A cat has 9 lives, so says an historical proverb.
If that’s so, then Maisie should’ve been a cat in disguise. She actually went by way of lots in her life and had some slim escapes.
Fourteen years in the past, whereas taking my dog Chester for a stroll in the park close to my home, I noticed a stray dog foraging for meals there. I had by no means seen her previous to that, so it appeared that she had been dumped.
She was all pores and skin and bones. As her teats have been pronounced, she should’ve had puppies already; it was potential that somebody had used her in a pet mill, after which unceremoniously discarded her.
The second I noticed her, I used to be drawn to her. Her eyes have been gleaming like jewels, and he or she exuded a pleasant and glad nature. Even the different individuals at the park that day commented about her – there was simply one thing about these eyes.
I made some clicking noises, and stated to her, “Come on, girl.” It didn’t take a lot convincing for her to observe me and Chester residence. I gave her some meals and a shower.
The subsequent day, we made a visit to the vet’s. He stated she was malnourished however, in any other case, was typically wholesome. He estimated her age to be two years previous.
At first, we named her Faith, for her religion in people regardless of what she had gone by way of. Later, my daughter modified her title to Maisie.
Sweet, loving and constant Maisie carrying a ‘necklace’.
One day, Maisie escaped when the auto gate was nonetheless open however slowly closing. She went MIA for a few hours. We have been nervous, pondering that she would possibly’ve been knocked down by a automotive. But our fears have been unfounded when she returned, tail wagging, earlier than supper time.
We didn’t realise she was pregnant until about midway by way of her gestation interval when the vet broke the information. About a month later, she gave beginning to 6 lovable pups. She proved to be a really vigilant and protecting mom who watched over her infants like a hawk.
After her pups have been weaned at round two months of age, we gave 5 of them away to household and mates, and stored one which we named Cougar. Maisie and Cougar have been very shut.
As he grew older, Cougar grew to become the “alpha male” at residence, upstaging poor Chester.
At one outing to the park, Maisie was attacked, for no obvious motive, by a neighbour’s giant male dog that was off-leash. Maisie by no means forgot that.
Several weeks later, after we have been at the park once more, we noticed that very same dog. Maisie made a beeline for her attacker and a combat broke out. Maisie was smaller in dimension however she gave nearly as good as she obtained.
In the center of the combat, the proprietor of the giant dog began hitting Maisie on her spine with his umbrella! Horrified, I begged the aged man to cease, however in useless. After an excruciating minute or so, I managed to tug Maisie away earlier than he might inflict extra ache.
In one other incident, an amorous West Highland White Terrier – a small breed – that was off-leash, approached Maisie and me as we have been strolling alongside the road one night.
While that dog’s proprietor and I have been chatting, the terrier made advances at Maisie. He merely obtained too shut, too quickly – and Maisie bit him on his nape! Poor dog. Since it was partly his fault, being off-leash, and Maisie was at fault too, I supplied to pay half the vet’s invoice for the terrier.
There was a time when Maisie went lacking for about three days. My household went in the hunt for her however failed to seek out her. Dejected, we went residence and simply waited and hoped for the greatest. We had all however given up hope when she got here residence, with a grimy fur coat streaked with muddy stains. And she appeared drained and a bit thinner.
Had she fallen right into a drain? Or been concerned in a hit-and-run? Nobody knew. We have been simply glad she had survived the ordeal.
Every week earlier than Chinese New Year in 2016, Maisie all of a sudden collapsed on her aspect whereas standing in the scorching solar. She liked to sunbathe however maybe this time the warmth proved to be an excessive amount of. Her physique was stiff. It was alarming! So I rushed her to the vet’s.
After inspecting Maisie and taking a blood pattern and her blood strain – it was fairly excessive, at 160, when the regular blood strain ought to have been 120 – the vet stated Maisie had suffered a stroke.
As Maisie was fairly dehydrated but refused to drink water, the vet rapidly put her on a subcutaneous drip (fluid remedy), in addition to carried out acupuncture and warmth remedy on her.
Maisie at the vet’s in January 2016, on the day that she was speculated to be put down after her situation deteriorated as a consequence of a stroke.
After prescribing some remedy, the vet stated we might take her residence, and to attend for the blood take a look at outcomes.
Over the weekend, Maisie appeared terrible – simply mendacity there, unable to maneuver, with eyes half-closed. As per the vet’s recommendation, my daughter and I turned her each few hours, to stop strain sores from forming. And then one in every of her legs started to flail helplessly and her physique quivered for a number of moments. She was having a seizure!
When Monday got here, the vet known as to say the blood outcomes have been out, and every thing appeared OK. Maisie’s important organs have been nonetheless in fine condition.
But since there was no enchancment in her situation – she wasn’t consuming, consuming or taking her meds, and nonetheless appeared half-dead – we paid a second go to to the vet’s.
This time, Maisie’s blood strain had shot as much as 200!
The vet instantly drew blood – filling 4 vials – bringing the strain all the way down to a safer degree. And then, one other spherical of acupuncture and subcutaneous drip.
Maisie present process acupuncture for stroke, on Jan 30, 2016, per week earlier than Chinese New Year.
At this level, the vet and I mentioned the possibility of euthanasia. My coronary heart was heavy as I drove residence.
Her situation continued to deteriorate throughout the week. And my daughter and I have been horrified after we found crimson ants crawling on her physique.
She misplaced a variety of weight, and was again to being pores and skin and bones – similar to the day I had discovered her all these years in the past. The subsequent morning, I took her to the clinic once more. This time, one other vet was on responsibility.
All this whereas, Maisie’s eyes have been half-closed. But now, at the vet’s, her eyes opened broad and nearly sparkled. The vet was hopeful that she would pull by way of. She gave us directions on the way to administer drips to Maisie.
Back residence, my daughter performed nurse as we gave the drips twice a day, day by day, for 5 days. We coaxed her to eat – lastly, she accepted the meals – and continued to present her water by spoon.
One night, Maisie cried when our different canines returned from their stroll. We have been elated to listen to her voice once more, as she had been silent since the stroke. She then tried to stand up on her toes; she would take one or two steps, then falter and fall down.
But she by no means gave up. She tried repeatedly over the subsequent few days. With every passing day, she obtained stronger and will stroll additional. So three weeks after the stroke, she was again to her regular self. We have been so pleased with her.
Three weeks after the stroke, Maisie was again on her toes once more.
Recently, she developed the behavior of biting her tail till it bled. The vet stated that her tail was contaminated, seemingly as a consequence of micro organism transferred from her mouth at the time of biting.
The vet put her on antibiotics and painkillers, and her wound needed to be cleaned and dressed day by day. It didn’t heal correctly, although. She even bit off the tip!
The final straw was when a automotive by chance rolled over her again leg whereas reversing. After that, she couldn’t transfer about usually. She additionally refused to eat and drink.
So, with heavy hearts, we made the painful resolution to have her put to sleep. The vet was understanding and supportive.
He stated that previous canines take a very long time to heal when injured.
Maisie was 16, occurring 17 years previous – the vet stated it’s the equal of 90+ human years.
Then he gently defined the strategy of euthanasia: Two injections are concerned – one to sedate and the different to cease the coronary heart from beating. In between the injections, the vet allowed us a while to say our remaining goodbyes to Maisie.
My daughter and I have been with her all through the process, speaking to her, holding her, stroking her and patting her.
The final of Maisie’s “nine lives” was lastly spent, and he or she crossed the rainbow bridge.
We’ve had many good years with her, and for that, we’re grateful. She was my strolling accomplice too. She was the greatest dog I’ve ever had – such a candy, loving and constant dog.
