Please remember Duke’s foster mom. It is the thing we fosters fear the most.
She writes: It was absolutely devastating. Duke died on his bed Monday evening.
I have replayed the evening in my mind a thousand times. I got home, let everyone out, everyone back in, fed everyone and then I went outside to water my flowers. I might have been gone 30-45 minutes. I came inside and found Duke was dead on his bed, still warm, looked like he was asleep.
He died before he even had a chance to live. His palate surgery was scheduled for the next day. If only he could have made it one more day. The house was cold. It was not a stressful situation. Yet he died.
I will never understand why he had to go. He had his entire life ahead of him. I will never forget him. He looked just like a teddy bear.
My dad had always dreamed of having a big, thick Bulldog and did a lot of research to find the perfect match. That’s how he found me—his new best friend. We were inseparable, like two peas in a pod.
Then, something unimaginable happened: my dad passed away suddenly, leaving me with my mom. She loved me dearly, but struggled with my size and often tripped over me, which led to frequent falls. Realizing she couldn’t manage on her own, she reached out for help, and that’s how I ended up with the rescue.
When the rescue wagon came down the road, I was so excited that I stood at the door, pawing to get out.
Today would be my first big adventure beyond the farm. I’d never been to a vet before, and I was nervous.
I started having trouble breathing when I got into the rescue wagon. My tongue turned purple, and if the drive had been any longer than 5 miles, I might not have made it. Thankfully, the driver called Quitman Animal Clinic right away, describing my 911 emergency. The clinic was ready for us when we arrived.
My temperature was 106°F, so they quickly started an IV, applied cold compresses, set up a fan, and assigned a dedicated vet tech to monitor me. The care I received was incredible. The vets and the entire team worked diligently to help me.
Here’s what they found: I have an elongated soft palate so severe that they couldn’t even see my tonsils. My airway is so constricted that they were surprised I was still alive. I had X-rays and blood work, but no vaccinations today because they felt I had been through enough for one day.
I’m getting the care I need now, and I’m grateful for all the help I’ve received.
