Bubba
A donation was made in memory of Bubba by Doctors and Staff of the Haigh Veterinary Hospital on Jul 27, 2011.
BUBBA (Born March 2006/Rainbow Bridge 07/01/2011)
The summer before freshmen year my son was at football camp at the high school and I was to pick him up. Before I left to pick him up I received a phone call, "Mom,"..."Yes? I answered". "Mom, there is this puppy..." I promptly said "NO" and put the phone down only to have it ring again and this time I listened to his story about how this puppy wandered up to him while they were breaking for lunch and the puppy looked so skinny he gave him his peanut butter sandwich. I am the Queen of NO MEANS YES when it comes to kids and animals...and my son knew it. I pulled up to the parking lot and all these pre freshmen kids were waiting for their rides and of course my son Riley is holding this dog and for a moment I thought....all these skinny kids with big feet they have not grown into and the puppy my son was holding looked the same and fit right in!!! We went directly to the humane shelter to see if he had a microchip and I had told my son if he did then great he most likely had a home and if he didn't well we would most likely have another dog.
Hurray!!! He had a micro chip and had been adopted two weeks before and they located the owner!!! Apparently they had gone on vacation for a few days and the neighbors lost him when letting him out. I was safe, phew I thought I am not ready for another puppy. I also felt guilty knowing my sons father had abandoned his relationship with his children and this puppy might have been a welcome affection for my son. I felt like the good mom though when I said "I would have, if we could have kept him".
Fast forward three days and I am at work the phone rings and BACKFIRE !!!!! My son is ecstatic....guess what MOM??!!??? Bubbas HOME!!!! I was like whoa, wait a minute....what do you mean? Well my son said the owners decided with the dad leaving for Iraq, mom just found out she was expecting and the daughter they had was leaving for college so a new puppy may not be what they needed. Since mom here had already said , "we woulda if we coulda....." my son felt confident in telling them bring him on over!! However he did come with all toys, food and crate. My son was ecstatic.
My son took him to obedience training and we had a happy, bubbly dog who was so good natured. He was the best addition we could have ever hoped for. My son left for college last August at WSU . Bubba started regurging (we learned the difference between vomit and regurge quickly) Our world was turned upside down as he was diagnosed with Megaesophagus and we suspected Laryngeal Paralysis later on down the road. Our living room was covered in sheets, we built a Bailey Chair which helped when he ate. He slept with his bed wedged and no more treats, tug a war or excitement because he would choke and the danger of aspiration pneumonia became our new norm.The carpet machine sat in the middle of my living room for months on end and used daily. His condition progressively got worse as we hoped for miracles....when he would have a good week. Soon there were no good weeks, and no good days for him and it was time to let go.
Dr. Haigh of Haigh Veterinary Hospital guided us through this journey and we all learned so much about this disease. He left no stone unturned and I am so grateful for having him care for our animals. Also the Yahoo Megaesophagus group was there day and night on the internet and were the most inspirational group of people I have ever been in contact with. Both Dr. Haigh , Dr. Beth Herman (Summit Referral, Tacoma, WA)(who we also were referred to) were instrumental in helping me keep a level head, it is so easy to get caught up in what WE want , instead of dealing with the reality of the situation.
Bubba was sedated and past peacefully with me holding on to him. He was only 5 yrs old. This experience with this particular dog taught me patience and hope. I have a huge respect for those who dedicate their lives to saving animals and treating them. If anyone has a mega dog....definitley join the megaesophagus group on yahoo. They are troopers!
Thank you for your condolences, it may my day....
Heather L.
The summer before freshmen year my son was at football camp at the high school and I was to pick him up. Before I left to pick him up I received a phone call, "Mom,"..."Yes? I answered". "Mom, there is this puppy..." I promptly said "NO" and put the phone down only to have it ring again and this time I listened to his story about how this puppy wandered up to him while they were breaking for lunch and the puppy looked so skinny he gave him his peanut butter sandwich. I am the Queen of NO MEANS YES when it comes to kids and animals...and my son knew it. I pulled up to the parking lot and all these pre freshmen kids were waiting for their rides and of course my son Riley is holding this dog and for a moment I thought....all these skinny kids with big feet they have not grown into and the puppy my son was holding looked the same and fit right in!!! We went directly to the humane shelter to see if he had a microchip and I had told my son if he did then great he most likely had a home and if he didn't well we would most likely have another dog.
Hurray!!! He had a micro chip and had been adopted two weeks before and they located the owner!!! Apparently they had gone on vacation for a few days and the neighbors lost him when letting him out. I was safe, phew I thought I am not ready for another puppy. I also felt guilty knowing my sons father had abandoned his relationship with his children and this puppy might have been a welcome affection for my son. I felt like the good mom though when I said "I would have, if we could have kept him".
Fast forward three days and I am at work the phone rings and BACKFIRE !!!!! My son is ecstatic....guess what MOM??!!??? Bubbas HOME!!!! I was like whoa, wait a minute....what do you mean? Well my son said the owners decided with the dad leaving for Iraq, mom just found out she was expecting and the daughter they had was leaving for college so a new puppy may not be what they needed. Since mom here had already said , "we woulda if we coulda....." my son felt confident in telling them bring him on over!! However he did come with all toys, food and crate. My son was ecstatic.
My son took him to obedience training and we had a happy, bubbly dog who was so good natured. He was the best addition we could have ever hoped for. My son left for college last August at WSU . Bubba started regurging (we learned the difference between vomit and regurge quickly) Our world was turned upside down as he was diagnosed with Megaesophagus and we suspected Laryngeal Paralysis later on down the road. Our living room was covered in sheets, we built a Bailey Chair which helped when he ate. He slept with his bed wedged and no more treats, tug a war or excitement because he would choke and the danger of aspiration pneumonia became our new norm.The carpet machine sat in the middle of my living room for months on end and used daily. His condition progressively got worse as we hoped for miracles....when he would have a good week. Soon there were no good weeks, and no good days for him and it was time to let go.
Dr. Haigh of Haigh Veterinary Hospital guided us through this journey and we all learned so much about this disease. He left no stone unturned and I am so grateful for having him care for our animals. Also the Yahoo Megaesophagus group was there day and night on the internet and were the most inspirational group of people I have ever been in contact with. Both Dr. Haigh , Dr. Beth Herman (Summit Referral, Tacoma, WA)(who we also were referred to) were instrumental in helping me keep a level head, it is so easy to get caught up in what WE want , instead of dealing with the reality of the situation.
Bubba was sedated and past peacefully with me holding on to him. He was only 5 yrs old. This experience with this particular dog taught me patience and hope. I have a huge respect for those who dedicate their lives to saving animals and treating them. If anyone has a mega dog....definitley join the megaesophagus group on yahoo. They are troopers!
Thank you for your condolences, it may my day....
Heather L.
