Special Moments

Dog's hugs brighten days of Hospice

Human, canine volunteers provide break from illness
By STACY SMITH SEGOVIA
The Leaf-Chronicle

When people think, "Hospice," a 6-year-old shaggy English sheepdog doesn't come to mind. But there she is in all her glory — the pink bow-wearing, warm furry presence that is Sarah Catherine, walking the corridors of General Care Convalescent Center.

"She absolutely starts performing when she gets around patients, like she knows what she's doing," Stacy Knight says about Sarah Catherine, owned by volunteer Ingrid Thompson. Knight is the provider relations manager for AseraCare Hospice in Montgomery County. She says Hospice is a multi-faceted benefit that everyone is entitled to receive near the end of their life, free of charge.

"It's an entitlement we all have, but only 10 percent of people in this country ever get their Hospice benefit," Knight says.Hospice provides medical, emotional and spiritual support to people who have terminal illnesses. People who die suddenly, in a car crash or from a heart attack, for example, don't have the chance to use Hospice services, but their loved ones may rely on Hospice for bereavement care afterward.

Knight says too many people think of final deathbed days or hours when they think of Hospice. In fact, to qualify, a person must have an illness that is likely to result in death within six months. But if the patient lives longer than six months, their care is extended as long as they need it.

"Some patients have had it over two years," Knight says.Although many Hospice patients are bedridden and unable to care for themselves, others are still able to read, cook and socialize with friends. No matter how advanced the illness, Hospice's goal is to make the last stage of a person's life as comfortable and fulfilling as possible."Some of our volunteers read to patients, take them outside for a short walk in the sunshine, paint their nails, brush their hair," Knight says. "There are so many ways we can add to a person's life."

According to the AseraCare Hospice Web site (www.aseracare.com), "Hospice adds life to days at a time when days can no longer be added to life."Volunteers add color to lives.Going to nursing homes with Sarah Catherine and her owner, Thompson, is a favorite assignment for Kathy Fox. Fox, volunteer coordinator for AseraCare Hospice, is always looking for ways to expand Hospice's offerings.

"We have a woman who has been volunteering playing music at our memorial services, and another volunteer is sending out cards for the bereaved. Sometimes people need someone to run errands for them, go to the post office or the grocery, or stay with the patient while the family member does that," Fox says. "I would love to find a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop who would make cards and visit nursing homes."One of the most appreciated services Hospice offers is respite care, allowing the patient's family to take a break and get out of the house for a few hours, or even take a much-needed nap.

"Many of our patients are elderly. When you've got an elderly caregiver who is worn out — up all night — they are so grateful (to be given a break)," Knight says.Although most Hospice patients are in their homes, they also qualify for care if they are in hospitals, assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

When Sarah Catherine visited General Care Convalescent Center last week, she had a handful of Hospice patients to see, but she spread slobbery love everywhere she went along the way. Her appearance interrupted an exercise class going on in the facility's dining room."I used to raise collies," Harriette Eades said, inviting Sarah Catherine closer to her. "I just love animals — animals and birds. When you love animals, you love people."

Sarah Catherine must have felt the love, because she jumped up and gave Eades a kiss on the nose. Reao Bertha Gregg was just as happy, calling the sheepdog to sit beside her chair."She's a big teddy bear!" Gregg says.Martha Sandefur got an in-room visit from Sarah Catherine."You so pretty," she said, again and again, to the shaggy dog. "Oh, I love animals. I wish they'd bring them up here every day."

Thompson, who is German, found she had something in common with one of the patients she visited with her dog."We just walked in and I could tell in her accent she was German," Thompson says. "I started speaking to her in English and she answered me in German, then we just rattled on. It was really fun." Fox says the hopes of people living in nursing homes, or those with terminal illnesses, are different than most. "The big issue for people in this kind of situation is meaning and purpose. Sometimes they find that in spirituality, sometimes in relationships with family and friends," Fox says. "Hope might be that I'm going to have a good day, that I won't have any pain today, that I'll have fun on this trip to Wal-Mart. It's living in the moment much more than wishful thinking."

