04/27/2024
This is Beth, and I want to thank all of you for the help with Alex. He is one of the Denizens whose "story" was never shared, and I believe he deserves that now.
Honestly, when he came to the Den, I did not think he would be with us very long. You see, I received a call from a director of a NC animal shelter who wanted to know if I could provide a senior with hospice care. Of course, I was convinced there were other rescues or sanctuaries better able to provide that service and said so. The director of the shelter began to sound a bit dismayed at that point. "Please, let me explain," he said.
He then told me how this dog was an amazing boy, and he had tried everyone he knew with no luck. Someone who knew someone, who knew someone else had told him to check with Eagles Den. And now ... well ... I was this dog's last hope. If I didn't take him, he was going to die the following day.
Okay. Why was this dog having such a hard time finding hospice placement? It seems Alex had lived with his family since he was a young pup. He was a very large boy and was already 9 or 10 years old, a senior by all standards ... especially for an x-large dog. In the last year, he had begun to have problems and had been to the vet numerous times. Finally, the family received the devastating diagnosis. It was cancer, and the vet gave him 6 months, at best.
Okay ... but Alex had a family, so I was, I suppose, a bit thick-headed at this point. Why in this world did a well-loved family dog need a rescue? I really should have known better than to ask that. It seems "his loving family" could not "bear to watch him waste away and die." So, even though he was doing okay at the time, his "loving family" took him to the local animal shelter, told them to deal with it ... and drove away with Alex looking behind them, whining and stomping his feet.
My heart broke for this boy. I was not sure what it was going to take to care for him but, No! He would NOT die in the animal shelter. In fact, he would not spend another night there. He came to the Den that day. He was, indeed, a large boy. He was a little on the lean side ... not malnourished ... just thin. Still, he topped the scales at 88 pounds. I got down to his level for our first meeting. He began to wag all over. I have seen a lot of Pit Bull body wags. This boy did not have a centimeter of pit bull in him. He had a bit of a Shepherd, Lab look ... mixed with something else ... in other words, a wonderful mixed breed. But, man did he have that Pit Bull wag downpat.
He also was a very strong boy ... especially for a senior in need of hospice care. Before I actually knew what was happening, I was on my back, with this dog sitting on me and washing my face thoroughly. I was actually giggling uncontrollably ... something I rarely do. Alex was delighted at my obvious delight and just laid down on me, still licking. That is when we had our first "wrestling match." I hate to refer you guys to someone else, but Mommy Letha or Patty can tell you about our wrestling sessions. People will look at me when I tell them about this with just a bit of doubt. That's why I am referring you to someone who has witnessed it. We would roll around together with all kinds of wrestling moves going on. We could have signed up with the WWE. And I would giggle uncontrollably every single time, with Alex washing my face, my ears, my neck ... and Alex always won the bouts. I could not get up until he was tired. He is still my undefeated champ.
Alex had an initial vet visit when he came. Looking at his records, our vet agreed he should have about six months. That was in the early spring of 2017 ... almost seven years ago. He was never sick a day in those seven years.
Three years after his arrival, my vet came to do our rabies vaccines. He pointed to Alex and asked, "Is that ...?"
"Alex?" I finished. "Yes. It is."
He just shook his head and said, "He likes your cooking."
Alex loved long walks ... and thoroughly enjoyed giving volunteers a workout. He was really good at slipping a lead ... in fact, he was good at giving the leash a jerk ... right out of a volunteer's hands. I learned early on what a prankster he could be. He liked wrestling me too much to go anywhere. But the others ... well that's an entirely different story. If they would "give chase," that was his great fun. I was never concerned. He was not going far. He would make a big circle around and come back for "Mama's cooking." But OMD did those volunteers get a workout. Still the undefeated "walk-about" champ, too.
In the last few months, Alex has been slowing down a bit. He was losing a bit of ground and I could see it. His back legs began to get weak, and he was slow to get up some days. Then, in the last week, I could tell Alex was getting tired. He never lost the twinkle in his eyes. I fed him chicken or hamburger every day ... and he would eat it from my hand ... savoring every bite of "Mama's cooking."
On Wednesday, I sat with Alex for the longest time, and I told him I knew he was really tired. I told him it was okay to go if he needed to. I truthfully told him I would miss him terribly every single day, but I would be okay. I told him he would see Daddy and Sheila ... and all the Denizens gone before. Alex licked my cheek as if to let me know he understood. And, in that moment, I knew it was time to see the vet.
Yesterday, Alex ate a little chicken from my hands, with a big bowl of chocolate ice cream for dessert. He licked the bowl clean and looked at me. I clearly heard him say, "Where has this been all my life. What the heck was that vanilla stuff."
Afterwards, Alex had his final car ride to the vet. Dr. Martin was wonderful, as she always is ... and she told me she knew we had been in this spot far too often in the last couple of years. We talked about how Alex had come to me seven years ago ... almost to the day. I checked his records. He arrived on Monday, April 24, 2017. He left for Rainbow Bridge on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Alex rested in my arms and dozed off to peaceful sleep with me telling him how loved he is. When he crossed to Rainbow Bridge, I knew Jerry, Sheila, Lori and all the Denizens were waiting for him. His legs and mind are strong again, and my undefeated champ is wrestling with Jerry. He is doing walk abouts through flowers and clover with Tigger, Faith, Hope and Charity at his side. Buddy and Tori are there. He is meeting Mugsy, Bunny Anne, Angel and Floyd for the first time. I am sure his old friend, Shadow was there to greet him, too. There are so many ... too many to name.
If I may take one more moment of your time ...
I have said so many times how wet my pillows are at night. Last night was no different. My tears ... our tears when we lose a beloved friend ...are for us: our friends are whole again, strength renewed. And the love inside ... it goes with them. Love never dies. While I know I may have done a lot differently if I had known I was going to have Alex for seven years ... I wouldn't have missed a moment of it. This should remind everyone, no dog has an expiration date stamped on their paw.
The loving family that "could not stand to watch Alex die" ... OMD ... they missed seven wonderful years with one of the most amazing dogs I have ever known. I should thank them for giving me the honor.
Thank you for letting me share this with you.
~Beth~
~EDR~
SIDE NOTE... This is Anne, Beth is currently without internet, so she typed this on her phone and texted it to me to post. This part is from me... I have said it more than once rescue doesn't end when a dog leaves the shelter. Alex did find a new "family " just not in the way most think of it. As you can clearly see in the picture of him and our volunteer Steven as well as the one of him and Beth, he was adored. Run free Alex, you will be missed.
