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Ray's Story I received an email from a friend who works with cattledog rescue. She knew of a Weimaraner in need in a small town in rural Missouri, could I help? I contacted the people who had the dog, and made arrangements to go pick him up. When I got there, what I found was unforgettable. New Year's Day, 2004 A falling down house, trash and piles of junk stacked agains the house, fence, anywhere there was room. Several rusted shells of cars falling apart...generally filthy conditions. I looked around the yard. I did not see a weimaraner. Then I saw him. huddled in a depression in the ground. He stood up, and my heart broke. he struggled to his feet, and I saw just how urgent the situation was. He was severely emaciated, and very weak. From the struggle to his feet, to the few steps he took in my direction, I could see how difficult it was for him, and how weak he was. After talking to the people who were surrendering him, I discovered that Ray had been living outside for months. There was a new baby in the home, you see, and didn't want the big dog around the infant. So they put Ray in the backyard. They forgot about him. They forgot to give him food, they forgot to give him water. They said they put food out "when they remembered". Once I had the surrender forms signed, and Ray in the car, I immediately called my vet. He agreed to meet me at the clinic. We ran several tests, and the vet couldn't find any medical reason for Ray's condition. In other words, the only problem with Ray was the people who weren't feeding him, weren't giving him water, and didn't care if he lived or died. Ray was covered in open wounds, both old and half healed, filthy, dehydrated, and starving. But there was someting about this boy...something very special. It wasn't long before Ray started to become more alert and active... he put on weight, and over time, I discovered what a wonderful dog Ray was. I don't know how old he was. 11, 12 maybe. He was sweet, gentle, loving...he had a way of looking at you with his face that was gray with age and eyes that had been through so much...I find it hard to put into words how special and unique Ray was. He was an old soul. In July 2004, I found a lump on his belly. It was a mast cell tumor. We removed it. After that, we found another, then another. We removed them. The tumors kept recurring, and after many tests and vet consultations, we determined that short of supportive care, there wasn't anything that could be done. I've heard the question before, "How do you know when it's time?" My only answer can be that the dog will tell you. I shared my home and life with my wonderful Raymond Grey for 11 months. I hope that I was able to love him enough in that time to make up for the neglect and mistreatment that he had been forced to endure in life. I hope that the last 11 months of his life were happy. He was so very much loved. Raymond Grey went to the bridge in November, 2004. I miss him. |
