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The Face That Launched a Rescue
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Late in the Afternoon, Golda, the Golden Dog with 10 Lives (one more than cats),
Lost Her Final Arm-Wrestle with Life
A love affair that began nearly 4 years ago with a strong-willed, highly intelligent and tough old lady doxie, ended
September 1, 2010, in the late afternoon when our dear sweet girl passed away in her sleep as she lounged in her
carriage. For too much of our time together we were locked in mortal battle with disease and recovery from 4
major surgeries. Yet, each time she triumphed over the odds…she seemed to grow more empowered, and, much
more bossy!
Sunday – August 29, 2010 -- That Sunday we thought she
turned a corner as Golda sat propped on my knees with the sun
hitting her snout and the wind in her ears. We were all so content
and hopeful we’d be celebrating her “rebirthday” (day of her
rescue) in October.
The Face that
Launched a
Rescue – October
2006
Only 4 short years ago, about a year after we had moved to Miami from
Washington, DC -- I was blissfully ignorant of the horrors facing unwanted
dogs in South Florida. By accident I saw this MDAS listing: White and tan
dachshund female, age unknown. While, I laughingly (and often sobbingly)
tell people I no longer have ‘a life’-- thanks to some of the most incredible people I’ve ever known … more than 300
formerly unwanted doxies DO have a life. Here Golda and I sit in October 2006, waiting for her photo shoot to begin for
her “available for adoption” bio. Yeah, we were fated not to part…not that anyone could’ve pried my arms away – even
then, Golda had my heart. I ask you, how could anyone turn that face away!
Mom and Dad were not the only
ones smitten – for Golda and
Linky it was a match of soul-
mates almost from the start…
though at times they fought like
an old married couple. Still, in the
stroller Golda always rested her
head on ‘her Lincoln’ and Linky
returned the favor by sleeping on the floor right next to her pillow
whenever we left them alone in the condo.
Two Peas in a Pod –
Golda would
sometimes climb in
with Linky even though
her spacious matching
bed was right next to his. Neither one much cared for being alone. As much as
Linky became Lou’s sidekick, Golda became my shadow…my constant
companion. In the end, when Golda’s anxieties got the best of her, the only
thing that would calm her was to cuddle in my lap.
We did everything as a family. And Golda was only too happy to accommodate dressing the part. Ok, OK, she tolerated it.
Here Golda is dressed for New Years. Guess like other seniors,
she’d rather be in bed – that said, she and Linky were a BIG hit
on Lincoln Road in South Beach. Below, they are stretched out
in their coats for “First Tinkle” on a winter morning.
Golda loved the beach and chasing seagulls. Bo Derek -- eat your heart out!
… but she always preferred to nap on mom at the end of a day riding the waves.
Like her namesake (Golda Mier the former Prime Minister of Israel) Golda faced her many health challenges with
stubbornness and stoic grace. From her “rebirthday” as a member of our family, Golda spent 10 days in the hospital
fighting back from the pneumonia so many seniors develop when their heartless owners leave them to die at the shelter.
A year after we adopted Golda a routine physical identified a cyst on her
spleen and our 11 year tough girl faced odds of a 70% likelihood that it
would be cancer. As she would go on to do 3 more times with 3 more
surgeries in 3 years – Golda was triumphant! Here she is in a true Golda-esk
stance arriving at Coral Springs Animal Hospital for her spleenectomy (can
you just guest what she’s thinking – “that says hospital…get me the heck out
of here!.”) Sadly, when Coral Springs removed Golda’s spleen they found
something even more challenging: by-lateral adrenal cancer. The cancers
were determined to be “inoperable,” at least for the surgeon at Coral Springs
Hospital. Undaunted, Golda packed up the whole family and we headed for the Colorado State University Animal Cancer
Center where Golda’s “inoperable tumor” was removed. After a wonderful 18 months of great health, the whole family
packed up again and traveled to FSU in Gainsville (Linky also needed minor surgery so we he too was going to be treated
at FSU) to have the remaining gland removed.
Heartbreakingly, while Golda walked out of the hospital triumphant yet again…Linky’s minor surgery became a 2 ½ hour
ordeal and his old heart gave out under the stress. Linky passed away in Gainsville and a big piece of our hearts died
that day with him.
Through it all the illnesses and the loss of Linky, there was Golda. When recovery seemed most impossible, the odds
unlikely – each time, our Golda came back to us. Our time with both Golda and Linky may have been short, but together
they so changed Lou and my lives forever. Four years can be a lifetime.
Together the 4 of us climbed mountains and let the wind blow through our
ears.
Together we celebrated all the major holidays from the 4th of July to
Chanukah and the New Year --- we were a team!
Together we explored rapids… Celebrated Fathers Day & Took lots and lots of naps.
But, even Golda had her limits. Following both their surgeries in Gainesville in October 2009 and Linky’s passing, Golda
never seemed to be the same. Our once unstoppable and often implacable little girl grew weaker and more dependent.
Between January and August 2010 she experienced a series of seizures, each one
seemed to leave her a little more deficited and finally a major seizure caused by a
bad reaction to a new medication put her into a coma …Still, our Golda fought for life
one last time. Though her back legs were then too weakened to walk without
support – a new doggie cart gave her back the mobility and speed she craved. We
set up a little doxi-go-course on the patio so outside, as well as, at doggie daycare,
Golda could run around till she exhausted herself.
Seeing Golda re-energized by her cart, no one would ever again tell me that a disabled doxi who needs a cart to get
around – “is suffering.”
In the end, having Golda in our lives taught us so much – how to face adversity and keep on going; how to never make a
medical decision without first doing research and consulting multiple veterinarians …but mostly, loving Golda thought us
how precious every day is when you rescue a pet. Having Golda in our lives, we lived a lifetime in 4 short years.
May you always feel the sun on your face, the wind in your ears and see a little bit of Golda in
your rear view mirror…
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU KID!