Sara doesn't think what she's doing is a big deal but I know she's wrong. Beth - Sara's named the old Great Dane Beth - is lying on the floor of Sara's flower shop enjoying the slight draft from one of the refrigeration units. Beth's tumour swollen foot is wrapped up. She's ambulatory but not over long distances. When closing time comes, Beth will get put in a wagon and pulled along the sidewalk from the shop to home.
The vet's already looked her over. Aside from the bleeding tumour in her foot, Beth has kidney disease, her hind quarters have no sensation, she's running a fever and she's incontinent with both urine and bowel movements. I think there may be a couple of other things I've missed.
I've lived with a urine incontinent Great Dane before. It's a big deal. Sara takes Beth out every 60 - 90 minutes. She has the alarm set on her phone to remind her.
We're on the topic of Beth's previous owners. Sara guesses the situation was maybe something like a married couple: one person couldn't handle the upkeep but the other didn't want to euthanize the dog. They agonized over a decision and finally decided to leave the dog tied up in a park as a last chance for the dog. Sara wants to think the best of those people. I tell her she's a better person than me. I don't think the best about those people at all.
Never mind about those people, someone says. Whatever their intentions, Beth is with Sara now. They're going to take it day by day. Beth is not a well dog and the prognosis is not good but as long as she's not suffering, she'll have a place to call home.
Before I leave the shop, I give Beth one last ear rub. Stella used to love those and Beth now leans her head into the palm of my hand and I hear a soft moan. Beth is happy. May we all be so blessed to be happy in our final days.
(Beth passed away one week later.)
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I've always intentionally kept advertisements off the blog but if anyone deserves a free shout out, it's Sara. She runs Sweetpea's flower shop on Roncesvalles (go to the website then click on "the zoo" link for something unexpected). If you're in the hood, do yourself a favour and check the place out. Gorgeous flowers, arrangements, landscaping services, gardening supplies and charming sales staff.
And of course there's also Toby, the store mascot (or maybe he's just one of the store mascots), another rescued Great Dane from Danes in Distress. No wonder the shop is going gangbusters with customers.
I clicked on "The Zoo" link at Sweetpea's web site. Sara is a very special person indeed -- how very fortunate are the dogs that get to have her as a "Forever Mom"! She definitely deserves a shout out. Thanks for sharing Beth's story, Fred.
"While there's life, there's hope." ~Cicero
Purple Magpie
I think those people are SCUM. And cowards. Leaving their poor old dog, alone, scared, in pain and confused about why she was left there - there is a special place in hell for people like that - or maybe they'll end up in some crummy nursing home and their kids never visit. Karma is a bitch. It's hard, it's agonizing deciding to euthanize your dog- but you make the decision when you think that life isn't worth living for them any more, when the spark is gone, and you suck up the pain and you internalize the agony becuase you LOVE them, and you want what is best for them and to HELL with your pain and anguish- in the scheme of thiings that just doesn't count. You are THERE for them, from the beginning, in the middle at the end. your voice. your touch to see them over. That Sara is incredible and I'm going to tell everyone about her shop.
We need the 'Sara's'of the world to keep us sane - thank you Sara for providing this dog with a happy ending and to Fred for sharing it with us.
Sara rocks!
I've been following Beth's story on Facebook - I'm so delighted for her and love that there are people in the world willing to take on the Beth's out there. :)
One of the great things about this story is Sara's surprise at the support that has poured in. It restores one's faith in humanity to 'meet' someone who does the right thing *because* it is the right thing, without thought of praise or reward. There should be more Saras, and more Sweetpeas.
I knew this store sounded familiar! Sara also adopted two cats from the shelter - I remember Ana Banana very well, she was a real sweetheart but had a hard time getting adopted. What a wonderful person! Beth is definitely in capable and loving hands :)