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We had our monthly GSRA Board meeting tonight and it was no surprise that the Sweet 7 were the main topic of conversation. I filled everyone in on what the vet found the other night. The main focus of the discussion was on what our options were with respect to Susann and Diesel. No one wants to see them come this close to getting into a "real" family environment, only to miss out because of medical complications. Since both Susann and Georgia had masses, we considered doing cytology on both and then waiting to see what the results yielded. Alternatively, someone suggested just removing the masses, and not doing any cytology and just accepting whatever time the girls had left. We're all comfortable with the idea of hospice care for some dogs - we've taken in dogs before that we knew were never going to leave their foster homes. In these cases, we do what we can to make them comfortable and then, when they tell us that they are tired and have had enough, we help them pass on - always in their foster Mom's arms and always with a lot of love and dignity. Maybe this is something we could offer Susann and Georgia? Then someone brought us back to reality and asked where would we find a foster home that could accommodate both Susann's cancer and her extreme aggression towards other female dogs. As is so often the case in rescue, even if the heart is willing, the head needs to step in and offer up the logistical road blocks that sometimes makes the best of intentions impossible. There are risks you are willing to take when you are dealing with your own dog, but when it is the rescue's dog, and the rescue's ultimate responsibility, there are so many other factors that need to be considered. I hate this part of rescue. I hate this part of being responsible to something other than the dog. But, this responsibility, and the actions it causes, is what has kept the rescue running for close to 20 years. So like it or not, some things just have to be accepted. With this mind set, we all agreed that Susann would need to be put to sleep. I cannot tell you what a cruel blow this is. Susann - the feistiest of all the dogs. The one that has the brightest glint in her eyes (albeit a somewhat devilish glint) isn't going to get the chance to live like a Queen in her very own family because the rescue can't accommodate her special needs. I think we all feel like we are letting her down.
We had our monthly GSRA Board meeting tonight and it was no surprise that the Sweet 7 were the main topic of conversation. I filled everyone in on what the vet found the other night. The main focus of the discussion was on what our options were with respect to Susann and Diesel. No one wants to see them come this close to getting into a "real" family environment, only to miss out because of medical complications. Since both Susann and Georgia had masses, we considered doing cytology on both and then waiting to see what the results yielded. Alternatively, someone suggested just removing the masses, and not doing any cytology and just accepting whatever time the girls had left. We're all comfortable with the idea of hospice care for some dogs - we've taken in dogs before that we knew were never going to leave their foster homes. In these cases, we do what we can to make them comfortable and then, when they tell us that they are tired and have had enough, we help them pass on - always in their foster Mom's arms and always with a lot of love and dignity. Maybe this is something we could offer Susann and Georgia? Then someone brought us back to reality and asked where would we find a foster home that could accommodate both Susann's cancer and her extreme aggression towards other female dogs. As is so often the case in rescue, even if the heart is willing, the head needs to step in and offer up the logistical road blocks that sometimes makes the best of intentions impossible. There are risks you are willing to take when you are dealing with your own dog, but when it is the rescue's dog, and the rescue's ultimate responsibility, there are so many other factors that need to be considered. I hate this part of rescue. I hate this part of being responsible to something other than the dog. But, this responsibility, and the actions it causes, is what has kept the rescue running for close to 20 years. So like it or not, some things just have to be accepted. With this mind set, we all agreed that Susann would need to be put to sleep. I cannot tell you what a cruel blow this is. Susann - the feistiest of all the dogs. The one that has the brightest glint in her eyes (albeit a somewhat devilish glint) isn't going to get the chance to live like a Queen in her very own family because the rescue can't accommodate her special needs. I think we all feel like we are letting her down.
We went on to talk about Diesel. When I left it, before the vet had examined him, we had talked about the possibility of trying him in a wheel chair. One of our volunteers has one that she isn't using and she was happy to bring it up for Diesel to try. But after talking with the vet on friday night and learning how withered Diesel is in the shoulder region, I explained to the Board that a wheel chair wasn't an option. More importantly than that though, is the status of his teeth and gums. That poor boy has GOT to be hurting. Every bite he takes has got to be excruciating. We can't let him go on suffering like that. He's so brave and so happy despite everything going against him. But even so, our mission is to end suffering, and there is no doubt in my mind that Diesel IS suffering - no matter how brave a face he puts on. At the end of our discussion, everyone was unanimous that Susann and Diesel needed to be put to sleep. I guess I will call the vet in the morning and see when it can be done. This isn't fair. This is the part of rescue that sucks.
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