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Forever, Angus is in my heart
A Story by Andrea
A Story by Andrea
Angus... means "superior/exceptional strength".
Spring of 2004... I was working at a veterinary clinic and it was the end of a long day. Michele Girault, a golden linchpin & longtime volunteer of Friends of Pets (FOP), walked in. She said to me, “Andrea, I have a golden retriever in the back. Want to meet him?” Oh my! My heart jumped at the opportunity!!
We walked back to the kennels and there was this incredible senior citizen; a golden retriever looking back at me with the biggest brown eyes, filled with love. Michele had come across him at Anchorage Animal Control. When she saw him, she asked him “What ARE you doing in here?” Needless to say, he was sprung!
We got him out of the kennel and brought him up front so I could cover the phones. He immediately rolled over so I could rub his big belly. I was smitten from the instant we locked eyes. Michele knew that my heart needed a golden. My first golden, George, had passed 18 months prior from hemangiocarcoma; a deadly cancer, just short of his 6th birthday. She said with a twinkle in her eye, “I have foster parents set up for him OR you could take him.” Needless to say, Angus went home with me that evening.
He was 36 pounds overweight and had a hard time walking. His front feet bent from the excessive weight. His thyroid was checked and it was normal. I knew we had work to do! We began by walking ¼ of a mile and adding ¼ mile each day for 14 months. I adjusted his food to a senior weight control formula and he began shedding pounds. On the 14th month of our training, he was down to 99 lbs! He was a new man!
He loved being groomed by Tracy. She had a traveling dog grooming van and came to the house. He loved spa days with her as she bathed, spoiled him with treats and lovin! We both looked forward to those days :)
One day on our walk, we found some strawberries on the side of the road. I picked a couple and ate them. He looked at me like “Hey! Where IS mine?” I offered him one and the sweet old man snarfed it down! I had never seen a dog eat fruit before. After that, that was our special treat we shared.
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| Strawberry Dog Collar by CanineDesign |
As we headed home, a stray dog came charging toward us. I looked at Angus in amazement as he made a half circle in front of me, back and forth. He was protecting me!!! He snarled and pulled on the lead and that dog turned and hi-tailed it away! My heart swelled with love for that 4-legged. I thanked the stars above (& Michele), for sending me this miraculous, astounding, new best friend.
We enjoyed many, many slow walks and trips to Yukon Island where he ran off the lead; free with his golden hair blowing in the wind. He loved strolling on the beach and eating surf line “treats”. So much that, he appeared to have indigestion. I took him to the vet and we tried an anti-acid. When it continued, an x-ray showed (ruh-roh!) that he had eaten an entire pile of unknown objects! He was scoped and then had to have his stomach opened up to remove, let’s see there was: sea grass, plastic army men, wood chunks etc. He was truly a vacuum! He recovered slowly as he was approximately 11 at this point. I took his stomach contents to my Reserve job and played show and tell... OMG !
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| The Coast 8x10 Fine Art Photograph by WoodsEdge |
We had enjoyed a little over 2 years together. Each day, a gift and one day, I found his lymph nodes were swollen on both sides of his neck. Dread came over me like a dark storm. I had experienced this before with Bear (another canine rescue). He had fast-moving lymphoma and passed just short of his 5th birthday.
Angus went in for removal of them. He was diagnosed with a slow moving form of lymphoma. I chose no chemotherapy for him. I went with acupuncture, Vitamin B-12 injections and a weekly infusion of an anti-oxidant/free radical fighting, homeopathic IV drip. I was surprised at his increased energy level after his treatments! He was the old, spunkier Mister “A”!
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| My "A" Book, vintage book available at innerchildbooks |
He slowly began to lose control of his rear end. He told me with his eyes when he was ready. I decided to have a fabulous “Going Away” party for Angus. Tracy came over and gave him his last spa treatment. I invited friends and family to join us. The house was decorated festively and balloons were out front. I made chocolate dipped strawberries and fudge brownies for him. He literally gained 5 lbs that evening as he ate his heart out with abandon. For the first time I saw him look at me and go, “I am stuffed!”
My vet came to the house to help him pass over. His passing was so gentle. We had a wonderful 3-1/2 years together. Every spring, when the strawberries bloomed, Angus was by my side eating strawberries. Forever, Angus is in my heart.
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| Pierced Heart Copper Ring by CopperMare |
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