Remembered

From: Gwen
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 9:39 AM
Subject: Shelby

Shelby passed away this Tuesday morning.  Shelby was diagnosed almost 3 weeks ago with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma and began chemotherapy soon after the diagnosis.  As always, the chemotherapy weakened her immune system.  Shortly after treatment began, Shelby developed an infection that was resistant to many antibiotics (including the antibiotics that she was taking at the time).  By the time we received the cell culture results (which identified the type of bacteria that were causing the infection), it was almost too late.  The combination of the bacterial infection and the cancer greatly reduced her quality of life, which wasn't likely to improve.  With very heavy hearts, Drew and I were left to make the difficult to decision to have her euthanized.  

We're grieving the loss of our two dogs (Annie & Shelby) and at many times, we are just too overcome with sadness to even talk about our girls.  We'll get past this and eventually there will come a time when we can tell stories and laugh about Shelby & Annie without tearing-up.  And – when we get to that time, then we'd love to share some of these wonderful stories with you, because our girls left us with some fantastic memories!

Shelby was a wonderful companion, and a true member of the family.  Drew and I are blessed to have had the chance to share some time with her, as short as it may have been. 

Best wishes,
Gwen & Drew l  

Shelby...  Even though it's a familiar story - "Golden relegated to the backyard, neglected and ignored" - it doesn't make it any easier to hear and it never ceases to amaze us how quickly these backyard Goldens adapt and blossom in their new lives as indoor dogs. Shelby is no exception. This pretty little 4 year old had perfected many techniques at escaping her former backyard but now thinks living inside with human and canine companionship is bliss. That's what she was looking for all along. She has had no potty accidents and she won't even leave the house when we open the door unless we tell her to go out - such a good girl.

When Shelby first came in to GRR's care she was timid, shy and very thin. She also tested positive for heartworms. Thankfully, Shelby has completed her heartworm treatment and her energy level is picking up every day. She has gained about 6 pounds so far and should gain about 5 more pounds. Now that she's receiving good meals on regular basis her coat is also starting to fill in and in a few more months she will again have a luxuriant blonde coat to match her beautiful disposition.

Shelby is becoming more and more outgoing. She is quiet and sometimes a bit timid, but as time goes on and she realizes that this proper treatment is a lasting way of life, she is becoming more and more self-confident. She is a sweet snuggler - she loves to cuddle up in your lap on the couch, especially with the men in our family.

Shelby enjoys looking out the windows and watching the squirrels jump from tree to tree. She fancies herself a great squirrel hunter and sometimes we hear her howl in excitement trying to scare those squirrels away. She rarely, rarely barks but when she does, it sounds more like a hound than a GR. I think she must have taken lessons from a beagle.

Shelby is a real sweetie and we are so proud of her with the progress she has made. I think she's looking for a family who will be patient with her as she continues to blossom and feel comfortable and confident being more outgoing. She is so sweet and so gentle but is a "work in progress" as she sheds her memories of neglect. Don't expect a jumping, bouncing, excitable girl - well, at least not yet. We cannot wait to see her when she has been well loved by her new forever family and has truly come in to her own. Sweet Shelby, she sure deserves it.

 

View Pictures Here