Kristi the German Shepherd

Kristi is my parents' dog, a shepherd they got when she was two years old. She is now 14, paralyzed on the rear legs for the past year or so. My parents have a "wheelchair cart" for her to give her mobility...it supports her hind end and she can use her front legs to wheel around, but she hates it and tries to bite when mom puts her in the cart.

This past week she lost interest in food, ate very little and vomited what she did eat. Mom was very worried. The Vet. found no masses or tumors, turns out to be a bladder or urinary infection that in Kristi's current state of paralysis, is affecting her kidneys. Antibiotics will clear the infection, but in Kristi's condition, it is very common for infections to continuously occur.

The past few months Kristi has had no desire to move from her bed. Mom has been keeping potty pads under her for when she soils herself. Kristi always moved away from her mess until the last few weeks when moving was too much effort.

Today with tears in their eyes, my parents said it was time to let Kristi go. They have been struggling with that decision for a long time. I held Kristi's head in my arm and spoke softly to her as she was given the euthanasia injection. Goodbye dear Kristi, we love you.

Kitty Haven also received sad news that Dexter, a kitten adopted from us in 2004, has died. His owner said he was diagnosed with a heart murmer last year. She came home from work a couple of weeks ago and he was dead. His Vet. said probably a heart attack and assured Dexter's owner that he did not suffer.

This is Dexter right before his adoption. He was a handsome kitten. He was of the "D" litter; his siblings are named Darcy, Deena, Deedra, Darby and Danny.

Fortunately death is a very rare occurrence for the kittens we have fostered and adopted out. We treat each kitten as our own pet when we foster them and losing one is heartbreaking. Dexter's owner said he was sweet and loving, just like we remember him from his time with us at Kitty Haven. Goodbye precious Dexter.