Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - A second chance for the both of us.... [ ]

I dont really know where to start with this, so im just going to pick somewhere and go with it.... I have been battling depression and anxiety for about ten years now. At some points, it would get so bad that i literally did nothing but stay in bed for days on end. I stopped answering/returning phone calls and texts, stopped answering the door, and i just really didnt care any more. Of course, i had my good days, too. The bad days were far more than the good, i will say, until i got Jake. We found him as a 2 week old puppy on the railroad tracks in a box where some jerk left him to die. Needless to say, i rescued him. A few days later, he was diagnosed with parvo. This is a pet-lover's community here, so i know that you all know how grim of a diagnosis that is. After spending countless dollars and hours, he was saved. Jake wanted nothing more than to be near his humans, and he was our world. Shortly after he turned two, he got sick again. He stopped eating, drinking, started losing weight, and it was hard for him to walk sometimes. We went to the vet immediately. We got diagnosis after diagnosis, spent thousands of dollars on treatments that worked for a while then quit, tried countless medications. He always ended up sick again a few weeks later. The severe hip displaysia (at TWO YEARS OLD) needed two $7,000 apiece surgeries. But we couldnt fix that until we found the real problem. One morning, i found Jake on the floor on the living room, paralyzed from the neck down.... We rushed him to our vet, and 4 doctors immediately stopped what they were doing to help him. We ended up with a final diagnosis of Addison's disease. It is like a cancer, progressive, but can "trick" you by taking the form of other diseases. Jake had to stay at the vet and get IV's until he was strong enough to be able to handle the chemo. While we were waiting on his strenght to return somewhat, Jake passed away.... My whole family was devistated. We brought him home and buried him in his favorite blanket. Jake was like a member of our HUMAN family. Losing him was the hardest thing i've ever gone through. This was about two months ago. Of course, my depression only got worse after that. I slept with Jake's favorite toy and his collar night after night, and grieved severely. Now comes the Happy "Tail."

After watching me go through all of this, my grandmother came home one night with a little American Pit Bull Terrier puppy. She was 6 weeks old, couldnt even eat or stand by herself. She was used as a bait dog.... Now i have always been a major advocate for the bully breeds. They are the best companions anyone could ask for. I have been taking care of this little puppy around the clock, and i eventually came to call her Gracie. She has brought me peace, and she has given me a little piece of my heart back. I find myself up early in the mornings to take care of her. Sleeping better at night with her by my side. Getting up and doing things. I find myself smiling more often as i watch her grow and play and become the amazing dog she is becoming.

Neither me nor Gracie are on quite the same page as everyone else right now, but together, we are getting there. We are growing together, and- more importantly- we are HEALING together. So this has really truly been a second chance for the both of us.

I just wanted to share my story with everyone, and let you know that everyone deserves second chances, no matter what the issue may be. I will post more pictures of my beloved Jake and Gracie later, if anyone is interested. Thanks for reading.

--Kacey.

RIP, Jake. You are greatly missed, baby.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject:

Kacey, So sad for the loss of your Jake. He sounds like a wonderful best friend to have. I still mourn the loss of my dogs after many years. My only saving grace is the wonderful memories I still have of them. Praying Jake is free from pain and at peace now.

I would love to hear more about Gracie too. She looks like a sweetheart.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:19 pm Post subject:

Jake was amazing. There were so many times i would be upset and Jake would come to me and just sit by my, not licking or pawing or anything. He would just sit with me and let me cry. And that was what i needed. There were so many good times we had together, and even through the bad times, there was good in them because we had each other. Gracie will never replace the hole Jake's passing left in my heart, but she is healing it.

More about Gracie, huh.... Well, she is a little blue and white APBT- full blooded. She has gorgeous grey eyes. The same color as mine. =] She was used as a bait dog to train older dogs to fight, and was pretty much condemned to death. The neighbor of the boys who had her took her from them, and somehow my grandmother and he got in touch, and she drove 2 hours there and back to get her. Thank God, she wasnt badly hurt. There are a few minor lacerations on her face and ears, and she was really weak and dehydrated and malnourished when she came to me, besides being terrified out of her mind. We took her to the vet immediately, of course, and she has now been dewormed, had her first round of puppy shots, and her cuts are healing. The vet said they shouldnt even leave bad scars, if any at all. She's getting less timid, and she loves nothing more than to sleep in my arms or play with her chewie toys with me. She is such a sweetheart, and she has been my saving grace. A funny thing about her- she is obsessed with leaves. Yes, the ones off trees. Haha. Every time we go out to potty or play, she has to bring a leaf back in with her. She is just so great. With her, i know that she depends on me. I know that i am responsible for her happiness, her health, her upbringing.... I have something to get out of bed for in the mornings. I have something to smile and laugh about, something to look forward to, something to come home to after a long day. We're slowly saving each other.

More pics of Gracie:

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject:

Aw, I love the pictures!

As the owner of a timid rott can I offer one piece of advice. You may already know this but do you get Gracie out and about a lot? The best thing for her at this age is to be exposed to everything and everyone. Petsmart is a great place to go once she has all of her shots. The more you can expose her to the less timid she will be.

At this age she is manageable. Once she gets older it could be too late to try and socialize her. My timid rott is a handful and requires my attention 24 hours a day. Not a second goes by that I don't know where she is and what she is up to. It is so stressful to live with a large timid dog.

Sorry if I stepped on your toes. I would just hate for you to be in my shoes.. Smile

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject:

Ohhhhnonono. No toe-stepping was committed here. Laughing

Right now im working on her with family and obedience training, until she has the rest of her shots. Once she is fully vaccinated, we are registering for puppy classes at PetSmart and will start going to the lake and the park and stuff. With her breed, i want to socialize her a lot- VERY carefully- for her sake, and try to get some good thoughts going on for pits. She's a little young right now, but we are hoping to get our therapy dog certification eventually. =]

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:31 pm Post subject:

That is great! Thanks for not getting upset with me. Smile

I am actually pretty harmless.... Laughing

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject:

Haha its all good. =D Im never one to down advice.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

Oh, stick around a while.... Laughing

You may change your thinking on that one... Laughing

She really is a doll!

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:01 pm Post subject:

Im planning on it. Laughing

Its probably been 10 years since i've been on here, i was glidermom or something like that. haha. So i'm sure things have changed a lot. But thats okay. =]

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:35 pm Post subject:

Funny you are in GA. I am in PA and have a GA dog named Gilligan. I also foster moms with pups out of GA gassing shelters.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject:

That is pretty ironic! Maybe i can help you out if you need a pickup/part-way transport or something someday. =] I dont have the money or the time right now, but eventually i intend on getting some land and having a Pit rescue built. They're always the first ones to be put down at shelters. =[

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:42 am Post subject:

yesterday 12-2-10 on Today they had a segment about a group who were using pitties as therapy dog and were looking for pitties Smile

to be part of the group since many pitties are not very respected Exclamation

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks for sharing. Both dogs are beautiful and their stories serve to show how caring (and uncaring) people can be.

Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject:

Pom- Man! I would have loved to see that one! I absolutely LOVE Pit Boss and Pitbulls & Parolees. They really show the TRUE nature of the pitties. Not the hyped up overexagerated totally *excuse my french* BULLSHXT view that most people have of them. They really are such amazing dogs. We are definately going to try to get our therapy dog certification when Gracie gets older.

Mugs- Thank you- they were/are both such sweethearts. I dont see how anyone could treat a puppy like Gracie was treated. It just makes me sick. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:20 pm Post subject:

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