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Rosie's webpage

I was adopted in July 2000 from BREW. (Thank you, BREW!)  

I had a bit of a rough start in life. 

I went from (1) my original owner (whoever that was), to (2) being abandoned in the woods in Virginia, to (3) ending up in a shelter, to (4) being rescued by BREW, to (5) a BREW foster family, then returned to (6) BREW, then back to (7) the BREW foster family, and then finally to (8) Carolyn in New Jersey.  (7 different transitions!!)  (Now I am in Pennsylvania with my beagle brothers and foster beagle brothers)

I had some problems when I was with my BREW foster family.  I engaged in some destructive behaviors in my foster mom's house, and I had some housetraining issues.  I was even on medication for incontinence. When Carolyn called my foster mom to find out about me, she was told I was "intensely shy" and my foster mom was afraid Carolyn wouldn't give me a chance.  Well, when Carolyn and Bailey came down to Virginia to meet me, I hid in the hallway.  I would have been hiding under a bed, but my foster mom closed all the bedroom doors so that I couldn't!!

Carolyn spoke with my foster mom and heard about how I wasn't so perfect.  Then she called BREW and I heard her tell them <as I was hiding in the hallway> that she still wanted me!!  Well, I was so excited that I slowly walked over to her as she sat on the couch (I think she thought I was going to bite her!), laid down next to her, and cuddled up on her lap!  My foster mom couldn't believe it, and neither could Carolyn. 

That was it. 

We were matched forever.

I think I was good for Carolyn - made her learn patience and how to deal with all of my issues like my supposed incontinence (I wasn't!), housetraining, separation anxiety, destructive behaviors, and fears.  I'm still not "perfect," but that's OK.  Who is??  I prefer to keep my distance from new people, I bark at little humans, and don't always like other dogs, but if you give me a chance to trust and love you, I will.  I just want to be loved in return. 

At first, I just had to get used to Bailey.  He was sick all the time.  After Bailey went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2004, I was pretty lonely, so Mom brought home Pippin.  Good grief!  He's trouble!!  To add to the household, Mom started bringing home foster dogs, but one never left...that would be Fat Hobbit (Sam).  And geez, it's now the winter of 2006, and we're in a new house (with a YARD!!), and yup, mom adopted another one of my foster brothers - Elmer!!  We get a lot now because Mom helped co-found a new beagle rescue in the NJ/PA area:

Here I am with my pack (Elmer, Pippin, ME and Sam) in December 2006.  I was tired of the picture taking, so let Mom know about it in no uncertain terms!  Yes, I am sticking out my tongue!

Rosie gets older, and starts to struggle with some "older dog" issues.  She has hypothyroidism, which was diagnosed a few months after Pippin joined us.  She has done well with that treatment.  She has an ACL-surgery in 2008, and has struggled with some arthritis issues in all of her joints.  She had tested positive for Anaplasmosis, but was treated for that as well, but it is hard to say what causes the joint damage and arthritis problems.  In August 2009, at the age of about 10 or 11, Rosie had her 2nd ACL-surgery on the opposite leg.  Here are some pics of her post-surgery. :(

A shaved and sore leg...	She is not particularly happy...

I've tried a few things for Rosie's arthritis issues including daily Dasuquin, and an injectable treatment called Adequan.  Both have helped her tremendously!  In the Fall2009/Winter2010 she began having issues with hot spots, and I am not sure why.  These are disgusting, and Rosie had a hard time with them, and they took over a month to clear up each time.

Her second hot spot that last from December 2009 through January 2010.	This hot spot lasted for about 3 weeks in March-April 2010.

Although Rosie has previously done well on all of her foods (Blue Buffalo, and then Natural Balance Ultra Premium), I switched her over to Solid Gold Holistique Blendz and will see how things go.  She already gets her thyroid meds, Dasuquin, and an EFA cap daily.  Hopefully the food switch will help with the hot spots!

In June 2010, Rosie still loves her favorite pastime.....lounging in HER yard - for hours!! :)

Winter 2010/2011: So much can change so fast. :(  Rosie had one of the best winters of her life...no hot spots, no arthritis concerns, and she seemed almost rejuvenated. She was running up and down the stairs, getting back on the couches without a problem, and loved the tons of snow we received here in PA this winter.  She had a great Christmas, too. :)

