The cute Longhaired Chihuahua you see as the background and the photo at the top of the page isn't actually "TacoBelle". I borrowed this picture from CHIHUAHUA KINGDOM a website filled with many darling Chihuahua's...because I unfortunately don't have a picture of "TacoBelle". All I have is a memory...a sad memory, but this photo looks just like her except she was a little more brown than red. I will say this...she was absolutely DARLING! And, the sweetest, most loveable little doggey I've ever met.
And, that brings me to how I met and fell in love with TacoBelle. Back at the end of March, 1998 a man brought "TacoBell" (as it was spelled then) to my Vet's Clinic because she had a broken front leg. I don't think we ever really knew how it got broken, but I can just imagine.....and that's all I'm going to say about that.
This guy asked my Vet. how much it would cost to fix the leg...the broken leg that this poor dog had been walking on for quite some time! When he was told it would cost around $150.00, maybe more...he said, "Oh, that's too much. Just keep her and do what ever you feel is right. We just can't afford her."
So, TacoBell became the property of the Animal Clinic and my Vet. planned to fix her up and find her a GOOD home. This is when I met TacoBell. I spend a lot of time at my Vet's Clinic for obvious reasons. One being, I have Seven Cats! But, I also just drop by all the time because he's just down the sidewalk from my office.
It was love at first site! She took to me and I took to her. My Vet. and his staff noticed how happy she was to see me everytime I stopped by. A reaction not seen in her with other visitors, etc... I would take her out of her cage and hold her up close to my neck and she would just bury her little wet nose in under my chin. I'd carry her around for sometimes an hour or more and she would just cuddle up in my arms and give me kisses. Even though I've never had a dog before...I was THAT close to saying I would adopt her. Well, actually, I did say I would adopt her if noone else wanted her. I also said her name should be "TacoBelle" because she was such a little southern lady. So, the next day when I showed up....the sign on her cage said, "TACOBELLE"!!!
During this time, it was very busy at the clinic and my Vet. had just put a splint on TacoBelle's leg until he could find the necessary time to do full xrays and more than likely surgery to re-break the leg and put a cast on it. I'm afraid, my Vet. feared that he might have to amputate the leg.
Well, after weeks of daily visits and falling more and more in love with this little gal...the week of April 13th was upon us and I was on vacation (well, off work anyway) that week. I spent a great deal of time with TacoBelle and that Friday, I stopped by to visit her. She was her usual loving sweet self. I remember holding her for quite a while and then putting her down on the floor and playing rub the tummy with her. She looked so cute on her back, left front leg in a splint wiggling around with her little tail just a wagging away as I rubbed her tummy. I hated to say goodbye, but I had somewhere to go. My Vet's assistant told me that when he got back, if he had the time...he was going to finally fix that leg. I was so happy that my little girl was gonna be all fixed up and off on the road to recovery. I told her how much I loved her, kissed her goodbye and left.
I wasn't able to visit the clinic over the weekend. I remember driving by and wondering how my baby girl was doing and if Dr. S had had the time to fix her leg. Monday, I was back at work and totally swamped. Monday passed, Tuesday passed and I hadn't been able to visit TacoBelle. I look back now and wonder if maybe I subconciously knew something was wrong and knew I should stay away. I don't know? Finally, Wednesday rolled around and one of my coworkers who's a very good friend of mine, took her little dog in to the same Animal Clinic for grooming. She asked everyone where TacoBelle was and they just acted busy and shook their heads, etc... When she told me this upon her return, I grabbed the phone and called them. Dr. S answered and I blurted out, "What happened to TacoBelle?" As he began to ramble on and on about what had happened and how there was nothing he could do and she was suffering and he was really sorry, etc... I began to cry uncontrollably and told him I had to go, and I hung up!
I didn't go in the Animal Clinic for three months. I just couldn't. I have to admit, I was very angry with them for letting this happen. But, I won't make any assumptions as to what might have been done or what could have been done differently. I wasn't there! That wouldn't be fair of me. A few weeks ago, Dr. S came to my office with a lovely gift and an apology for the loss of TacoBelle. I've been able to forgive him, because I know he would never have harmed her intentionally. I just wish they had been more careful, that's all.
I won't go into details, but it's just one of those things...she had a very bad reaction to the anesthesia, began vomiting and I guess began drowning in her vomit.(the vomit gets in the lungs) There was brain damage and she was suffering so much that she was euthanized.
Losing TacoBelle has been very hard on me. And, she wasn't even my dog. But, she was...you know what I mean? She died on Friday, April 17th...just a hour or so after I had held her, kissed her and told her I loved her. It has taken me this long (08/02/98) to work up the nerve to write her story. And, as I write this I'm reliving all the pain and anguish I've tried to put behind me these past three months. But, I had to do this. I can't allow this sweet baby to be forgotten. I want many others to get to know her and love her as I did. Maybe this tribute to her will help me achieve this wish and also help me to put the pain behind me even though I promise I'll never forget her and I'll NEVER stop loving her.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this and for sharing something so dear to me as was my little "TacoBelle".
God Bless....
Lisa
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