Entered: 09/19/2012
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 8
Color: Black/White
Weight: 37 lbs.
Gender: Intact Female
Location: Gloucester, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, multiple tumors in each mammary gland which have metastasized around heart and lungs, anal gland tumor, very bad dental condition, entropian in both eyes, hearing impairment
Temperament: Good with people of all ages, good with other dogs, unknown with cats
Update 07/25/2013: “Because of that, the two of them built a special bond………..she really thought he was the “cat’s meow”!”
It is with great sadness that this news is shared. The horrible tumors growing inside little Miss Madison have taken their toll on her sweet little body. Yesterday she took a sudden turn for the worse, which was expected to eventually happen. In fact, her family really anticipated it about six months earlier and so was blessed to have her those extra months. It was time for her to go to the Bridge before she started to suffer so, with her head in her foster dad’s hands, she was set free.
During her time in foster care, Madison was treated like royalty by her foster family. She was always warm and dry, full of food, napping on comfy, soft dog beds and loved by all who met her. She loved everyone in return, and looked forward to the grandchildren coming to visit for that “extra” attention. Even though she was totally deaf except for loud noises, such as a clap of the hands, she communicated quite well with her eyes and the way she would come and nuzzle your leg or hand to get attention.
Madison needed her foster dad’s full time help with her illnesses, medications, and multiple small meals throughout the day. Because of that, the two of them built a special bond………..she really thought he was the “cat’s meow”! Her family is going to miss her more than words can tell, but will meet her at the Bridge. Toward that day, her foster dad has promised “he will clap loudly for her.”
Run free little Miss Madison………….so thankful you became a MAESSR girl!
Update 06/30/2013: “Showering her foster family with love is still a top priority for Madison and this is being reciprocated by her family.”
It appears that a healthy dose of love, combined with some allowed indulgences, suits Miss Madison to a tee.
Her foster family reports that Madison’s health holds steady with no further decline. She still has a healthy appetite and is experiencing no pain, which is a blessing for her and her family. Showering her foster family with love is still a top priority for Madison and this is being reciprocated by her family.
We can only hope for continued positive reports for this very sweet girl.
Update 04/25/2013: “She still gets her “special” midnight snack before going to bed, and is happy to remind her family if they have missed the 9:00 p.m. cookie!”
Madison’s foster parents report a mixture of good news and bad news. The good news is that Madison is still feeling and looking wonderful, except for a “heavy pant” at times. The bad news is that even though her last doctor appointment confirmed the anal gland tumor hasn’t grown much larger, her mammary tumors have. Additionally, she also appears to have metastasized tumors around her heart and lungs. It has brought her foster parents much sadness hearing the news, but makes them even more determined to love and cherish this sweet little girl for as long as they possibly can.
Madison really knows this is her home now, and demands love and attention from all who enter her house. She also appears to feel quite comfortable in exploring the people furniture as an option for comfort. It tugged at his heartstrings when her foster dad caught her, for the first time, trying to jump up on one of the sofas in the house; but she just didn’t quite have the “spring” it required. It was with a disappointed look on her face that she gave up and went and laid back down on her bed.
The doctor thinks Madison still has a little time left to enjoy the finer things in life, and that is what her family intends to give her. She still gets her “special” midnight snack before going to bed, and is happy to remind her family if they have missed the 9:00 p.m. cookie! It still appears that eating is one of her biggest pleasures in life! And, as the doc said when discussing her weight, “Don’t worry about it…….let her eat cake!”
Loving and caring for a permanent foster is a very difficult but rewarding endeavor. Please think of Madison and her family as they shower her with all of the love and special treats she deserves.
Update 01/28/2013: “Life is good for Madison…………may her appetite be robust and only exceeded by the love surrounding her for a very, very long time to come!!”
Madison continues to live the life of luxury and leisure in her foster home, having everyone from her foster dad to the youngest grandchild wrapped around her little paw! She has put on weight beautifully and tips the scales at 36 or 37 pounds now. You can’t feel her backbone anymore; she even appears to be getting a little pudgy in the middle! Her coat has become full and shiny.
Thanks to some mild maintenance medications, Madison is comfortable and pain-free. She loves everyone she meets or, as her foster mom says, Madison makes sure that everyone she meets loves her!
Madison’s foster mom and dad continue to watch for any signs or symptoms that she is starting to wane, and, they continue to love her and hug her and squeeze her and, oh yes, feed her! Life is good for Madison…………may her appetite be robust and only exceeded by the love surrounding her for a very, very long time to come!!