This was Rosie on February 1, 2011.  She seemed happy and healthy.  Little did I know how sick she really was.   The day before Valentine's Day, I woke up to 3 huge piles of vomit on my bed, and Rosie did not seem OK.  I figured it was a typical upset stomach kind of thing, and withheld food that day. I was a little more concerned than usual, though, because when I offered a small amount of water, she would vomit that as well. :(  I did not like how she looked the morning of Valentine's Day, so I got an emergency appointment for her that evening after work.  I took her to South Brunswick Animal Hospital, where Rosie has been seen for years. They admitted her that evening. She just did not look good....she walked slowly, appeared to be in pain, and without being able to hold down water, they were going to start her on IV fluids, get some bloodwork, and we would go from there.  I did not like leaving her, but knew it was best. I have never left Rosie overnight for any procedures or surgeries, primarily because of her social issues and fear of men. The next day, Rosie's bloodwork came back with all normal levels (including kidney and liver values), with the exception of elevated lipase and amylase - the pancreatic enzymes.  She was diagnosed with idiopathic pancreatitis. We went ahead with x-rays, too, to see if we could confirm or rule out anything else, and the x-rays looked OK.  Clinically, Rosie was improving.  I gave her the day to rest and get more IV fluids and pain killers in her. One of the vet techs texted me a picture of Rosie and I told her about how Rosie loves the (annoying and wretched) "The Barney Song."  She sang it to Rosie and got a kiss from Rosie - something reserved for very few!  I hoped that would make Rosie feel better since no one else knew that she has some weird connection with that song. I went to visit her the next day, and got tail wags. :) She seemed better than Monday night, but still needed to stay in the hospital. We were all expecting the next day's pancreatic enzymes to decrease with the next morning's bloodwork. On Thursday, I got the upsetting call that despite everyone's expectations, Rosie's pancreatic enzymes INCREASED!  I knew that was bad. Dr. Capodanno said he called in a favor to get an ultrasound done that evening since he knew that was the next step and knew I was OK with it.  I later received a call asking me to come there in case Rosie would need a surgery (depending on what was found), and that way I could get her to one of the specialty hospitals in the area that evening.  I went there late that evening, and the ultrasound showed what they thought were intestinal blockages - perhaps pantyhose.  I knew Rosie did not get hold of pantyhose in my house, and she was unlikely to eat them if she had, but since there was a good probability that this was a foreign body that could be removed, I opted for exploratory surgery the next morning to be done at SBAH. I did not want to move her to a specialty hospital.  Rosie still had enough social issues and did not need to be somewhere where she did not at least know the vets. She was getting more comfortable with the staff at SBAH.  She gave me a happy dance and tail wags, but definitely tried to pull out of the room to go home.  I gave her a kiss and told her to be good, and that I would see her the next day. So, I was so nervous at work waiting for the call to see what the surgery found, and it was just really too much for me to handle and process when they called me from the operating room to tell me that, much to their surprise, there was a massive, hard tumor on Rosie's pancreas. It was inoperable because removing it would have removed too much of her pancreas, and she could not have survived.  I asked if they could just close her up, and I would come right after work to be with her when she passed.  Dr. Mischel encouraged me not to do this. She told me that Rosie would be in too much pain, and that it was best to just not have her awaken from the surgery.  This was the most difficult thing for me to hear because I always said I would never put Rosie through something like this. At this point, though, it was too late, and I did not want her to suffer anymore.  I asked Dr. Mischel if she could still let me see Rosie when I got out of work.  I was let out of work a little early because at this point, I was hysterical at work and could not do my job anyway. :( (I appreciated the understanding of my colleagues and bosses very much.) I arrived to see Rosie draped in a blanket looking very peaceful, but my baby girl was gone. In just one week, she was gone. I was ready for her to come home: I promised Rosie I would bring her home.  I had made her just 2 previous promises in her life: 1) I would never let someone hurt her, and 2) I would get her a house with a yard.  It kills me to have not really kept that 3rd promise, but when her ashes arrive, I WILL be bringing her home...to forever be in her yard, and with me. All of my dogs have and will be special, but Rosie was different. There was some underlying bond that I really cannot adequately explain. Some days I wonder how I let myself get so attached to these wonderful creatures. A friend sent me this poem, and although it makes me cry, it is worth posting: Beyond The Rainbow As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played, I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade. I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity. I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide! And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be! My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do. I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night. 'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold. For although we may not be together in the way we used to be, We are still connected by a cord no eye can see. So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart. cg - 1995 I will always love you, Rosie, and I am sorry I could not do more to save you. I never knew you were sick.  Either you didn't know, or you chose to not let me know. You were with me through so much, and I hope you enjoyed the life I was able to give you. My Rosie-Rosita, who loved the Barney Song...sweet dreams, baby girl. I will see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Forever in my heart. Adopted July 7, 2000 - February 18, 2011

I have read that canine pancreatic cancer is not only incredibly painful, but often devastating because by the time it is diagnosed, it is many times just too late. Rosie always had annual exams and bloodwork, and until she had exploratory surgery on the last day of her life, had had bloodwork, x-rays and an ultrasound that still could not confirm it.  Hug your pets.  Our time with them is too short in general, but we can lose them so fast...even when we think we're doing everything right.
 

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