Martha Sandefur, right, has a soft spot in her place for all animals, but pugs in particular. That Sarah Catherine bears no resemblance to a pug didn’t bother Sandefur at all, as she took a break from watching television to talk to the dog and her owner, Ingrid Thompson.

BB'S Blessing

BB's mom, Barbara, contacted me and told me that she needed to turn in her sheepie of 9 years (she had him ever since he was 8 weeks old) due to her failing health. Needless to say, she was very upset about this, her only companion for all those years.
I told her that I would take him and he could stay with me and be one of my sheepie gang. That made her feel much better. Now we needed to get him up to TN from New Orleans. We got him to Sandy Tansil's house and I was going to meet her on the AL/KY border. Well things kept happening and he stayed at Sandy's for about 3 Months.
Finally, a good friend of mine went down to the coast to visit her daughter and she was kind enough to pick up BB and bring him to TN and just in the nick of time, about two weeks before the storm hit. Now he is happy and safe here in TN.
BTW his mom in New Orleans is ok, just waiting to be rescued. Ingrid

 

A Tribute to Rescue Todo

"Hi', my name is Todo and I have a great story.  I was a miserable puppy and now I’m so happy with my new dad.Lisa Harris was visiting Kentucky and saw me chained in my yard caught around my dog house. I had lived there 9 years and was seldom petted or cared for. Lisa asked my owners if she could take me and they responded “we don’t care, we don’t want him”.  So, thank goodness they let me go with her.  She tried to find a rescue group to take me in Kentucky but she ended up having to drive me home with her to Atlanta.  I had a great time but she didn’t know I had some health issues at this time.  After Lisa made many phone calls to many rescue groups,only OES Rescue Network SE responded to her plea for help!  The OES Network put Lisa in touch with Mostly Mutts Rescue who took an interest in my story.  A great vet at Decatur Village looked me over and noticed that I had something called “Bilateral Perineal Hernias”…they were so bad that the vet referred me to a specialist.  So off we went to see Dr. Greenwood.  By the way, the X-rays showed them my old dislocated hip injury that was never repaired.  The doctor was baffled when he saw my hernias and said he had to put me under anesthesia before he could make a decision if they could be repaired or not.  While I was under anesthesia, he called Mostly Mutts and even though the bill was $1500.00 (and that didn’t include all of the other vet bills), they said “go ahead and fix him…he is well deserving of it”. 

The surgery was a success and I lived at Mostly Mutts for a few days.  Unfortunately, I didn’t behave (sorry I jumped the fence and barked and marked and was mean to one dog), so I had to be housed at an animal control.  I was not happy there but Mostly Mutts did not give up.  They took me to Petsmart every weekend and came by to visit me.  One day a wonderful man from Tennessee contacted Mostly Mutts after seeing my adorable face on their web site.  He was told all about my wonderful personality and also my not-so-wonderful side, and he said “Todo can retire at my house”.  As long as I was nice to the cat, I’d have a home.  So Mostly Mutts drove me to meet my new dad and now I am one happy dog...and, hey, I like the cat.  I get to sleep in his room and ride in his truck (I love that) and I get one-on-one attention every day.  I feel good and I am loved.  Thanks to all who were involved, especially my original angel Lisa Harris, OESRNSE, and my new dad. LIFE IS GOOD!!

The Miracle That Is Henry Holland!

Date:    Wed, 31 Aug 2005
From:    Laurel Holland 
Subject: CHAT: RESCUE: Only One Dog

Wigglebus is prepped for a journey out tonite in celebration of
Henry's FOURTH anniversary with us.  Who knew as we met Don, theRescue Truck Driver Angel, at 5am at a truck stop four years ago today, that we were picking up a best friend, an inspiration, and a dog that would change our lives?

So many people behind the scenes of each rescue, (vets, shelters, drivers, placement directors, foster homes, organizations,)  deserve to be thanked and acknowledged for the miracles they are part of.The benefits of being rescued for Henry seemed obvious.   Love, food, shelter, grooming, vet care, a family, a furever home....  It was impossible to predict (impawsible to pawdict as Henry would say) that
the biggest rescue benefit of all was for us.  Astounding, how a street dog that came with nothing but a bandana, was filled with gifts that he continues to love and delight us with, comfort and protect us with.

