May 6, 2012

Our dear Khloe girl was helped across the Rainbow Bridge in dignity and peace on Sunday afternoon. We were so blessed to have had this girl for nearly 7 full weeks after the dreaded diagnosis of Lymphoma. Khloe had just been adopted by K and B on March 10 and on March 19 they brought her into their vet because they had a suspicion that something was just not right. When they called me with the pathology reports the next day I remember fearing the worst after hearing terms such as “high grade cells”, “both lymph nodes”, an “advanced form” and “maybe 30 days”. So we came to the decision to bring her back to her FD and her foster furr sisters and brother. This decision was by no means easy for her new Mom and Dad to make but it was their selfless desire to do what was best for our Khloe girl.

For nearly seven weeks our Khloe girl amazed us and blessed us with her playful antics and unending love. She loved to help her sisters (Indy and Lauren) with their daily critter patrol. No squirrel or bunny was going to invade their backyard as long as this trio was on duty. Each morning I had to watch my step when I came out of the shower as Khloe would have several of her toys close at hand/paw. Khloe was quite a skilled surgeon with her toys. She performed a number of squeak-ectomies, a tail-echtomy on her prized duckie, and hip replacement surgery on her sock monkey and maybe a thorough de-stuffing of a toy or two. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on the other side of the bridge in a white lab coat with Dr. Khloe monogrammed on it.

Khloe absolutely loved to go for our walks. She walked so well that I never needed to use a Gentle Leader. If only my crazy girls would be so kind. Everyone we met on our walks were so amazed by Khloe. How could you not be with her bright eyes, gorgeous furr coat with such interesting highlights, and that puppy fuzz on the top of her head.

Khloe’s journey in becoming a RAGOM dog started late last November. Her owner (elderly gentleman) became hospitalized and was told he would not be able to return home. His family didn’t want Khloe so a nurse of her dad’s took Khloe in. The H. family really adored Khloe but they knew she needed more than they could give. They contacted RAGOM to make sure Khloe found the right home. Khloe was picked up by Dale and Janet F. near Rochester and transported nearly the entire way to FD. My first impression was she was a shy, petite, and oh so pretty girl. She was vetted the next day and she tested positive for heartworms. Khloe underwent three rounds of Immiticide treatment for heartworm, the first dose on Dec. 26 and the second and third doses 30 days later in Jan. Then we waited 4 weeks to rest and recover and Khloe was spayed on Feb 27. About two weeks after that Khloe was adopted by K and B.

The amazing transformation that occurred with Khloe was remarkable. She was very shy and timid at first. But she had excellent big sisters/mentors in Indy and Lauren. They showed Khloe how to wrestle and rough house, how to thoroughly thrash her favorite toys, and how to enjoy each and every day. FD was blessed to have known Khloe for five months. Even though we had been given a grim diagnosis Khloe continued to defy the odds and looked so well. A number of RAGOM volunteers as well as her parents were ever hopeful that Khloe would be the exception and be with us for more than 8 weeks.

On Saturday morning FD noticed a big change in our Khloe girl. The first thing was that she did not go bounding outside on critter patrol. Once back inside it was time for breakfast and Khloe turned and walked away from her bowl, even after FD added more tasty chicken to her dish. The moment I knew she was really not feeling well was when she totally rebuffed her favorite morning ritual of peanut butter toast. Later that morning Khloe began to throw up. After which she would curl up in a corner and sleep. I called K and B to let them know of the change in Khloe's condition. They came for a visit early in the afternoon. They could see the change and how tired she looked. After they left FD and Khloe enjoyed a lot of serious snuggle time. During the night Khloe kept changing positions every 20 to 30 minutes. We made it through the night and on Sunday morning Karen H (fellow RAGOM Foster Mom) came over to see Khloe. Khloe was more tired looking and her steps were slow and a bit jerky and wobbly. She would just collapse in a thud to the floor. Not wanting our Khloe girl to suffer anymore FD made the call to the ACH Clinic in Richfield. Dr. L and the staff did everything they could to ease Khloe's discomfort. Khloe was lying between Karen and FD while we both hugged and rubbed her and told her what a GReat girl she was Dr. L gave her the shots and in seconds our Khloe girl was free of her pain and that horrid disease.

The many memories we have left to cherish of this beautiful girl are her smiling face, her goofy expressions, her amber eyes, her puppy fuzz on the top of her head, her giant paws, her unique style of drinking water, and her soft luxurious coat with all of those radiant highlights. We will forever miss her way of slinking by my chair and turning her head as if to say "hey FD I'm down here give me some scritches and rubs". Then she would move ahead just far enough to signal that she wanted a good butt rub. When she had enough of that she would sit down and lean back into FD and lift her paw. These are the things that we will long for until it is our time to meet Khloe at the bridge.

Thank you to Jenessa and Matt K and Grizz and his Mom, Dayle for the spring fling tokens. Thank you to Khloe's sponsor Sandra Lynn. Thank you Karen H and to Khloe's co-parents, K & B, for all of the support your have given FD. Thank you to the H family for allowing RAGOM to care for Khloe. Thank you Janet and Dale F for transporting Khloe. Thank you to all of the Doctors and Staff at ACH/Inver Grove Heights/ Scott Lake Pet Clinic for all of the care given to Khloe. Thank you RAGOM fans for following Khloe's story.

Khloe was born on 6/15/2009 and departed us much to soon on 5/6/2012. Blessed be the many memories of our dear Khloe girl!

XOXO
FD aka Kelly B.