I have two dogs that are going to need a home.

I've known Sassy and Katie since they were young. Sassy belonged to a wonderful woman named Renae. I used to see Renae's son when I worked at Broadway Veterinary Clinic, so I had met her many years ago. She brought her dog to Veazie and that is where I started seeing Sassy. In the picture to your left she is the one in the top.

 

Katie (bottom right) belonged to her very close friend Jean. I never saw Renae without seeing Jean. Renae was very sweet, and Jean was a pistol. I'm going to guess that Jean was in her 80's and Renae in her 70's. Years ago I diagnosed Sassy with dry eye, and told Renae that she needed medication to keep her eyes healthy. She gave the medication and brought her in for rechecks.

 

At about the same time I told Jean that Katie had allergies and that she needed to be on medication in the spring and summer. She looked at me and then at Katie and said...."OK, but this bettter not cost me alot of money!!!" Katie looked up as if to say..."she barks alot, but she doesn't bite"

 

We chose the least expensive antihistamine to control her itching and I sent her to Sam's Club to get the best price.

 

A month later she called and told me that Katie was still chewing at night and it was keeping her awake. She bought the pills like I told her to and they weren't doing a damned thing! "My poor Katie is uncomfortable and I want you to give her something that will work this time!!"

 

I pictured her 4'11 frame leaning forward into the receiver, jaw set, eyes narrowed with determination. I quickly considered my options...I wasn't sure just how long her allergies would last because this was her first real year with symptoms.  Steroids were sure to help, but the side effects were sometimes a deal breaker. Drinking more, peeing more, sometimes panting in the middle of the night. On the other hand there were a dozen antihistamines and some dogs responded better to some than others. Diet can certainly play a role, but I would have to try Katie on a special diet for 2 months or more to see if it would help. I was pretty sure that if it took several months with Katie scratching all night, Jean was sure to come to the clinic and box my ears.

 

"Jean, I want to try Katie on prednisone to control the itching."

 

Silence.

 

"Will it stop her scratching?"

 

"Probably, and I'll use a low dose to hopefully lessen the liklihood of side effects"

 

"This isn't one of those expensive pills, is it?"

 

"No, this is a generic drug and should be very affordable"

 

I saw Jean at Pat's Pizza in Orono a few weeks later and she was thrilled. The medication had cost $4 and Katie slept like a baby ever since.

 

Several years later Renae came in alone. She explained that Jean had passed away a few months before and she promised her she would take care of Katie. Sassy and Katie were as close as Renae and Jean had been. Renae showed me pictures of her and Jean on her cell phone. There was one with the 4 of them that I wish I had gotten a copy of.

 

Renae's son Myron called me last week to tell me his mother was in bad shape. She has cancer, had a stroke and is not expected to live long. As I write this tonight I can't believe it. I just saw her a few weeks ago and she looked so good.

 

The reason Myron called is to see if we could find a home for Sassy and Katie. The family can not take them because they all have big dogs of their own that do not get along with them. 

 

So I asked Becca to put together a new page called Kindred Rescue. This will be a place to put our patients when they need new homes. Because both Sassy and Katie are 11 years old and have mild but ongoing medical issues, I will provide their medical care at no charge for whoever takes them. But they must go together. 

 

visit the new webpage  

 

 

 

A quick rule on this new part of the webpage...its our clients only. Since we have found patients homes throughout the past year or two, I have been deluged by requests for people who know someone who needs to place an animal. I'll tell you all the same thing that I tell them individually. I have to restrict this list to patients of Kindred Spirits only so that all of you will continue to open my emails enthusiastically and not dreading the hard luck story.

 

Remember, I had a bunch of friends who wouldn't answer my phone calls because they were afraid that I would tell them the story of the one legged cat or the dog that was going to be shot if someone didn't take him. I won't make that mistake twice.

 

But on the other hand. I have 4 dogs and 3 cats.

 

Somebody please throw me a bone....