Brad Garrett
And in case you didn't know, here are some random facts about the Poodle. This breed gets a bad rap, because people think it's prissy and fragile. Well, listen to this. The Poodle is the national dog of France, but there is no such breed as the "French Poodle." In France, Poodles are known as the Caniche, or "duck dog." Despite the Poodle's association with France, the breed originated as a duck hunter in Germany, where the word pudelin refers to splashing in water. The Poodle started as a retrieving water dog more than 400 years ago. With a crisp, curly coat as protection against the elements, excellent swimming ability, and extraordinary intelligence, the Poodle was, and still is, a magnificent retriever. The dazzling Poodle show coat served a practical purpose in the breed's early years.
The Poodle eventually moved from the lake to the lap of luxury. Poodles of the Standard and Miniature varieties found favor among the nobles of France and, eventually, all of Europe. An excellent nose brought the Poodle additional work as a truffle hunter. Forget any preconceived notions about Poodles you may have: Poodles are eager, athletic, and wickedly smart dogs of remarkable versatility.
Great artists say that the most beautiful thing in the world is a baby. Well, the next is an old lady, for every wrinkle is a picture. ~Will Rogers
Despite everything she’s been through, Bree is an absolute sweetheart. She is a charming, mellow dog who loves attention and enjoys lounging on a cozy bed, basking in whatever sunshine she can find. She adores easy strolls, is kennel trained, and has a calm, gentle presence. When it’s cold, Bree wears clothes—though she’s quite clever and knows how to wiggle out of them if they don’t fit just right. This isn't 100% cotton? What the heck? Get it off of me!
God…sat down for a moment when the dog
was finished in order to watch it…and to know
that it was good, that nothing was lacking, that
it could not have been made better. ~Rainer Rilke
Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section and check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from ARF. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue. We also have a pet Facebook group for KRL and we would love to have you join!Animal Rescue of Fresno
4545 E Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726
Website: arf-fresno.com
Wendy Hunter has been volunteering with ARF since 2014. She grew up in Fresno and has been an Office Assistant with Fresno County for many years. She has been writing all of her life, though never professionally, and currently writes personalized poetry for birthdays, weddings, pet remembrances, etc.
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