Someone's Angel
This is really sad case; I'm putting this up here because I can't get this out of my mind. This case happened during my first week of my first job in the veterinary field. So, in a way I was thrown to the lions right off the bat. It's cases like this that stick out in my mind when a co-worker/family; asked to have their animal's nails cut that have gone a week past the appointment. 'I'm sorry Fluffy's nails are so long, I forgot about my appointment.'
I just smile and think 'you have no idea how bad I've seen nails; this is nothing.' Anyway moving on to the case; since it was over a year ago, and the dog was rushed in so quickly, I forget her name. So in my mind I have referred to her as 'Angel'. It was about time to pack up and leave for the night when Angel was rushed in as an emergency. Angel didn't have an appointment, just a careless owner who hadn't bothered to take care of her.
Angel was a white pitbull with just one light brown tan spot over her left eye and ear; and black eyes that told the story of her helplessness. She came in having what is know as a Grandma Seizure; seizing uncontrollably and suffering from both possible heat stroke and dehydration. Since I had just started I couldn't push drugs; but I helped hold her down and pour water over and hold ice packs in place. It was all I could do to slowly poor the water; she had enough problems we didn't need her going into shock.
Despite the best efforts of the veterinary team Angel died within a few minuets of being brought into the office. Dr. B delivered the news to the owner, gathered information on how long Angel had gone through this. Once the owner came back to "say goodbye" which was no more then a light pat on the head; and "sorry girl" the owner left. As we were bagging Angel up Dr. B told us what the owner had told him.
The owner had woke around 6:00 in the morning; by 7 Angel started seizing, he was running late for work so he picked Angel up and set her down outside; with no food, no water, no shelter in the summer heat while she seized. By the time he got home at 4 there was no change; but he waited an hour and a half before he called and brought her in. He's the reason his dog died; sometimes people really surprise me.
Angel's one of the reason I now have a soft spot for pitbull; no matter what your stance on the breed is, I'd hope you would recognize this was cruel and Angel shouldn't have died this way. The really sad part is, if he'd brought her in that morning, she still might be alive today. It's owners like her's that make me lose faith in humanity. No dog should have to die like Angel; alone, scared, seizing staring back into the eyes of the people tring to save her.
This case makes me both upset and angry at once; Angel was the first case I lost so I can't help but think of from time to time and feel angry at the owner and sad about her death.