Update 11/13/2012: “You would never know from looking at the outside that she has terminal issues on the inside.”
It is with great difficulty that Madison’s foster parents, their vet and MAESSR have decided to treat her as a hospice patient. The years of neglect for Madison’s health have taken a toll. She has the following medical problems: multiple tumors in each mammary gland, an anal gland tumor, very bad teeth which need surgical intervention, entropion in both eyes (inverted eyelids which are scratching her eyes), and almost total deafness. Madison will stay on some medications to keep her comfortable. Her foster mom and dad will monitor for any signs of pain or discomfort and, working with their vet, add medications as appropriate.
Madison is already responding to love and care. She’s also proving to be one of the sweetest springers her foster parents have ever met. She is happy in her foster home where she is being spoiled and kept warm and dry with a comfortable bed to sleep on. She’s being fed delicious food to her heart’s content! Eating four times each day with snacks in between, she continues to gain weight and strength. Her beautiful coat continues to grow and thicken. She is looking SO good. You would never know from looking at the outside that she has terminal issues on the inside.
Madison’s foster dad observed her a few days ago flying across the backyard with the rest of the pack in pursuit of some dastardly villain who had the nerve to walk by their little piece of the world! He also observed her run and jump and clear a 2-1/2 foot wall in the yard! She could never have done this just a few weeks ago. Madison loves everyone in the family, from the 1 year-old grandbaby on up, but the apple of her eye is her foster dad. He has been home all day, every day recently, and the two have bonded like glue.
Madison has also really bonded with a 6 year-old granddaughter who sleeps over some nights. On a recent evening, Madison’s foster mom looked over to see the granddaughter lying on her stomach on the sofa with her arm slung over the side………and there is Madison, lying on her back, feet in the air, just letting the youngster rub and rub and rub her tummy! The two were only one move away from Madison following her upstairs to get in bed with her!
Please keep Madison and her foster family in your thoughts and prayers. Her family’s only goal is to give Madison the best possible life, one full of love and comfort for the time she has left. It is MAESSR’s goal as well to let Madison live the life she so deserves, knowing that when the time comes for her to cross to the Rainbow Bridge, she will be in the arms of someone she loves and loves her in return.
Original: “Eating three to four meals a day and having a warm and dry place to sleep do wonders for a former stray!”
When poor little Madison was picked up as a stray by animal control in Virginia, she was very weak and thin and missing much of the hair on her body due to being severely covered in fleas and ticks. After a there, her time was almost up. Thanks to a wonderful group of individuals – including a MAESSR volunteer–who work at this facility to find homes for the residents, Madison was brought into the MAESSR family.
Before she even got to her foster home, the shelter volunteers took Madison for basic vaccinations, heartworm check, and worming, and the vet there started her on antibiotics for an ear infection upon cleaning her ears. Tick and flea treatment were also begun.
As her health improves, some medical procedures await Madison . Her first surgery will be the removal of her mammary tumors and spaying. Then, she will need dental attention and also an operation to correct entropion. This is a condition when her eyelids turn inwards towards her eyes and irritate the corneas, thus causing eye infections and discomfort. Madison ’s prognosis is good for all of these health issues!
Upon arrival at her foster home, Madison ’s energy started coming back as did her beautiful coat. Eating three to four meals a day and having a warm and dry place to sleep do wonders for a former stray! In the beginning, Madison appeared to be totally deaf, but with antibiotics treating her ear infections and regular cleaning of her ears, she appears to be regaining some of her hearing. Madison is starting to run with the other pack members of her foster home and is starting to play with the resident “Springer wanna-be.” She is still a little weak, but she is gaining strength on a weekly basis.
Madison is housetrained and has impeccable house manners. She does not counter-surf, get up on furniture, chew inappropriately, or bark. Since she is such a good girl, she has free run of the house when her foster family is out. When they are home, Madison can be found right by their side. She loves being close to her people! She thrives on attention and cuddling often going from one family member to another for a little TLC. At night, Madison sleeps on a dog bed in her foster parents’ bedroom. Also, she rides well in the car and walks gently on a leash.
Although Madison has yet to make much noise, she can easily get your attention to let you know it is “snack time.” Not at all food aggressive with people or the resident dogs, her foster mom can take her food from her while she is eating. Madison allows her people to do anything to her and has no problems with them handling her ears, paws, and head.
After Madison ’s health issues are addressed, she will be ready for a forever home that can give her all the comforts and love that this little Princess has been missing. Could your home be that “furever home” for Madison ?
Watch for more to come as Madison ’s health issues are addressed.