So glad to have met you……and time to say goodbye

 

 I was a happy, fit 2 year old Golden Retriever. The amputation of my right leg (July 2014) was due to a cyst in the bone that “exploded”.  I got the “all clear” from Cancer, 2 weeks after the operation, that was done by Noel Fitzpatrick.  The bone in my leg had crumbled away and he was not able to fit a prosthetic.

I got fitter and fitter since then and could go for very long walks and be fine. I have fantastic balance, maybe due to the removal of the scapula as well, which would have weighed me down, can play with all the doggy friends, run like the wind, climb stairs, jump into the car, roll around on the grass and in fact there are no limitations.

Now I have a confession, I was addicted to tennis balls, soft rubber balls and rubber gloves. Mum and Dad have tried and tried to stop these habits, succeeded most of the time but sometimes I am just too fast.  I didn’t try and eat all tennis balls some I will just give up, but some of them are just so good I crack them with my back teeth and swallow them as quickly as possible.  Mum and Dad won’t give me any of these but I can search them out from a long way off, when out on a walk.  I have a very good sense of smell.

In November we had a fabulous holiday on the Suffolk coast, I just loved the beach and the sea. Mum said it was probably because I was born near the sea; and I just loved the smell as a puppy.

Before we went, I found a treasure chest of old tennis balls in the hedge when out for a walk.  There were dozens and I went in immediately dispite what mum yelled.  She had to come in after me that was awful for her and guide me out.  Some of them were really old and moldy!  Anyway I just passed them through but a few weeks later, in December,  I got another that made me sick, so off I went to the vet.  They said my temperature was abnormmaly high and going for a scan , the vet found I had a large Haemangiosarcoma in my spleen and it was removed later that day.  I got out of doggy hospital quickly and bounced back well, in fact I was grinning for days and very happy again.

Everyone was home for Christmas, all my human brothers and sisters too; it was great and I had a few fabulous days.  Over new year it all went wrong, I was happy and content to see everyone, but very very tired and just had to say goodbye to everyone and thank them for a fabulous 2 years.   Tetley and Ralph were on hand to welcome me to doggy heaven.  I might have only been around for 2 years but that was my journey and I just loved all the joy and inspiration I gave to people and dogs I met.  I remember one little boy shouting at dad, on the beach “that’s amazing, hey mister, how does he run on 3 legs”.   I just grinned with pride and gratitude for the messages I gave freely to all those around me.

Mum suspects I may have poisoned myself, with those tennis balls that could have affected my immune system. She has done a flyer to warn other dog owners and I would like to say that eating them really isn’t a good idea, so please safely dispose of any broken tennis balls as soon as possible, some contain high levels of toxins such as lead and arsenic.  See http://www.tiahl.org/?p=2176   for more information.

Lots of love, Herbie, The legend  xxxxx (doggy ones)