We did the things adoptive families do... continued to help him heal, loved him, fed him, slept in funny positions on the bed so he could be part of the "pack".
But what he continues to return to us every day in fierce loyalty and love (Mom, if Annie calls any of us fat, I've got you covered), is beyond description, and beyond our ability to repay. Who knew we had a talking dog?  A dog that could read, write, and even
buy a bus on PeeBay? Who knew he would go on to teach kids about rescue, and help to raise awareness and money for other dogs in need?

It is ALWAYS in my heart that his fate was to be "shot out back". But Ingrid and Monika (his rescue angels in Tennessee) had the vision to believe in him, took the time to be bothered, took the moment to have faith in him, went to the trouble and  expense to help him to
change his luck.... It was "only one dog".   Homeless, ragged, insect bitten, his death would not have been noticed by anyone. But the rescue angels SAW his value and  found a way to help.

To Henry's Angels, and all the others:
You help  so many more animals and people than you will ever know, the day you save 'one dog'.  May your lives be filled with rescue dust. Your gifts are beyond our ability to repay.

With Love to ALL rescue angels,
The Hollands, including Henry, Patrick O'Malley, Cricket and Molly Malone, HT and Scruffy, and the Spirit of Guinney Gumdrops.
(Now can we get my steak, mom?)

Family Finds Stevie After Two Years!

I asked a friend to pull and oes from the Nashville shelter, anyway they said he was an oes, well he was not. So we put him on Petfinders as oes/Schnauzer mix.  I got a phone call from a lady in Kansas City and she said this was her dog Stevie, she lost him about two YEARS ago, they were
camping and someone was shooting off a gun and he took off, no tag or collar. Well she has been calling me every day for a week now and we have been exchanging pictures.

The markings the same, age and her Stevie never
barked and this dog I had now for two weeks never did bark. Height, weight, same. Today they came all the way from Kansas City and when he saw them coming out of the truck and they called his name, he just kept running toward them tail wagging and so happy. Giving mom kisses. So it turned out to be their dog. What a happy ending! Ingrid

And the follow up:

Hi Ingrid,
Well Stevie is acting more like himself, he played hide - seek this morning.  He did not sleep for almost 24 hours but last night I slept with him and lay his bed right by my bed side and he did get some sleep. All of the family members have been coming over and he just is kissing and lets
them kiss him. Our girls came over and he just let them look and his face and give him loves and hugs, he is so happy. He follows me around and when I cook he stands between me and the sink just like he did... He came in and
gave me a kiss this morning, that is how he let me know he has to go potty...

How can I thank you, I am just so happy I can not tell you.  I just wanted to let you know. I will get some pictures of him this week and e-mail them to you. Talk to you soon.

Terry, Kansas City, MO 

THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE BESSIE

Sue of OESRNSE contacted Larry of BONE who contacted me about going to ID a dog listed as
"sheepdog mix" at a shelter in in Athens, Alabama.  Picture looked suspiciously beardie-like.  We went to ID her and found her to be in such horrible condition that my youngest child burst into tears.  She was so horribly matted in the rear area that she could hardly go to the bathroom.  Out in the play yard with us, she squatted to try to poop several times and I could see that she was completely matted with hair.  She was rail thin.  They were holding her for an additional week to see if an owner turned up as she was a stray found beside the road.  She had several ticks on her head as well.  Even in that condition, she gave us the "lean" and was following my 7 year old daughter around.  She had a very sweet personality, but the saddest eyes!

I couldn't allow her to stay in that condition - even if owners DID turn up.  So while we were waiting for owners, I took the shelter lady $75 to get Bessie shaved and groomed. 
The following Wednesday, I returned to the shelter and she had been shaved (and spayed and given rabies shot) but still had ticks.  When I went back to the car to get tweezers to get them off the poor dog, the shelter lady put some kind of "tick medicine" on her to get them off!  I was just horrified. 
When no owner had appeared and her time was up, I rescued her per BONE as we still were thinking beardie mix.  When I went to the shelter to pick her up, the lady mentioned she had a "slight cold" and had been given antibiotics by the shelter vet.

