Lola
Lola
Update 5/3/09
Lola has found a
wonderful hospice home where she will live out the rest of her days with four
other Goldens, a couple of Pomeranians-as well as cats, a donkey, and other
animal friends for company. Many thanks to all of you who offered to give Lola a
place in your homes and hearts.
I NEED A HOSPICE HOME
The family showed up at the shelter
late in the day to drop off their petite red Golden. The told the staff her
name—Lola—but beyond that simply said, “We cannot care for her any longer.” One
look made it clear she needed help: a growth on her eye was causing intense
irritation and inflammation, and—most striking of all—she had a very large,
angry-looking growth on her tummy, the size of a baseball. The family gave her
age as nine, and her front teeth looked very old and worn—but the back teeth are
clean and healthy, so a vet guessed she was probably only about six. We didn’t
know and didn’t care. Lola was sweet, loving, and social despite her obvious
discomfort. The next day she was at the clinic. Her belly was so big she had
that slightly sway-backed, pendulous look that pregnant dogs get, and we
wondered if she might be expecting… but an exam revealed that the big tummy was
due to a massive extension of the tumor into her body. It was about the size of
half a football. Bloodwork looked good & chest X-rays were clear, so we
proceeded with surgery. With the tumor removed and her eye all fixed up, Lola
soon looked a million times better. In her foster home, she’s doing great. “As
sweet as they come, gets along well with all the other dogs, eating fine as long
as we mix some canned food in with her kibble. Spending plenty of time just
sacked out, resting up.”
We were all hoping that the tumor
would prove benign, but the histopathologist’s report came in with very bad
news: mammary osteosarcoma, high-grade malignancy. The cancerous cells extended
past the margins of the excised tissue, which means that the disease has already
metastasized elsewhere in Lola’s body. But it’s impossible to say how long she
has left—it could be weeks, months, or even a year.
Is there any good to be found in this sad situation? Yes. At least the rest of Lola’s time on earth will be better than what she knew before. She will be loved for the rest of her days and will be shown kindness and made comfortable—and most of all, she will not be alone. GRR is looking for a very special family who will take Lola in while knowing that her time may be short, surround her with cheerfulness and love, and when the time comes, help her pass easily into the next life. Do you have it in your heart to take this wonderful girl in? If so, please let us know.