Sophia Goes to the Rainbow Bridge

Jelly Bean became ill on Tuesday and wouldn't eat. A visit to the vet and a chest x-ray showed a likely case of pneumonia, but the vet said she was also displaying neurological symptoms. She'd had pneumonia twice before, including a very severe case last November when she first came to us as a foster. She got fluids & an antibiotic & improved a little. This time she didn't respond to the continued antibiotic. We don't know what the issue was but it was clearly something other than pneumonia. While at Allison's mother's for Thanksgiving, early on Saturday morning, she died in bed between us. 

Last week, Sophia, who we adopted from NEBTR in October, 2012, had a seizure, and then two more. Looking back, we realized she'd been having them in bed, probably for at least two weeks.  She wasn't herself - her behavior changed, she became very restless , walking in circles (always to the left), she started barking, something she almost never did, and it appeared her vision and sense of smell were affected - she had developed cataracts a year or so ago, but she began walking into objects, something she'd never done before). These symptoms are all consistent with a brain tumor. When we got home early yesterday afternoon we took her to our vet and made the difficult decision to euthanize her.

Sophia was a wonderful little dog, who came to us as an 8-year old puppy mill breeder who then pulled through a number of health issues, including mammary tumors, removal of a digit on one of her front paws due to cancer in the nail bed, a hernia operation, Cushing's Disease and inflammatory bowel disease. She got through all of those.

Jelly Bean was a stray from a New York City shelter in Staten Island - her eyes were clouded from corneal endothelial dystrophy and she was always sickly - two bouts with pneumonia, urinary tract infections and a grede 4 heart murmer - she seemed a little "off" in the head, but was a very sweet little girl who liked to sit next to me in my chair while I watched television. 

Allison and I are both very sad and miss the two Bostons very much. We have our Border Terrier, Ringo, and our cat, Lewis, but it's not the same without Sophia and Jelly Bean. Ringo seems to sense something is missing and is looking around wondering where the other two dogs are - he was very gentle with them both - although he's been with us since 2003 Sophia was the queen of the house. 

We are very sad to have lost both our NEBTR girls in one day. It's always hard to lose an animal but it's exponentially harder to lose two on one day. 

Bruce Crelin 




I am so sorry to hear about your losing both Jelly Bean and Sophia.  Losing one of canine family is bad, but two on one day just doesn't seem fair.  Bless you for sharing your home with them, giving them love and attention, and making the right decision in the end not to prolong their suffering.  They died surrounded by love, you made their last years good years, thank you - Jeanne


How awesome for you and Allison to have given both of these girls the best years of their lives.
That's what they knew going over the bridge....
I'm so sorry.

Stacie


I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine the emptiness that is in your home right now. I wish you peace.

Diane