I've had dogs most of my life. In June when I lost my last six dogs, five of the six were rescues or failed fosters. They all lived long good lives, 11-14 years old and large and a medium one. I had not been without a fur baby for over twenty years. My parents and I raised two from puppies, they out lived my parents. They lived to be 12 and a half and 14 years old, a Rottie and a German Shepherd.
I'm 65 and single, no family, my dogs after my parents died were my family. So after my last one crossed the bridge in June of last year, I knew I didn't need to be alone, so only a couple of days after Rose crossed the bridge was Father's Day weekend. The strange thing with Rose when I came home from work and found she had crossed the bridge, inside I felt for the first time since her last sibling crossed, she was again happy. She was happy to be back with her siblings who had crossed before her. She and her last two siblings all crossed the bridge within six months of each other. Even with all of the attention, her personality changed, she lost her perky spirit. The MACC near me was having a "no adoption fee" for Father's Day. So I got up on Saturday morning and decided to make the 45 minute drive to see what the shelter had. They mostly had large breed and several Pibbles. I came up one of the kennels where one sat quietly and just was looking as people went by. Our eyes made contact, and I could not believe what I felt. Looking back at me those eyes I felt my fur babies who had crossed the bridge looking back at me. I felt inside they were okay with me adopting another. And Rose was okay with me adopting another fur baby just two days after she crossed. So I visited with Apache Princess and another. The other was more spirited than Apache Princess, but inside I knew she was going to be mine. I loved her name so I kept it. Her story was, her family lost their home and had to surrender her. Her intake papers had her listed as eleven years but when I got her home and started spending time with her, I had doubts she was as old as hr owners listed her, plus she had no gray on her face or muzzle.
when a lump appeared on her left side five months after I brought her home, I took her to my vet to get it checked out. I hoped for a fatty tumor but prepared for something else, cancer. My vet drew some cells from the tumor and sent them off to the lab. A week later they came back, a Sarcoma. My vet said it was in the early stage. It was so close to the holidays and early stage, we decided to let us get through the holidays as I monitored the growth, then we do surgery. So with the holidays over and things back to normal, we are working on scheduling the surgery. For Christmas, Apache Princess had her picture made with Santa at our local Petco, where I learned they partner with Blue Buffalo to support a Cancer Fund to help pet parents financially with medical for cancer treatment.
We saw her veterinary February 4th because the lump has grown a bit. Before I can get some assistance from Petco/Blue Buffalo's Cancer Fund, Apache Princess and I have to make a trip to UT at Knoxville, TN for a Baseline Assessment to see if she qualifies for the program. Then from there, we'll take the next step whatever it may be.
I've lost three of my fur babies to cancers. I hope I won't lose a fourth. But ever how long I have with her, she is a blessing and gives me so much, even more love than I give her. She protective, barks at the drive through, we are working on that. She is my beautiful fur baby, and I'm so glad I went to Nashville, TN so soon after losing Rose or I would not have found my wonderful girl who seems to possess little things that my fur babies had before her. Seems every day I find a part of them in her. Rescue dogs are the best. I encourage you to Adopt don't Shop.
LEBANON, TN
