Hogan 07-197 [1]

3/10/2014:

Please welcome Hogan back to RAGOM! He is an eleven-year-old purebred Golden Retriever, a neutered male, weighing 70 pounds. For the first three years of his life, he was a stud for a puppy mill; he came into RAGOM as a rescue in 2007, and was adopted by a family. Approximately 1-1/2 years ago, he developed a limp and several other problems which his owner did not have the resources to address. She wanted to be sure Hogan is cared for in the best way possible, so surrendered him back to RAGOM.

Hogan had an examination by a RAGOM vet last week. He has significant muscle atrophy to his right shoulder, using the limb for balance only -- the vet thought this may be due to a neurologic issue. Further on during the examination, a very large mass was found, likely anal sac adenocarcinoma (cancer), especially with a history of an elevated calcium level and excessive drinking and urinating.

This news is very sad for Hogan and all of us, including his former owner, that know and love him dearly. The plan is to provide hospice care for him in our home as his foster family, keeping him as comfortable as possible. The vet did not have a time estimate for how long Hogan has to live.

The good news is that, other than Hogan's limp, there are no outward signs of the cancer right now. He does not walk much, due to his leg, but when food appears or it is time to go outside to do his business, he gets right up and walks. He is especially frisky in the mornings and enjoys playing with his toys, and just sitting by my side. He gets along with our three resident dogs and is fond of Foster Dad as well. He loves to be brushed and I always get a kick out of seeing him napping on his back. We look forward to the back deck being cleared of snow, so that Hogan can enjoy sitting in the backyard this spring.

So, there is no telling how long Hogan will be with us, but we will enjoy his super sweet self and make sure he is comfortable and enjoying himself as well. We are fortunate to be home all of the time, so he will never be alone. We would like to thank Hogan's former owner for her selfless act of surrendering him back to RAGOM, knowing in her heart that she could no longer provide for his needs. She gave Hogan the best years of his life.