One of the most joyful
days of my life began on Aug. 6, 1995 with the purchase of Sonny Pug. For
couples without children, a Pug is the closest thing to parenting. We went
through potty training, showing him how to play with toys, and give unlimited
kisses to a mommy that just adored him. It is only fitting that I
begin this story on a Thursday, the 8th day of the month, of July 1999.
Sonny's life began on April 8th, 1995 in a small town in Frankford, MO.
It ended on Thursday,
His first year was fun filled with the usual excitement of learning all about life. Sonny at 1 yr., 3 mos. completed his dog training at the local park district. He was known as a sociable little fellow that greeted all of his companions. He could be very much a class clown but in order to please his mom he listened and demonstrated some ability to follow instructions. For a cookie (biscuit), he became very studious indeed. On July 22, 1996 Sonny graduated, certainly not at the head of class but none the less graduated. I was so proud of him. On July 23, 1996 our life started a change that would continue through the balance of his life. July 23, 1996 was a hot 85 degree summer day. I was doing exterior house painting. I heard Sonny whining so I freshened up his water bowl and continued painting. At once I heard a loud thud, by the time I went in the house he was laying on the floor with saliva coming from his mouth. I held him for awhile and he seemed fine. Throughout the afternoon I heard him pacing but I continued to paint. I fed him at noon and he seemed to rest. By about 3PM I decided to break from painting that I had started at 7:30 AM. Sonny and I went back to an adjoining 67 acre field to take a slow walk and regroup from a tiring day. At this point, Sonny walked in a drunken gait, dropped to the ground and began a dog paddle type of movement that I had never seen in my life! I carried his limp body back home and immediately called the Vet stating my observations. I gathered markers from flowers I had planted outdoors and immediately took off for the Vet. After looking at him and taking blood samples the Vet stated Sonny had undergone a series of seizures. He was labelled as "epileptic." The coming 2 yrs. were filled with ER's, blood tests, diet management, prescription drugs, and corresponding to the breeder/pet store. We adhered to only a diet of Lamb & Rice with no preservatives/fillers. The Vet mixed a special vitamin supplement to take. We tried such things as Phenobarbital, L-Thyroxine, Methylpredisone (later switched to Cortisol), Vallium (rectally), and Potassium Bromide which was to control seizures even with the most seizure prone dogs. Throughout the process Sonny experienced sleepless nights, restlessness, poor potty habits, increased appetite/thirst, and just an overall inability to function normally. We called him our bubble baby as we felt as though we were living in one trying to protect him from anything that could jeopardize his safety/well being. We had at one point made an appointment at the University of Wisconsin Hospital to perform an MRI/ brain scan. Yet our practicing Vet believed the most recent blood work would reveal the cause of his horrendous seizures so we canceled the appointment. On July 24, 1998 our Vet witnessed a series of cluster seizures that were very challenging, when administering drugs that should have caused sedation, Sonny went into dysplasia. Once they stopped we carried his limp body home and he was again blind for days there after. At one point Sonny ran into a spoke in his kennel that he had pried loose and punctured his eye. This was a tragedy that he yet accepted. The Vet mentioned if we ever experience another seizure of this magnitude again, we will know that we have lost ground. Sonny's seizures throughout the 2 yr.+ process became frequent and more severe. They could happen in the AM, PM or evening, there was no predictability in them, they were all over the roadmap. He could even be in a deep sleep and go into them. On October 8, 1998
at 3PM Sonny had a 3-4 min. seizure that I administered Vallium by mouth
and rectally. I called the Vet at home to report it but mentioned I was
confident that I took care of him. By 3:40PM he started in with more clusters
that I frantically administered vallium rectally. I continued to work with
him but by 4:00-4:05 I ran to the hospital with him in terror. They worked
with Sonny for close to an hr. to stabilize him, at one point he seemed
to be coming out of them only to lapse back into even more. I called our
Vet at home since she was not at the hospital that day and we agreed that
our goals/ ability to manage his 2 yr.+ seizures were not obtainable. Our
fight and long journey had ended. Mom had to authorize the attending
Vet to allow Sonny to sleep in the most peaceful way. Following this,
we had a necropsy performed that revealed his hydrocephalic
In memory of Sonny:
For mom, her fight
to end the serious problem of pet stores/puppy mills has not ended, in
fact, it has just begun. I am researching all kinds of avenues to arrest
this horrendous crime. I am contacting my local level State Rep's office
and am being encouraged to take action. When I am able to share what is
written I will ask all of you to share it with your local level State Reps
as well. But for now, please support my efforts with letters directed
to my Email address:
With your support we as a group can be effective. Maybe some day if Sonny's parents are still alive, I will be able to open the door to the filthy kennel they are sitting in and take them in my arms to love. Help my dream come true and write to me. ~ Story by Linda Gerdes ~ |
