we were in Gainesville, FL for my brain surgery we noticed booklets of dogs used to detect cancer and seizures. Well, the day I got him I
had a seizure, always a violent one. Hubby thought I would roll on him so he took him from me. Lucky was flipping out in his cage. Well,
he wouldn't ever lay on me, but would stay by my side. We lived in FL
hubby worked for 3 weeks offshore, older son grown and in USAF, and younger son into his own world. Our family is spread into KY, NY, and
GA. I was so lonely, and I had 2 cats that didn't care for Lucky but he kept to himself and we moved to LA.
Then hubby had a job transfer to MD. I thought I found a decent home, well that was not true. We later moved back to LA to an apt. and then to the town where we gave Lucky away. By divine intervention my hubby took 3 days off from work and the 1st 2 days it was cold and rainy that April of 2003. Low and behold I saw Lucky and his fur grew longer and darker. I yelled his name and he did a 360. I never intended to take the dog back as the lady reassured us she still had him, in fact I was going to visit him. This fellow said it was his dog, his friend's dog. He was not right upstairs. I said this is my dog. I said this paw, that paw, speak, crawl, speak, wave, etc. He still had the same collar on. I told the guy that his bottom 2 teeth were crooked, and a white mark on his chest. I didn't
to see if he was neutered. I knew he was our dog.
Well, I almost gone run over and hubby Rich yelled for me to be careful. He picked up Lucky. He had pinworm, heartworm, 17 pounds off
his body weight, 104.5 temperature, the technician said he was fixed I said I know he is our dog, then I had noticed before we got there his teeth were filed down. I later found out this year they do that for pitbull bait dogs, that is terrible. So lucky needed a chemo for 3 mos. to clear up the heartworm. Since we got him back he was so happy and so were we. We knew we had been blessed. It was a $700 bill
but we don't care, its only $ and can't take it with us when we die.
2 years ago we got a fence up and I wanted Lucky to have a friend. He
started to go blind. I was told by a lady that the pups were 1/2 lab and 1/2 golden. She bullied Lucky, her name was Pepper, she was jet black. Something told me around 4 mos. or so she might be part pitbull and my hubby didn't believe. She was totally untrainable, we had her fixed even and she had to stay in a crate in the house. One day when she was 1 1/2 I was feeding the dogs and giving them water and she bullied him away from his food. She didn't want it, she attacked him, putting 3 holes in his right ear nearly missing vein. I
broke up the fight, he backed away from the food and she dumped it on
purpose. She wanted to attack me 3 times, so I had to take her to the
pound and be put down, she snapped.
Well, we waited to get another dog for about 8 mos. In the meantime, my best friend who lives behind passed away. She moved behind me on purpose for us to be closer. She had a blood clot. A few days after her passing away there was a cute kitty. A pregnant female and only 8
mos. old. She had 7 babies and one died of prematurity. Lucky wanted to see them, I let him and so did the mama. He licked them all. I gave 4 kitties and mama to the pet store. I named mama Millie after my best friend. So, I kept Stevie Ray Vaughn and Bonnie Raitt. Mind you Lucky never really got involved with the kitties. Bonnie would run out of the bedroom every am to see him, and Stevie would jump on him Kowabunga style and he let them play with his tail. Then Tigger my ultra shy rescue started to come around to Lucky, and so did Schroeder my Bengal kitty. Waldo was the only one who didn't want to and he is not interested in dogs. He is the new cat/kitty greeter and
still cleans the cats.
Lucky loved the frisbee. He loved people, kids, but not boy dogs until I got Murphy on the 5th of this month. He is my Creme Golden Retriever. I got Ruby in July. Lucky at first was hesitant about another dog because of what Pepper did to him. But he sensed Ruby was
good natured and she would stand up to him. He even came to like the boy puppy. All of this is possible because of Lucky being such a great dog and I really love this breed. So, I plan on breeding for a little while. We have never done this, so we will see how it goes.
What blew my mind about Lucky is that we were so in tuned with one another. Going down a few steps I said step, step, etc. I have weak ankles, and he was getting a little lame, and the stairs could be slick. He would still be learning. He used to put his paws around my waist and dance with me, ironically Ruby does it now. He would go counterclockwise to go outside. He killed possums, rats, never ate them just killed them. We live in the country in Lousiana near a cane
field and there are all kinds of critters here.
Lucky would help me after I had a spell, and would park next to me to
help me up. He was a strong dog. Everytime these last few days, I am still waiting for his bark with UPS, garbage truck, or a stranger. I really miss him. One vet said well, putting him down would be the extreme and the other vet said I did the right thing. He had cancer in his lymph nodes and in 6 mos. be gone and in really worse pain, plus he might not have made it out of surgery. Most of his small intestines and the entire spleen were in the huge tumor. I took him 3
times this year for blood work, nothing showed up, except on the xray
and I knew there was no way except putting him out of the pain he suffered. He would throw up water. He was clogged, so was I after 3 surgeries the 1st week of October. My tummy couldn't hold food and I threw up, I need to be opened up. My outcome was better then Lucky's.
Even being blind he could catch a biscuit, frisbee, ball, and I don't
know how this was possible except by sound. I miss the meal times, seeing his blanket, and I don't think he minds that Murphy is using his bowl at all. He always shared, very smart dog. Sometimes he knew I would watch to see if went to the bathroom, and he would fake it. He did this forever, way before he got sick. He loved when his Daddy
grilled fish or steak - he knew he would get a little treat.
Lucky could hear our car or truck 1 mile when Daddy was coming home. He started to get excited, after 3 weeks offshore! Rich would hug the
dog before me!! But that is okay, he loved him too.
We are really going to miss him so very much. That was hard me holding me when they put him down. I did take pictures because his paw print showed on my hand, and I don't want anyone thinking I am
crazy. Last night I thought I heard him walking toward the office. This is the hardest thing to deal with. But with this terrific WebSite Ginny made, it comforts us.
Take care my Lucky Dog,
Love, Mama
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