Not hospice

This is an update for Hospice, a post from July.

After living with him for a couple weeks and seeing his high quality of life, we decided to look into treatment. Radioactive Iodine injection is really the only viable treatment, and it is a cure. The Iodine attacks any abnormal thyroid tissue but leaves everything else alone, so it's a relatively low-risk treatment. Depending on his other medical issues and the cost, we were pretty optimistic.

After calling the two clinics in the area, treatment was estimated to be $1200. Assuming there were no other issues, treatment could optimistically give him another 3 years or so. At this point, he was running around like crazy, constantly demanding play and food, though not necessarily in that order. I could just see his thyroid burning him up. A 15 year old cat is just not supposed to act like that.

When I requested lab work for treatment, I was told by the shelter vet that I would need to get any needed lab work on my own, at my own vet. They were unwilling to help, presumably because he had originally been deemed hospice (though he was officially changed to seeking rescue) and they were too busy to worry about his treatment. I could consult them later in the month when things slowed down.

I was already prepared to pay out-of-pocket for treatment, so getting the lab work wasn't a huge blow. I did request the aid of a volunteer non-profit to help fund-raise and then hopefully help find a rescue or permanent home.

He went to a local vet that is one of few in this area that do not declaw, which is amazing in itself, but she also does a lot of work with shelter pets. She was skeptical of the diagnosis, given his significant weight gain (6 to 10 lbs in less than one month). She also believed him to be about half the age estimated by the shelter.

When the lab work came in, the news was better than we could imagine. Not only did he have no evidence of hyperthyroid, but all signs pointed to him being perfectly healthy! In the meantime, the group raised $400 for him, so they can use that money for the next needy cat.

He's now adoptable and still in foster care. He loves playing with our 9 week old foster kittens. If interested in adopting, please comment.

Sophie

This is Sophie:

Sophie's father of 14 years took her to the shelter on Saturday because the family had moved and was only allowed to have one pet, and Sophie wasn't it. Maybe they liked the cat more, maybe the cat was younger and didn't have accidents, maybe they didn't like her bad breath or cloudy eyes. Maybe it was a very hard decision, and they decided that Sophie had already lived a long, full life. I don't know.

But I met Sophie on Saturday.

I told her father that there was no room in our back room, where old dogs wait to see the vet alongside bite dogs, court dogs, and dogs with other medical/social issues. There was no room in there, so Sophie would be euthanized. Through no fault of her own, just because there was nowhere to put her.

He said, "That's fine. My wife and I already discussed it and we're fine with it."

I've known Sophie for five seconds and I'm not fine with it.

I don't know what's going on in their lives. I'm sure there is some circumstance that would make leaving your 14 year old dog at the shelter to die okay. I just don't know what it is. Whatever the reason, I'm sorry for them. Whether it's economic hardship or just cold, dead hearts, I'm sorry for them.

I asked Sophie's dad if he tried contacting the rescue that he got her from. He said, "No, we don't live there anymore." I said, "Yes, but they may be able to arrange transport for you if you can just hold on to her for a couple more days. Many rescues would rather get their dog back than have their dog left at a shelter to be put down." "We can't do that."

Needless to say, I contacted the rescue. They said they want her back. Their records don't even go back that far, but they took it on faith. Had he called just a few days earlier, Sophie could already be looking for another home. But I'm sure there was a reason he didn't call. I'm sure there's a reason he waited until the last possible minute to take care of Sophie.

When this is all said and done, when Sophie is safely back where she started, I'll post where she went so everyone can thank them for following through for Sophie. Fourteen years later and the next state over. Hopefully they meant it and Sophie will be going soon.

I brought Sophie home. There's no space in that room but I couldn't let her go down for her owner's mistake. Not this time. I think she's worth it. I think she's worth a few days. I think she's worth the space. I think her life is worth living.

Here's what I've learned about Sophie:

• She's a chowhound. She'll do anything for food or treats, or anything she thinks is food or treats. She demands feeding promptly upon waking and first thing when I get home.
• She loves going for walks. She can barely see, so she has no idea where she's going, but she seems to be sure it'll be a good time.
• She misses her cat friend and keeps trying to make nice with my cat, who's not having it.
• She's been fine with our two dogs, despite her owner reporting to the contrary. She's a Fun Police, so she doesn't like it when it gets rowdy, but she's otherwise fine.
• She's had no accidents, despite her owner's report. Over time, I'm sure, given her age, she'll have accidents, but for the past 48 hours she's been perfect.
• She likes to play, but I'm not sure how.

She's happy to be alive.