Towards the end of January, Joe, on a whim, took a look at Petfinder.com. On it he found a young, male, German Shepherd Rhodesian Ridgeback mix puppy looking for a home. His name was Scotch.
Joe's two favorite breeds mingled together in a floppy eared, black and brown dog, named after one of the manliest drinks.
We decided to learn more about him and concluded that we wanted to meet him. We were given the option of taking him home that day, and in preparation, knowing we were going to, stocked up on doggy things.
We drove two hours to meet this pup, and he was sweeter than either of us could have imagined. He immediately licked our faces, but didn't jump at us. Calm, laid back but still responsive, he would lay down if he was sure he wasn't going anywhere. We fell in love right away.
A few short days after bringing him home, we found out he had a urinary tract infection, possibly kidney/bladder stones, and possibly some kind of traumatic injury to his hips or back. We were extraordinarily worried. We didn't want to give him back, he had already worked his way deep inside our hearts. We decided to get x-rays taken, and he had no apparent stones or problems with his bones, except "wide open" growth plates. The vet suspected he may have been at least beaten as a puppy because he was so sensitive about his hind end. And if he was in pain, he would simply look at you touching him with eyes that said "please stop, thanks."
We decided to keep him upon learning he only had a UTI, and "wide open growth plates." We chalked his pain up to growing pains. We gave him two rounds of antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. He got cranberry powder in his food. We were gentle with him, even when he had to be reprimanded, which was so rare.
He came when he was called, went to the bathroom when we asked him to. He learned to ring a bell to ask to be let outside. He walked pleasantly on a leash, no pulling. He was nice to every person, big or small, young or old, sitting in front of children and licking their hands. He let a small girl in a stroller pet him, without even a glance at the sandwich she was holding right next to his face. He was kind to other dogs, never aggressive. Rarely barked. He liked to snuggle, almost knocking you over. If you didn't envelope him, he'd start pawing your hands. He loved Titus. He would whine if he couldn't get close enough to smell him. Titus would bat Scotch on the nose and paw at his tail if it went by him. Titus even began to instigate chases through the house. When he looked at us, he seemed to be saying "thank you, I will do anything you ask if you can communicate it properly." His eyes were so deep and wise and knowing. We could not fault him for anything. In short, Scotch was the perfect dog.
On a sunny Saturday a month after we got him, we took him out to a metro park for a hike. He was a joy to walk with and figured he'd like to do a bit of exploring. Unfortunately the hike was too strenuous for him. In a month he'd gained at least 5 lbs, and grown taller. He seemed to be getting around alright, but after the hike he was obviously uncomfortable and had a hard time getting up and down. I bought some doggy aspirin on Monday and gave him half a dose in the afternoon.
He was still a little sore, but the doggy aspirin seemed to help. On Monday night after dinner I gave him his heartworm and flea preventative, Trifexis. This was the first dose I had given him. The foster family had given him something else the previous month before we got him. I had a hesitation giving it to him, it smelled like weed killer. I don't like putting Titus's flea stuff on him either. I watch him with bated breath for a few days. Afterwards, Scotch just laid in the same spot all night, lethargic, but we thought he was still sore and being lazy. He's usually quiet at night, but now that I think about it, not that quiet. Before bed, we let him out to pee and he came right back in, and put himself to bed in his kennel. I said "goodnight, I love you," and went to bed.
In the morning I went downstairs to let him out to pee, but as I opened the door to the study I didn't hear him standing up and pawing at the kennel like I normally do. I knew instantly something was wrong. When I saw him laying in his kennel, I knew that he was dead. It didn't stop me from hoping and double checking, and then I was inconsolable. I pulled Joe out of the shower and together we just cried.
We took him to the vet as soon as we could and arranged the burial. It was utterly heart-destroying to wrap his body in his blanket and put it in the truck.
We both suspect the Trifexis triggered his death, and said as much to the vet, considering that was the only thing different about that night. By the time he went to bed, the doggy aspirin had worn off. There was a pool of saliva beneath him, one the known side effects of Trifexis is excessive salivation and possible seizures. After some research on the internet, we found many pet owners with similar stories regarding Trifexis. Our vet said she had never heard of something like this happening, but pursued the makers of Trifexis, Alenco, to pay for a necropsy of Scotch's body. Scotch's body is currently at Ohio State for a necropsy. Our vet is pushing to get approval for a toxicology report. She obviously suspects a drug-related death. Scotch was after all a relatively healthy animal, 9 ish months old, and in good condition. She also filed an "adverse event" with Alenco and the FDA for us.
Joe and I are absolutely destroyed by his death. In one short month, we experienced the greatest connection to an animal either of us had ever had. We now know what it is like to have an animal we don't deserve. Scotch deserved none of the bad things that had happened to him. He only deserved as much love and appreciation and care as a perfect human being could offer. He being perfect, and we being imperfect, he wasn't made for this world. We experienced a dog with a pure soul, ever gracious, ever loving. He didn't have a perfect body, except for his fluffiness, and his ears, and his scruff, and his belly, and his eyes - but a perfect soul doesn't belong on earth. Joe and I are really struggling to understand why this happened, why the process was so tortuous, why we could only be with him for a month... Our only hope is that we were given him to love him on his short journey through earth as he makes a safe path for dogs on heartworm/flea prevention.
