Huckleberry came into our lives about 5 years ago, when we were visiting the local pound in search of a family pet. We were looking at another dog, when Huckleberry came up and licked my daughter, as he was just dropped off by his previous owner. When the volunteer told us that his name was Huckleberry, I knew he was the perfect addition to our family. You see, my Dad’s cb handle was Huckleberry. I took it as a sign that he was meant to be ours. We brought him home and he has been a fixture in our lives since. Huckleberry is our protector, companion, and a third “child” of our family.
My husband is in the Navy, and due to his change of duty stations, we had to stay behind in Illinois when he went on to Washington State. For the past 16 months, Huckleberry has been the guardian of our house. He never fails to let us know when someone is around the house, by his barking. If someone is at the door, he will wait right beside me until the person at the door leaves. We never felt unsafe in our house, even though my husband was gone, because Huckleberry was there.
In addition to being our protector, Huckleberry is also a wonderful companion. My mother has been living with us for the past 3 years. During that time, she was diagnosed with cancer for a third time. He was always by her side while she was at home recovering from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Anytime someone in our house is sick, Huckleberry is right by their side until they feel better. He also seems to be able to know when I am getting ready to get a severe migraine, as he will just circle around me and keep nudging me.
Huckleberry is just another one of my children. He is very loved here, and we do anything to make him happy and healthy. Last week, I was rubbing him under the chin, and felt a bump on his jaw bone. I looked inside his mouth, and found a large mass covering some of his teeth. He was immediately taken to the 24 hour Emergency Vet here in Newport News. After an evaluation, he referred me to VESC Oncology. We have acted fast in order to prevent the spread of this cancer, and hopefully, with surgery, the wonderful doctors at VESC can successfully cure him.
I adopted Gibbs from the Arlington, VA Animal Shelter when he was almost 1 years old in February of 2007. The last 5 years of owning Gibbs has truly been a joy and a blessing!
Though we have had our share of adversity. Less than 6 months after adopting Gibbs, he started having seizures and I realized he was epileptic. After trying different natural remedies and monitoring the mild seizures, Gibbs had a grand mal seizure in summer of 2008 and went into status. He basically had to be put into a drug induced coma to get the seizures to stop.
Thankfully that worked and Gibbs has been on Bromide ever since to treat his seizures. He’s had an array of other medical issues from ears, stomach, urinary, etc., but we’ve gotten them all treated and gotten him healthy! That’s why I was so devastated by the news that he had stage 2 cancer. I’ve worked so hard to get him healthy and I want to keep him that way so he can live a full life!
Gibbs has truly been an amazing pet. Since I adopted Gibbs I’ve had several stresses in my life, to include the death of 3 of my grandparents and my aunt, job & financial stress, and business stress of selling one business and starting another. All the while, Gibbs has been a constant that has made me smile through stressful or emotional times! And that is why I will do anything to keep him healthy!
Maxwell was the best thing that ever happened to me. 5 1/2 years ago I was looking on Petfinder.com and there he was, such a beautiful dog, I knew I had to adopt him. I went down to the APL and saw him. He was so sad and scared, sitting at the back of his cage. I knelt down and he slowly came to me, smelling my hand and allowing me to pet him. They brought us into the playroom and he walked over to me and sat right in my lap. That was it, we had found each other. Soulmates, best friends forever. We both needed unconditional love, safety, and comfort. I promised him from that day on, he would never want or need for anything, and I would make sure with everything I had, he would always feel loved and safe. He brought so much to my life, he was everything I could ever ask for. It was me and him, partners against the world. Through a few moves, ups and downs, different jobs and loves, he was my constant, my rock. All he had to do was look at me with those big, beautiful eyes, lay down next to me as close as he could, and nothing else mattered. He was perfect. Perfect for me. He would lay next to me all night, no matter what. Wherever I was in the house, there he’d be. That meant the world to me. I wanted, each minute of his life to show him how much he meant to me. I knew he had a horrible past with previous “owners” and months on end at kennels and that brought a feeling of uncertainty and fear to him. I was so conscience of everything I did, I tried to always make him feel comforted and loved. I loved to nuzzle in his furry neck. I loved the way we would lay on the couch together, either me lying on his back or him lying at my feet. We would get all cuddled up and felt no need to move until we absolutely had to. That’s all we needed, each other. He’d tap at the door of the bathroom with his