Sophie

SOPHIE

I acquired Sophie,a Border Terrier, when she was 13 months old.  It was at a time when I was struggling with the excessive hours that my job demanded from me and hating it and had to make a decision as to whether I continued or branch out into something completely different and on my own.  I went on my own and started a Pet Minding and Dog Walking business which became a huge success!  The hours were still excessive but I loved every minute of it and that was the difference.

For Sophie, it was every dog’s dream! Out every day, all day, mixing with many “friends” and totally enjoying the outdoor life.  She was known by my clients as “Mum’s little helper.”

When Sophie was 5, the unimaginable happened. We were doing an early morning call on a couple of dogs and Sophie decided that the large knuckle bone laid in the garden was there at her disposal. I was inside at the time playing with one of the dogs when Sophie came inside in a distressed state. She sat right by my side and just shook and shook. I knew there hadn’t been an argument over the bone and after careful monitoring, realising she didn’t want to eat or drink, I knew this was serious.

By lunch time she was being x-rayed where it was discovered she had shaved off a piece of the knuckle bone and it was lodged just before the entrance to her stomach.  She was kept in and given something to try and flush the piece of bone through into her stomach as my Vet was not comfortable with having to open her chest cavity if she didn’t have to – it’s a far easier operation and less life threatening by entering the stomach directly. I was told that it would take a good 24 hours before the sliver of bone would move through.

By 10 o’clock the next day I received a phone call from my Vet to say that the piece of bone wasn’t moving and that she couldn’t wait any longer as Sophie’s life was ebbing away.  I can’t begin to tell you how I felt.  My baby, my soul mate, Mum’s little helper; the possibility of her not being part of my life ever again was unthinkable and unimagineable.  Going through Sophie’s chest cavity meant that her rib cage would have to be broken and that her heart and lungs would be very, very vulnerable. “We will do all we can.”  I will never, ever forget those words.

How I got through the day I’ll never know. It would’ve been very easy for me just to sit at home and howl my eyes out but I had responsibilities. There were other “little people” dependant on me and no way was I going to let them down. I was like a robot going through the motions although my tears would get the better of me at times and my “charges” sensed my mood and wondered why Sophie wasn’t there to boss them and take control whilst they enjoyed their walk together. She always acted so protective towards them, big or small. They were HER friends and nobody else’s!

The phone call came through on my mobile at 4 o’clock.  With shaking hands and a tremor in my voice I took the call.  Sophie had survived the operation although the next 48 hours would be critical for her. The offending piece of bone had been removed and her rib cage had three strands of wire around it in order to keep everything in place.  I can’t put into words the relief I felt that my precious Sophie had survived the ordeal although she was not completely out of the woods yet.

Later that evening I brought her home, heavily drugged to relieve her of the pain she would undoubtedly be feeling. Every day saw an improvement and I knew she was going to make it. My Vet had said that if she hadn’t been as fit as she was, she probably wouldn’t have.

Sophie turned 14 in March.  Over the years we have shared so much; she has been there with me through personal trauma; she has had to deal with Disco-Spondylitis diagnosed shortly after her life saving operation; she was star guest at my wedding nearly 6 years ago; she is my life!  And for anyone who says “But, she’s just a dog,” then take a look at “Just a Dog” in the Rescue Poems Section. You may think differently then.

Sophie enjoying the attention at our wedding.

Although Sophie is in need of a strip, this is one of my favourite pictures of her.

31st May 2010 :  For the last 5 days everything possible was done to help Sophie through her illness. Today we had to make the decision, that we all dread doing, to let her go. Right now there are no words to describe our pain at losing such a mega little girl and my little baby, my soul mate, my life for 14 wonderful years. Love you, Sweet Pea, so, so much that it hurts.