A "slight cold" turned out to be what my vet at first thought might be distemper from spaying the dog without vaccinations and then placing her in back into an open shelter.  (my vet was just as horrified as I was).  She was down to 22 lbs the day I got her out (from 30 upon the day she was taken to the shelter) and in bad, bad shape.  She had to be isolation at the vet for over a week and given megadoses of antibiotics.  It was not distemper, just a nasty kennel infection of some kind that produced a cough and massive green nose gunk.  Every day, the beardie rescue people in Huntsville were going to the vet to play and visit with Miss Beasley.  All the while beginning to realize she might not be beardie, but possibly a Tibetan terrier mix of some kind.  Contacting TT Rescue put us in touch with an applicant of theirs in Cullman.    Over $400 in vet bills later, we finally sprung Miss Bessie and she went to be fostered with a beardie family at their lake home near Scottsboro, Alabama.

TT Rescue then suddenly pulled out - saying they didn't think she was TT at all but a "schnauzer" but the beardie man had already sent pictures of Miss Bessie to the applicant in Cullman.  She had had OES in the past and   knew the temperament and the herding aspect but wanted just a tad smaller in size this time.  :-) 
The family in Cullman decided to meet Miss Bessie and after visits and many conversations, Miss Bessie went to meet her new family in Cullman and has a new forever home.  She is completely spoiled and is certainly the Queen of the Household.......and the sweetest, most loving puppy any of us has ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Good luck to Miss Bessie from all of us involved in her rescue.  A good long life to you, sweet girl!!
Rich & Alice Cislo

A Very Lucky Sam

Sam was on the run at the local grade school when animal control was called to take him to the pound.  The vet at the pound just shook his head at the sight of what we later called the "Dreadlocks Dog" and knew he was a disaster waiting to happen so... off came the hair!  He was adopted two days later to a young man but was returned to the pound after two months due to personal problems with the adopter.  Sam was his name now, and he soon  developed a bad case of kennel anxiety - snapping and growling and food aggression, especially with me!  The PTS order was in the works but I intervened and asked for two weeks to take him out and work with him. Following advice given by the trainers from the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha, I went to Sam "armed" with a strong leash, new collar, good intentions and...chicken! 

He had many scary teeth and an even more ominous growl and snap!  As the days passed he grew to trust me and within 1 month was again adopted to a terrific family.  They were informed of his history and took a chance on him.  We knew he had hit the adoption jackpot!  But, two weeks later, back he came due to growling and snapping at their calm little boy - something that can't be tolerated even by the best adopters! "Sam, Sam, Sam" my husband told him, "you are just a bad boy sometimes!"  Well, I guess you could call this the beginning of  "love at first bite" because Sam adopted my husband and the trusting in people process began anew!  Now when Sam becomes threatened or anxious he is made to come and sit near us instead of growling and snarling.  As you can tell from the pictures he is a happy, becoming well-adjusted, handsome and as we're finding out, very smart dog.  He still doesn't like to be disturbed when eating but then, most men don't and so we'll give him that one!  Sam now has a forever home with us and a happy ending to his story.
Linda Hoefing - Shenandoah, Iowa
Note: Linda is a very special angel who sprang into action when we contacted her about Sam.
Linda, OESRNSE is so grateful for people like you!  Sue

The Amazing Dudley

Here is Dudley a OES/Boxer mix giving cart rides to children at the OES picnic in PA.
Dudley & His Mom Katie Mattison donated the proceeds to OESRNSE & NEOSER.
Such a sweet boy to work so hard to help his rescue friends!
Thank You, Duds!
 

Sweet Beautiful Sara

Congratulations to our own Ingrid Thompson & Sara!
Ingrid report's that,"Sara tested very high,
they said that only 3 out of 100 dogs test that well".
"I knew Sara could do it", said Ingrid, "It was me I was worried about".
"Since we are partners they wanted to see how I interact with her".
The comments received were;
"Very good team, they seem to enjoy interacting with others, extremely calm and controlled Old English Sheepdog with proactive, caring handler "
Now she has her TDI and Delta Society Certification.
Here is a picture of Sara with physically and mentally challenged adults.