paw, as to say come on, let me in. Sometimes he’d choose to enter, other times he’d lay right outside until I came out. Either way, was close to me, protecting me. He was so proud on our walks. If we passed a stranger, he’d bark, watch them, and then after we had passed I would pat him on his back and say “good boy Boobers” (that was my nickname for him), he’d perk up, head held high, and wag his tail as we kept on our way. When I would pick up the pace and start a little jog, he got so excited, smiling as wide as can be. He loved squirrels and any other land critter he could set his eyes on. His senses were impeccable. He could spot things a mile away, hear sounds that escaped me and the sense of smell…whenever I got a new outfit, he knew. It was amazing. He’d walk up to me and just smell away, as if to say, “new outfit, eh?” He loved his comforts too, big pillows, comfy blankets and a soft warm doggy bed. I wanted to spoil him as best as I could. Whatever I could afford, I wanted him to have. Sweaters, hoodies, even a pair of Christmas jammies with legs and all, he loved and proudly wore out on our walks. He loved my homemade chicken stock, especially when poured over his usual dinner time food. He never begged, really. Just quietly sit next to you, hoping and waiting that something would drop. Trust me, when it did, he found it. Sometimes he may tap your leg to remind you that he was there while you were eating, but that was as far as the begging would go. One of the funniest things he would do is when he was eating, if he heard something he should be barking at he’d try to do both at the same time. Munching away he’d throw in a low bark. It was so adorable. When he would dream, which was pretty often, his whole body would go into these waves and movements, I couldn’t get enough of it. He was so big, 130 lbs and to see him just wiggling about and his paws quivering, it just made me smile. Come to think of it, pretty much everything he did made me smile. I could be having the worst day, come home, and within minutes my heart and mind would heal. Just the look on his face when I’d walk through the door. He’d always be right there, within a foot or two of the opening door. Just as happy as can be. Talk about feeling so loved. If I had to do something before we took our walk, I’d make sure to bring out his leash and place it on the table so he knew, even though there may be a delay, we indeed were taking our evening walk. i didn’t want him to think I’d forgotten. He always knew he’d be getting a treat, too. If mommy had to leave, 9 times out of 10, he would be getting a little something on her return. The few times I couldn’t bring him something I would bring out one of his Milk Bones. It was so cute, he’d look at it and turn away, like he was saying “no, thank you”.
There are not enough words to describe how I felt about my beloved Maxwell. I wish I could describe every emotion, every moment he brought me joy. There are so many and I miss him so much. My life was so full with him in it. I never wanted for a hug, or love, or a friend. I had it all. He gave me it all. I know I tried to do the same for him, every moment of every day. He deserved that and the world and more. When I would wake up, and there he’d be right next to me, either sitting or lying next to me, that’s all I needed to start the day. When he’d look at me out of the corner of his eye from the couch when I’d leave, I just felt so good. He was keeping his eye on me, I loved it. I wish with all my heart, he was with me right now. The nights are so empty and lonely. We would sit down and watch our shows and do our routine until it was bed time. I miss that so much. I thank God I was blessed with him, I prayed for him all the time. I never wanted our time to end.
Friday night he was feeling fine. I got home from work we did our usual walk and came home to relax and I gave him his bone. All of a sudden a hour or so later, he showed some discomfort. He started walking around trying to get comfortable. He got sick, and then laid down with me, still agitated but trying to just lay with me. The next morning, yesterday (Saturday) he was lethargic and wouldn’t even take a small piece of fresh roasted turkey. I knew something was wrong and took him to Great Lakes Vet Clinic. His gums started turning pale grey on the way. We rushed him in and found after an ultrasound his belly was filled with blood. An undetected mass had ruptured. They went ahead with diagnostic testing and saw all his tests, urinalysis, blood, x-Rays, were not showing anything negative. They said he was an excellent candidate for surgery. We decided to have it done that same night at the Westpark Animal Hospital. My best friend and I Jacqueline rushed him over there and the surgeon was very positive. It could be a cyst, a hemotoma, or a benign or malignant Tumor. An hour or so later they began surgery, 20 min later they called me in. They found 3 tumors on his liver that were inoperable and were going to rupture. He wasn’t going to live the rest of the life he was meant to. He passed away. What is so hard is that this all happened within 24 hours. They said these types of tumors are undetectable and show no signs until they rupture. I can’t believe he’s gone. He was so healthy and active all the way up to late Friday night.
