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LittlesLittles came to Old Dog Heaven on April 19, 2023. This sweet little girl was surrendered to the city because her people were moving into an apartment that would not accept dogs. She is 16, mostly blind from cataracts, deaf and toothless. She was extremely stressed when I brought her home from the shelter. As luck would have it, she was only in there one day. I just happened to get on the site and find her the day after she was surrendered. With one look I simply could not allow her to either languish in the shelter or be quickly euthanized. I hopped in the car and brought her home immediately.
Littles has many issues. After a bit of testing we discovered that she has advanced kidney disease. She drinks a lot of water and goes to the bathroom everywhere. With all her limitations, it's a significant challenge to get her on a schedule. The good news is that she is already learning to use the puppy pads. So smart! Perhaps her previous home used them. She also has been vomiting from the build up of toxins in her blood. She doesn't feel well so her appetite is limited. She is a pound plus underweight--significant for a dog that is supposed to weigh 6 pounds. Without any teeth, I have to feed her by hand. Precious moments! Littles also has mobility issues in her hind legs. Her patellas slide out of place as she walks. With her lack of sight and hearing, it is challenging to build relationship. She is full of sass and not much of a cuddler. Her favorite thing seems to be toddling around the house and yard. She does laps much of the day, trying to learn her new surroundings. While cognitive disorder (doggie dementia) is extremely common in seniors with limited senses, she does not seem to have it. She is razor sharp and catches onto things quickly! Rocky and Tank have welcomed this little girl into our home. She likes to be near the big dogs, and whenever we leave her to go out for their long walk, I come home to her barking--calling out for her pack. She loves to climb into Rocky's nook when she is laying down. She already feels at home. We are blessed by her presence! ***
After about 10 days at Old Dog Heaven, Littles began to struggle to eat. Part way through May 1, she stopped eating altogether. On May 2, Littles went into kidney failure. She was vomiting large pools of bile and was greatly struggling. She lost weight, her little bones sticking out. After lots of time cuddling, we made a final trip to the park so she could feel the grass and the breeze on her skin one last time. Littles died a peaceful death on May 2nd at 4:24 pm. It was hard to say goodbye. We had hoped for more time together. She is missed.
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