I have never cried so much in one day, nor have I ever been so touched by a dog's unconditional love and trust. Looking into his eyes was looking into a pure soul. I have never been more convinced of the presence of a soul in a dog, and I am so sure of the fact that he was sent here on a mission from God; it is a test of patience and trust discovering what that is amidst this heartache.
Be careful when you ask God to teach you gratefulness, patience, kindness, love and trust, for he will undoubtedly provide you with the most painful growing experiences you can't even imagine.
I believe that we did our absolute best to love him and provide him a with what a true home could be. We didn't want to ever say "too good to be true" but I think, deep down, at least for me, I suspected his time here was short, and I think he knew too.
To Scotch! May you rest in peace and comfort and enjoy all the freedom and painlessness of running through heaven, taking as long as you wish smelling the smells, and chewing apart every stuffed woodland animal and beef pizzle you can find. In a short time, we will join you for full envelopment hugs and kisses on the mouth. We love you, Scotch.
Joe's two favorite breeds mingled together in a floppy eared, black and brown dog, named after one of the manliest drinks.
We decided to learn more about him and concluded that we wanted to meet him. We were given the option of taking him home that day, and in preparation, knowing we were going to, stocked up on doggy things.
We drove two hours to meet this pup, and he was sweeter than either of us could have imagined. He immediately licked our faces, but didn't jump at us. Calm, laid back but still responsive, he would lay down if he was sure he wasn't going anywhere. We fell in love right away.
We decided to keep him upon learning he only had a UTI, and "wide open growth plates." We chalked his pain up to growing pains. We gave him two rounds of antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. He got cranberry powder in his food. We were gentle with him, even when he had to be reprimanded, which was so rare.
He came when he was called, went to the bathroom when we asked him to. He learned to ring a bell to ask to be let outside. He walked pleasantly on a leash, no pulling. He was nice to every person, big or small, young or old, sitting in front of children and licking their hands. He let a small girl in a stroller pet him, without even a glance at the sandwich she was holding right next to his face. He was kind to other dogs, never aggressive. Rarely barked. He liked to snuggle, almost knocking you over. If you didn't envelope him, he'd start pawing your hands. He loved Titus. He would whine if he couldn't get close enough to smell him. Titus would bat Scotch on the nose and paw at his tail if it went by him. Titus even began to instigate chases through the house. When he looked at us, he seemed to be saying "thank you, I will do anything you ask if you can communicate it properly." His eyes were so deep and wise and knowing. We could not fault him for anything. In short, Scotch was the perfect dog.
He was still a little sore, but the doggy aspirin seemed to help. On Monday night after dinner I gave him his heartworm and flea preventative, Trifexis. This was the first dose I had given him. The foster family had given him something else the previous month before we got him. I had a hesitation giving it to him, it smelled like weed killer. I don't like putting Titus's flea stuff on him either. I watch him with bated breath for a few days. Afterwards, Scotch just laid in the same spot all night, lethargic, but we thought he was still sore and being lazy. He's usually quiet at night, but now that I think about it, not that quiet. Before bed, we let him out to pee and he came right back in, and put himself to bed in his kennel. I said "goodnight, I love you," and went to bed.
In the morning I went downstairs to let him out to pee, but as I opened the door to the study I didn't hear him standing up and pawing at the kennel like I normally do. I knew instantly something was wrong. When I saw him laying in his kennel, I knew that he was dead. It didn't stop me from hoping and double checking, and then I was inconsolable. I pulled Joe out of the shower and together we just cried.
We took him to the vet as soon as we could and arranged the burial. It was utterly heart-destroying to wrap his body in his blanket and put it in the truck.
Joe and I are absolutely destroyed by his death. In one short month, we experienced the greatest connection to an animal either of us had ever had. We now know what it is like to have an animal we don't deserve. Scotch deserved none of the bad things that had happened to him. He only deserved as much love and appreciation and care as a perfect human being could offer. He being perfect, and we being imperfect, he wasn't made for this world. We experienced a dog with a pure soul, ever gracious, ever loving. He didn't have a perfect body, except for his fluffiness, and his ears, and his scruff, and his belly, and his eyes - but a perfect soul doesn't belong on earth. Joe and I are really struggling to understand why this happened, why the process was so tortuous, why we could only be with him for a month... Our only hope is that we were given him to love him on his short journey through earth as he makes a safe path for dogs on heartworm/flea prevention.
Be careful when you ask God to teach you gratefulness, patience, kindness, love and trust, for he will undoubtedly provide you with the most painful growing experiences you can't even imagine.
I believe that we did our absolute best to love him and provide him a with what a true home could be. We didn't want to ever say "too good to be true" but I think, deep down, at least for me, I suspected his time here was short, and I think he knew too.
To Scotch! May you rest in peace and comfort and enjoy all the freedom and painlessness of running through heaven, taking as long as you wish smelling the smells, and chewing apart every stuffed woodland animal and beef pizzle you can find. In a short time, we will join you for full envelopment hugs and kisses on the mouth. We love you, Scotch.
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