Loved and Lost

Ralph

Born: estimated 1996

History: Admitted to the shelter in November 1998. By 2001, Ralph was in bad shape. Diagnosed with a gastro-intestinal disorder, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and put on a gasto-intestinal antibiotic (metronidazole – brand name Flagyl) and steroids (prednisolone). He struggled with anemia. He developed a heart murmur, most likely secondary to the anemia. The steroids suppressed his immune system, and he had chronic bacterial and fungal (ringworm) infections. (He spent 26 months of his last three years at the shelter in ringworm isolation.) The metronidazole and ringworm medications impacted the liver, and at one point he was severely jaundiced. Ralph was put on “quality of life” watch in 2004, meaning the shelter staff had to consider euthanasia (putting him “to sleep”) for what seemed a lack of quality of life. I adopted Ralph (from ringworm isolation) in December of 2004.

High-maintenance characteristics: When adopted had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and secondary anemia, jaundice, diabetes, and a heart murmur. Also had chronic infections and ringworm. All cleared up with lyme dip baths, vitamin B12 injections, a proper (all-wet grain-free) diet, and a lot of patience and perserverance.

More about Ralph

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Louie (Aloysius)

Born: estimated 1998

History: Abandoned at shelter June 2003. Diagnosed with diabetes in September of 2003. Adopted November 2006.

High-maintenance characteristics: FIV+ (feline immunodeficiency virus positive) and diabetes

Lost: June 20, 2009 to cancer (mass in mouth, spreading to lymph nodes, etc)

More about Louie

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Omaha

Born: estimated 1990

History: abandoned at the shelter in 1994, with hip and other old injuries. Obese at admission, at 10 pounds. Two hip surgeries performed in 2001 and 2002. Adopted February 2003 – by which point he was over 20 pounds.

High-maintenance characteristics: Was morbidly obese at adoption. (Changing the diet to an all-wet diet (no dry food) was key to his weight loss.) Old injuries make it difficult for Omaha to walk, and he also has severe arthritis. He has ongoing dental/periodontal disease issues. Hates almost everyone human, except me. Territorial marking (urine spraying issues) – thus the piddle pants.

Lost: October 14, 2008 to something neurological (brian tumor?)

More about Omaha

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Afer

Born: estimated 1988

History: admitted to shelter in October 1991. Adopted January 2004. She’d been adopted twice previously – the first adopter kept her a week before returning her. The second adopter “lost her outside” a few months after adopting her. She was outside several months before she was admitted to another shelter, who scanned her microchip.

High-maintenance characteristics: Kidney insufficiency, diagnosed in 2004 (but the specialist feels it was going on long before that). Gastro-intestinal issues (diarrhea) that cleared up with diet (no dry food, no corn). Heart murmur. A few big scares with a vestibular episode (seizures caused by an inner ear infection) and chest fluid build-up. A little shy, and is frightened of being picked up or sitting in laps.

Lost: October 10, 2008 to congestive heart failure

More about Afer

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Latifah

Born: estimated 1992 to 1995

History: Admitted to the shelter June of 2005. Fostered from March 2006 to October 2006 to better regulate her diabetes. Adopted in October of 2006.

High-maintenance characteristics: Diabetes, pancreatitis, arthritis, hyper-thyroidism (treated by radioactive iodine therapy), heart murmur, stomatitis…

Lost: February 16, 2008 to something neurological

More about Latifah

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Meow Meow

Born: estimated 1994 to 1996

History: Adopted from shelter in July of 2002.

High-maintenance characteristics: Diabetes, CRF (chronic renal insufficiency or kidney disease)

Lost: August 25, 2006 to heart failure

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Elsinore (aka Ellie)

Born: estimated 1992

History: Abandoned at shelter (with hyperthyroid and visible inoperable cancerous tumor). Adopted October 29, 2005.

High-maintenance characteristics: Hyper-thyroid, cancer

Lost: February 27, 2006 to cancer

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Molly

Born: estimated 1992 to 1996

History: Adopted March 8, 2001

High-maintenance characteristics: None – Molly always tried not to be any bother…

Lost: May 24, 2002 suddenly to kidney failure

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Monet

Born: estimated 1985

History: A friend asked me to care for Monet while he went out of town for the summer (May 1988). When he returned, he didn’t want her back.

High-maintenance characteristics: Vomited a lot, which I now know was likely IBD; over-grooming; skin cancer; CRF (renal insufficiency or kidney disease)

Lost: May 10, 2002 to kidney failure

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Lovey

Born: estimated 1988

History: Adopted from shelter in 1991.

High-maintenance characteristics: Inappropriate urination (urinated on carpets, bedspread, etc.)

Lost: December 1994 was euthanized for inappropriate urination (which I regret deeply)