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Annie |
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My name is Genie and my husband is Jim. We have had Dalmatians for years and love these wonderful animals. We lost our beloved Max at 3 ½ years old due to kidney failure. It was a very sad and traumatic week as our vet and we tried to save him to no avail. When we lost Max we were heartbroken. With tears in his eyes Jim said,” I know we can’t replace Max but I just can’t be without a Dalmatian buddy.” Since I volunteer at the local Humane Society I understand the value of adopting, so we first contacted Dalmatian rescue groups but no one had the right pet for us available. We found a breeder with good references and bought a beautiful, healthy perpetual motion machine we named Cool Hand Luke. With Luke and our two Jack Russell terriers and two Great Pyrenees (we live on a farm) our lives were full. Or so we thought! A week later Beth called from Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado and told us about a sweet female Dalmatian in Kansas about whom she had been contacted that desperately needed a home because she was due to be euthanized soon. We weren’t sure we needed ANOTHER dog but her story touched us and we agreed. There was a possible problem though. Beth was told by the vet in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas that the dog had a ruptured lymph gland and swollen lymph glands in her neck and a lump on her back so the vet suspected she had cancer. He had put her on antibiotics, had aspirated the lump on her back, and was now awaiting the path report. Well, we had just been through the heartbreaking situation with Max and couldn’t see going through it again. With heavy hearts we told Beth we couldn’t take her if she had cancer. Beth was expecting the vet to call with the path report the next day on Friday morning, and told us that a volunteer from the shelter at Ft. Leavenworth just happened to be going on a trip back east on Saturday and could meet us with the dog in Springfield Missouri in the southwest part of the state. That is just 15 miles from our home! Jim and I looked at each other and wondered if this was meant to be, but if not for the cancer it would be perfect. We were eating breakfast and the phone rang. It was Beth with the report. It was not cancer! It was a badly abscessed lymph node and the other swollen node was due to the infection. The lump on her back was a lymphoma which is a superficial fatty tumor easy to remove! Unbelievable. I enthusiastically (and loudly) said, “Bring her on!” Thanks to the amazingly helpful volunteer we got to meet and take home Annie, the sweetest , calmest, lovingest, dog you can imagine. Even our Jack Russell, Molly, who is queen of the house and ruler of all dogs inside, liked her immediately! We took Annie to our vet for a checkup and to have the lymphoma removed. She was pronounced healthy. We had her for several days and noticed some unusual mannerisms she had. If she was looking away she didn’t always notice loud noises or us calling her. She didn’t move when our ancient donkey came up behind her till old Bluebell stepped on her. She acted normal but with a few indications that pointed to her being deaf. She was so good at accommodating for her lack of hearing that it took us several days to figure it out. No wonder the vet and the shelter didn’t know. Have no fear, though. She has fit in so well it seems she has always been here and we watch for her when she is with us in the barnyard and fields No one but us can tell she is deaf unless we let them know. She loves doing chores and, stays right by the side of the person doing them and she loves to ride on the Gator and in the truck. Our adult son who does chores for us came in laughing and said, “Mom be sure to set the brake on the Gator if you get out. I got out to throw hay, heard the Gator motor rev up and looked to see Annie drive into a water tank nearby.” We have laughed over that and other antics of hers. She loves to go for walks in the pasture and has learned to watch out for horses, donkeys and doesn’t know quite what to make of the sheep! Annie loves the grand kids and they give her hugs first thing when they come in the door. Annie is a special part of our family. It would be hard not to fall in love with this angel. I am glad we were privileged to bring her into our family in the nick of time. I do think it was a kind of miracle that we got her. I truly believe God loves all His creatures, including Annie. A huge thank you to all who participate in the work of rescuing these wonderful Dalmatians! Genie and Jim W. |
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Annie and a grandson |
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| Grandson, Annie and Cool Hand Luke | |
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