All About Andee

Four years ago, a routine stop at a pet adoption day led to our adoption of a sweet-tempered, gentle puppy, named "Andee" by animal welfare volunteers (after the lawyer who rescued her from an interstate ramp where she had been dumped at under 6 weeks old). Having a puppy around brought out the puppy in our ten-year-old mixed breed, Happy, and they quickly became devoted to one another and to the human members of their pack.

Andee has grown to be a beauty--people stop us in the street to ask what breed she is. Her rich, reddish-brown coat, noble profile, silky button ears and feathered, upward-curving tail make a striking impression. She's just big enough to be intimidating to strangers who hear her bark through our fence, but small enough to be controlled on a leash by ten-year-old Charlie. A few frightening seizure episodes led to a diagnosis of epilepsy after she was about a year old, but the seizures were quickly controlled with phenobarbital. She was a happy and healthy pet until we realized she could not get herself up to a standing position on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Last call from Crystal

From Andee's first visit to the LSU Vet School small animal clinic, we have been assigned to the service of Crystal, a veterinary student who has called twice a day with updates of Andee's condition. Dr. Lauer is our DVM at LSU, and she conducted Andee's surgery last week, but it is Crystal who has cared for Andee, and she has been our emotional connection to the clinic. Crystal clearly loves dogs, and seems to care for Andee as if she was her own dog.

Crystal was thrilled on Saturday when we visited and brought Andee some toys for her kennel. Andee likes to carry things around that have her people's scent--she doesn't chew them up, she just likes to have something near her bed area. When I tentatively offered 2 unwashed socks (one worn by Sarah, one by Charlie) in addition to the nice new chew toys, I was relieved when Crystal smiled and said, "I did the same thing when my dog had tendon surgery." We were disappointed to learn that Crystal is rotating assignments at the clinic and that we will be assigned a new vet student today. I'm sure the new student will be very nice, but it's hard to lose Crystal's upbeat manner and friendly way with Sarah and Charlie.
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