PHARMACIST STEVE

Our “little girl (Cuddles) ” is turning 15 today…

She has had a pretty interesting history…  She belonged to a couple, who was friends of ours for a couple of decades.  They lived full time in the complex where our beach condo was. Unfortunately she lost her “first Mom” when she was one year old… our friend  had lost TWO WIVES to cancer..

So for several years, she had only a Father figure to identify with.  He treated her well, but she was not allowed to go outside, she was perfectly paper trained and when she was able to get out of the house…it was to take a very short car trip to the groomer/border or to the vet.

Our friend eventually got a “live in”… so Cuddles lived with two senior citizens in a cul-de-sac  and while she had the run of a nice sized house.. there was little/no interaction with others.

In July, 2017 our friend died, just short of his 90th birthday and we had a 14 y/o Shih Tzu  (Sammy) that was basically in Hospice for several months… A liver full of malignant tumors, too many tumors to operate, too old to operate and to get chemo.

Our friend had four grown children and none of them wanted her and his live-in could not take her to where she was going to end up living with her Daughter in another state.

We were more than happy to “adopt” her, but we debated if Sammy – considering his health status – would put up with a new dog in his territory and/or could he be able to tolerate a 1200+ mile round trip to the beach.  Should I drive down to the beach alone and get Cuddles. While we debated our options, one day Sammy stopped eating and the next day he stopped drinking… we knew what had to be done 🙁

Because of our age, we did not want a puppy, I could not stand the thought that one of my fur babies could end up on the “recycle pile” as Cuddles almost did.

Our beach condo was our second home, so even though it was “hot rental season” at the beach, we had a place to stay. So off we go to the beach to adopt Cuddles.

Her life suddenly changed dramatically, her first week with us she got to go on a 650 mile car trip, she found that she now had abt 2/3 acre fenced in back yard where she could roam free and there was another Shih Tzu on the other side of the fence that she could “socialize” with.  Unfortunately, that Shih Tzu passed away a year or so later.  If Cuddles hears me pickup my car keys or click my cell phone into my belt holder… she is right at my side… ready to go for a ride…

We have been married 55 years and I can count on one hand the number of months that we have not had at least one dog in the house over all those years.  She has merged into our household without a hitch.  With all the dogs that we have had… she is tied with our first dog – a 40 lb poodle – as the best of the lot.

UPDATE DEC 2023 – Last year she was diagnosed with a heart murmur, but she was asymptomatic. The heart murmur has now has progressed to congestive heart failure, but, so far, that is easily managed with a daily diuretic. She is our third Shih Tzu and the other two reached their 14th birthday, but never reached their 15th birthday.

Filed under: General Problems