by Sheryl Cohen
I donate time and supplies to a rescue called the Kinder Family Animal Shelter. Laurel Kinder (the founder) and I met when I was working for a grooming/daycare down the street from the Parker Pet Hospital in Studio City, California. Laurel has a very positive relationship with Parker Pet. Her street babies go there for treatment. They stay there until they are adopted. I was at Parker Pet hospital in the isolation ward when I first met Abby.
She could not lift her tiny head or wag her little tail. She was a red coated cocker mix. She weighed only ten pounds. She had been going through IV therapy treatment for about a week.
Abby had been rescued by a friend of Laurel's named Sandy. Sandy had watched Abby chained to a tree in her neighbor's yard for three weeks before the owners finally agreed to let Sandy have Abby. By that time, Abby was unconcious, covered in her own waste, and barely breathing. When I first saw Abby, I thought, "that baby's never going to make it." I was wrong.
Over the next few weeks, she got stronger. She was showered with love from the doctors, the nurses, and the caretakers. I visited her every time I dropped off donations. My husband was sneaking in for visits with Abby, too. We both had fallen completely in love with her.
One night, I brought her home. The pet hospital had run every test on her imaginable including a liver scan. We got Abby her shots immediately. Sadly, we were too late. Abby's short life was ticking away at a furious pace.
For three wonderful weeks, our little girl was happy and healthy. She slept in a real bed in a real home. She had fresh food and water. She played with her new brother and sister. She was warm and loved and safe.
The seizures started on a Thursday. We took her to Parker Pet on Saturday. We thought there was a chance it was epilepsy. We prayed for epilepsy. She was admitted on Monday. We agonized for a week. We spared no expense. Test after test after test. The whole staff was waiting and watching and hoping for the miracle that never came. The Parker Pet staff was one of my few comforts. They knew my little girl, and she knew them. Most dogs die terrified and confused in an enviornment where they don't know anyone except their human parents. NOT MY GIRL! She had Laurel and Leah and Lisa and Anne Marie and Helen. She had Sandy and Kevin and Mackenzie and Jessie male and Jessie female. She had David and Dominique and Dr. Lisa and Dr. Steve. They all loved her as much as she loved them.
The next Monday morning we got the call. Abby had returned from the overnight emergency vet clinic with a snotty nose. The preliminary findings had come back from her cerebral spinal fluid test. There was no use fighting anymore. Abby had contracted Canine Distemper. My husband Jason and I were there when Dr. Lisa ended her suffering. My husband, who I have been married to for five years...who I've known for ten...I had never seen him cry until the night we said good-bye to our little girl. She was only eight months old.
The people who had neglected her had also never bothered to get Abby her puppy shots. For the lack of $45 dollars my baby angel, my sweet little girl lost her life.
The very next day I was at Parker Pet with donations. I met Lisa and Dominique and Mackenzie in the parking lot. I had a good cry out while I walked into the storage room with bags of dog food. Abby would have wanted it that way. She had been a Kinder baby. She would never have wanted my sorrow over her loss to keep me from bringing food, toys, and treats. I knew that if I didn't go back the very next day, I'd never be able to go back again.
The Rainbow Bridge has been a great comfort. The donations from my clients at the pet store where I am the assistant manager (For Pets Only, Los Feliz, California) have been a great comfort. The flowers and the cards from my manager and my employees have been a great comfort.
If you want to help the Kinder babies, or you just want to find out more, please send donations or direct questions about the Kinder Family Animal Rescue to the following address--telephone--or fax number:
The Kinder Family Animal Rescue
Attention: Laurel Kinder
c/o Parker Pet Hospital
11723 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, California
91604
Telephone: 818-984-2265
Fax: 818-763-7258
Thank you so much for reading Abby's story.
Sheryl Ann Cohen
"Abby's Mom"