"Brodie " Apr 20, 1995 ---- Feb 24, 2002 Brodie was born April 20th 1995 in a litter of six. At the age of 7 weeks he came home to live with me. He was the best dog I ever had and we did everything together. We went on walks and bike rides and to the park, he was the love of my life. Shortly before he turned a year old I decided to go back to school and get a degree. I decided that Brodie would need a companion to occupy him while I was at school. So In march of 1996 Brodie received a new sister for his 1st birthday. But before he got her I took Brodie to a very special place and we spent the day together just the two of us. It was called Long beach and from than on it was considered to be our special and magical place. We went every year as often as we could. One Fall afternoon in November Brodie and his sister Breezy/Breanna and I were walking at the park near our house. A couple had moved in across the street and they had 2 very mean german shepherds. I had already been warned by the owner that his dogs were not friendly. This concerned me but the owner said they were always kept in the garage or in the back yard where its fenced. Well one fall afternoon while Bordie and I were at the park these 2 very mean dogs dug their way out of the yard. I was watching breezy at the time they charged us and I felt brodies leash go down and I felt him laying on the ground. I looked up to see why he was laying down and I saw two dogs charging right at us. I immediately felt fear as I had already been warned of the danger. I started screaming immediately come get your dogs and when I looked to the driveway and saw no vehicles I knew that no one would come for the dogs. There was no one to help me. Breezy/Breanna was 9 months old at the time and Brodie was 18 months old. This was November of 1996. Immediately the dogs jumped on top of brodie and I had to listen helplessy as he cried in pain and fear. I for a moment left breanna unattended to help Brodie and as soon as I pulled them off of Brodie they attacked Breezy. So I ran back to her and shielded her with my body. They than split up and one continued to attack brodie and one continued to attack me and Breezy. I fought back and forth and I screamed Help over and over and over but there was no one. No help came. I continued to shield and protect Breanna and I tried to get her to the house across the street and I looked up and the dogs had drug brodie across the street and continued to attack him as he tried to get away. I than saw them go for his throat and I left Breanna and I went to protect Brodie. Finally the neighbor heard me and I screamed for her to unlock her door that I needed help and I said call 911 now. I fought all the way up the neighbors ramp and still they continued to attack and finally I got bit trying to protect my babies. I kicked and punched and pulled their hair trying to desperately save my babies. Even after we were safely in the house one of the dogs continued to attack through by hitting the door. We finally made it to the vets office and breanna was okay but brodie had a couple of deep wounds that required monitoring. A few months after the attack Brodie started having problems walking. I took him to the vet thinking it was a pulled muscle. No signs of that the vet said. So we monitored him and he got worse. He got to where I had to help him in and out of the car, he could no longer get on the couch and he could barely walk. He was only 2 yrs old and I was so scared I was going to lose him. Finally I said we need to check his back. So x rays were taken and they showed a development of bone spurs on his spine and mild arthritis in his hips. I knew it was from the attack and the vet said this kind of problem is the result of a trauma. Well the only trauma he had was the attack. I said what are my options and we decided on anti inflammatories but the vet said that in the long run they will cause liver damage. I said we will pass that bridge when we come to it. So we tried and it worked a little but not much. It got him through the winter but he suffered. So I got a second opinion and said we need a different medicine. So he put Brodie on a really good one but he also said it will cause liver damage. At this point his back was so bad I did not care. We treated him as we could but he still suffered a great deal of pain. Finally at the age of 3 I said we need to make a decision here. I cannot let him suffer. It is not fair to him. I said what are my options. Acupuncture, back surgery that is only temporary, medicine that only helps a little, or DEATH. I cried and said I need to think about it. I went home and I cried and I thought why not try a chiropractor? So I called the vet back and he gave me the x rays and a month later Brodie started his treatments. It was amazing the results. He was off the medicines in the summer time and only needed them in the winter for the next two yrs. But his back and hips continued to deteriorate. By the age of 6 I knew we were living on borrowed time. I had really hoped for one more year but I knew I may not get it. In august of 2001 we moved and there was no ramp for Brodie so as he got out of the car he injured his back. It took 4 adjustments before he was okay and he never did recover from it. After 2 weeks of him suffering I said I am taking him in and I am ending it but people said no give it one more week. I did and he was okay but not really okay. I knew that we would not have another summer together. He continued to get worse after that and I took him in around January to get new x rays and blood work and his teeth cleaned. The blood work was not good. His thyroid was dangerously low and his liver count was bad. I knew that he didnt have much time and I cried rivers of tears. He came out of the surgery fine but he never recovered from the anesthesia. He was sick for 3 weeks and as much as the doctors and I tried we could not save him. He had went into liver failure. On February 19th 2002 I decided enough was enough and I called my friends and said you need to say goodbye. Brodie will not be with us much longer. I planned a birthday party for him and I asked the vet if we could make our final beach trip but he said no it would hurt him to bad. On the 21st I took Brodie in and asked to lay him to rest and the doctor said no so I took him home. I went back and got a second opinion and he said his back alone is reason enough to lay him to rest and he is suffering and it is time. I planned for the 24th. On the 22nd Brodie started showing signs of pulmonary edema and was having difficulty breathing. He was sick the day of his party but still he barked as he saw my nephews bike and he wanted so bad to go for a run and he ate all his chicken that was prepared for him and he posed for the camera. He showered me with love even in the end. 2/24/02 at 9:30 am Brodie was laid to rest BRODIES LIFE STORY BRODIES MOMMA - DAYNA