I’m Eli. I grew up just a stones throw north of here with the nicest mum and pop!
They are purebred Cane Corso’s – the Italian Mastiff! My new mom and dad (Lindsey & Jason) came to pick me up today.
I’m already big and stocky. At 7 weeks old I’m already about 15 pounds!
The car ride home was ok, but I was kind of scared, so I sat on my new dad’s lap the whole way home!
Once we got home I met Tyler & Sadie, and sniffed around the yard. Several neighbors knew I was coming so they come over and I got to meet several people today already!
Time for a snooze! I’m so wrinkly when I sleep!
After my short nap I went over to the neighbors house to watch their little 2 1/2 year old play basket ball. I pounced after it, but I’m still so new I fall a lot.
So my new mom and I went to the other neighbors where I fell asleep in her lap for about 15 minutes. She didn’t want to let me go and I was very very comfortable.
Finally it was time to go back to my new home and my new mom put me in “jail” for the night. I do not like it here. My old mum and litter mates are not here, and I am scared.
My new sister Sadie came to visit me though so I calmed down for a bit and we snuggled at the gate.
She wanted to tell me she’s been there before and it gets better!
Off to my first night here. I’m thinking my new family isn’t going to get much sleep!
1.) Grandmas Half Marathon – In just as little as three weeks from now I’ll be toeing the line at the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon. Ten co-workers and I are all going up for either the expo, or to run or both! All seven of us from the “west wing” in the office are running. The “full time” staff is running the half marathon, and all three interns are running in the marathon. We’ve even created a corporate team to compete against other small businesses. I’m not sure we’re going to win any awards for speed, but its going to be super fun running with my co-workers and hanging out afterwards!
2.) Eli – With the news of Tyler aging and getting sick, Jason wanted to get our new dog in before Tyelr goes out. I struggled with the idea at first. Three dogs, and the thought of “replacing” Tyler before he was even gone was a little overwhelming .Until I met the new puppy! We’re going to name him Eli, and he is a Cane Corso – Italian Mastiff. You can read all about the breed here. We get to bring him home next Friday 6/7.
3.) Neighbors – I can say with ease and confidence I have such great neighbors! Yesterday one of our neighbors 2.5 year old went missing, and at least 20 neighbors were instantly combing the neighborhood looking for him! He was found five minutes later completely safe chasing after another neighbors dog! 🙂 and neighbors were continuing to support making sure he was found and physically relieved when they found out he was…. While we mainly socialize with about 8 of them, its so nice to know that we can all come together. I cherish my neighbors that I’m close with, and i hope that we continue to foster our relationships over the years. Cheers to summer and bonfires with the neighbors.
Tyler our 8 year old Rottweiler who has been such an amazing companion, and protector of our family since 2005 began limping around last Saturday (May11). I didn’t think a lot of it, after all, he’s 8 years old, and our younger dog Sadie (a 1.5 year old JRT) was just limping the week before, which resolved with no problems.
So I waited for a few days to see if it would get better, but last night, (Thursday) he was waking up whimpering, so I knew something more serious was up. I instantly brought up WebMD and sites like it on my Nook in bed and was up until almost 1:00 a.m. trying to self diagnose my dog. I spent almost 5 years in the medical field, and have now spent over 8 years out of the medical field, so you can imagine, i’m much like a lay person now-a-days. I tell you….these sites perpetuate hypochondria I tell you, but I couldn’t help myself.
I decided first thing in the morning I would call the vet and get him in and get him seen. I had settled based on my “vast veterinary knowledge and experience” that he had somehow dislocated his shoulder, even though I’m not sure where he would have experienced that kind of trauma or rough housing. This was a “wake up one saturday and limp” kind of deal.
So I digress….
We were able to make a 4pm visit at our old veterinary clinic 20 miles away in our hometown! Tyler had gone there before when we first had gotten him, and they are an extremely friendly mom and pop kind of shop.
Jason was off working so I had to get him in the vehicle myself which was a real treat. First I propped his front legs up in the back/trunk of my SUV, and then with all my might, grabbed his rear/waist and hoisted him in! I was rather proud of myself and my efforts!
Once we arrived, the vet actually came right to the car in the rain and performed the first part of the exam right in the trunk! (Talk about customer service!). Still all the while i’m telling the vet, “So do you feel that on the medial section of his scapula and humerus?” (???) …and all the while he’s being so nice and agreeing with me, except i’m pretty sure I’m making stuff up, and he doesn’t want me to feel bad.
He agrees right away that Tyler needs x-rays. I asked him if he had any thoughts and he said he wanted to get some x-rays before he was certain.
So K and I waited in the waiting room, and we could hear Tyler crying in the background from straightening his leg, or getting it into position I can imagine. It was actually pitifully sad. K found a kids book about your dog going to heaven which I didn’t want to read to her because our dog wasn’t dying he had a dislocated shoulder! Because remember I am now a self proclaimed “home vet” thanks to WebMD or WebVet University! I read the book anyways all the while thinking it was going to cause needless angst, but it was a very very nice book about what dog heaven is like.
Well the Vet called us into the room, and showed us the x-ray. “Right here you can see healthy bone”, and I was sure he was about to point out his arthritis which I already knew about, but instead he says, “see where the bone looks all fuzzy?” (which was on both sides of the upper humerus (legitimately)), and then he looks me square in the eyes. That is all bone cancer…..
What?
He said, I’m so sorry, but that is all bone cancer. I could feel it outside in the car, but I wanted to be certain before I said anything to you….
It comes on extremely fast, and its extremely aggressive. After talking a bit more I asked him the obvious, “How long?”. He said months.
So I said, “Like you’re saying, in less than six months?”
-and he said… “more like 2, or maybe even 1…. he’s going to continue to have pain, and his bone might even break entirely…its metastatic in nature, meaning it will spread to his lungs etc… its extremely painful, and unfortunately there is nothing we can do, i’m just so sorry…”.
Tears
and more tears
I knew the end would be near. Rotties only have a life expectancy of 8-10 years, and 12 if you’re lucky… but I didn’t think it’d be so soon. He mentioned his Rottweiler died of the same thing not too long ago…..
Right now I’m not ok, and I won’t be ok until he’s resting, and even then I’m in the midst of loosing a family member. Those that have pets really really get it, and those that don’t even agree that its hard.
I haven’t lost a pet since I was 15 years old when my families cat died, and Tyler is my first dog. My protector.
My best friend.
So we’re keeping him comfortable until that fateful day, or that day that things get too bad….. I’m going to hug him, and love him… and miss him like hell along the way. I feel already like a part of my heart died and he’s still here.
After I told Jason the unbelievably sad news that our first “child” was going to die in a month or two I called K’s godparents (because I knew they’d be home, and they’ve been through it before), and just bawled my eyes out to them. They instantly came over to hang out with us and help me get Tyler out of my SUV.
I’m hoping an Angel comes tonight. Until then, i’m going to curl up on the floor next to Tyler, while I still can…
Little Blessed Life 