He made me feel so happy, so complete.
I thank God he brought him to me, I pray to God he unites us again when it is my time to leave this earth. Until then, I just hope and pray with all of my heart and soul, that he is here with me in spirit and can feel my love, each day growing. I miss you, Maxwell. I love you, Maxwell. Please wait for me and guide my way to you when it is my time. When that day comes, we can play and run in the snow, the leaves, the water. We can cuddle up close and keep each other loved and safe for all eternity. Til that day comes, stay with me, close to me, know that I will miss you so much until that day and know that my love will do nothing but grow and keep growing.
I love you
Mommy
Bianca was a white American Bulldog with black spots. She had a giant blocky head that she would lovingly rest on her owner’s knee or drape over the arm of the sofa. In 2012, Bianca was diagnosed with a spinal cord meningioma. I took her to Virginia Tech for surgery to have the tumor removed. Sadly, her veterinarian discovered another tumor in her brain with a follow up CT scan. We opted to treat Bianca with radiation therapy. She lived in Southwest Virginia. As there was no treating facility nearby, we went to Charlottesville to stay with family. I drove Bianca back and forth to Springfield, Virginia (at least two hours each way) daily for over a month. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. Bianca did amazing and lived for three years and two months after going through radiation. Sadly, she recently lost her battle to cancer.
From Beth Anne to FETCH a Cure,
“I’m writing to let you know that as hard as a decision it has been, Bianca was put down this morning. It’s been a hard decision! How can one easily call to set an appointment putting an end to a long unconditionally loving companionship? She’s has done phenomenal for 3 years and 2 months post treatment. WOW!! To be told a year with her could be guaranteed then get three, was a true gift that would not have been possible without the loving help from FETCH. I will never be able to thank you enough.
Yes, I do believe Bianca could be here with us longer, but I cannot carry her down the steps on days she knows her legs aren’t cooperating and a fall is likely. I could sleep on my couch for months, or I could allow her dignity and give her freedom from the bad days, which truly are bad. Those are the days I look at her and see her looking back at me as if to say “what is happening to me”. I’ve never encountered a dog more in tune with the human way of the world, must have pink bandages and not blue or green or yellow. I’m pretty sure she taught me not all dogs are color blind. But the most important thing she taught me was that like humans, dogs can thrive with the same treatments as humans and they know we are caring for them when going through these treatments. They know that bond they share with us is so strong that the fight proceeds them to beat the odds for their human caregivers, companions, and family showing you treatment is the only option.
I want to thank everyone at FETCH for their love and generosity which allowed us to have Bianca in our lives three more years! Anytime I can help please feel free to reach out and ask, Bianca would only insist to return the love she was given. Anything to keep her legacy alive in the education of what is possible through radiation and treatment of meningioma I will do if available or if I can rearrange to be available I will.
Please share this with everyone. We love each of you very much!”
My name is Christine and I first heard about FETCH a Cure when I saw a brochure at the Oncology Service at Dogwood off of Broad Street. Our beloved beagle, Cindy, was diagnosed with cancer and we were referred to Dr. Angharad Waite at the Oncology Service. Our Cindy passed in February due to complications of cancer. We decided to honor her memory and volunteer for your organization. My husband and I volunteered during the Home and Garden Show at the Richmond Raceway early Spring. However due to various circumstances, grieving being one of them, we have not been able to volunteer at any additional events. We hope to change that shortly.
However, I would like to share an article that I was asked to write for the UK Guardian. After Cindy’s passing I was so distraught that I reached out to the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the VCU School of Medicine. I had a few grief counseling sessions with Dr. Sandy Barker. Dr. Barker was approached by the UK Guardian to write an article on pet loss and when is the right time to get another pet after a loss. She called me to see if I would be interested in writing the article. I almost declined because I did not think I had the energy to put my thoughts on paper. I accepted and the article was published. I think Dr. Barker knew this would be cathartic for me, and it was. Many a tear flowed the weekend I wrote the article. It was helpful for me, but also if after reading the article if at least one person goes to their local rescue or shelter and adopts a dog or cat, mission accomplished.
