We do everything we can to save lives and provide/find the best homes possible to as many JRTs as we can physically and financially handle. Sometimes, however, everything just isn’t enough. Our hearts are still heavy from the the unexpected loss of Abigail of Christmas Eve. Last night, in the middle of the night, Chloe also left us for the Rainbow Bridge.
Chloe’s Story
If you have been “with” us long enough, you will remember the worst case of neglect we ever took in back in September. We saw Chloe on the rescue boards. She was frail. She was old. She was sick. We knew her fate in the shelter and, of course, no rescue would touch her. But we have taken in more than one Jack Russell in this condition and nursed them back to health and even adoption. If nothing else, we wanted to make sure this precious girl did not spend her final days in a sterile, cold shelter and die without a second chance. We took that chance and pulled her.
Little Chloe did not want to leave the comfort of Cara’s arms and sit on the vet table.
When she arrived, we were taken back by how frail she truly was. We quickly gave her fluids and food and waited to see if she would make it through the night. She did and she showed every sign of fight in her.
She started to eat and seemed to be doing a little better. We took her to the vet. One of her teeth literally fell out of her head while she was there. She had been neglected her entire life. But, still, she showed every sign of fight in her and, eventually, we agreed to have every rotten tooth pulled in hopes that this would help her fight her ongoing infections, eat and gain weight. We weren’t even sure she would make it through the surgery. But she sailed through it and, once again, showed every sign of fight in her.
She went to a foster home and, actually, showed too much fight in her. She bowed up to her foster sister and made it clear she wasn’t going to put up with anyone’s crap. Again, she continued to eat … but she never gained weight.
She came back to us and spent the next two months in a sunny room with our other special-needs dogs. She received every special, protein-filled, muscle-building kind of food possible that we could find. She ate … but she never gained weight.
Inevitably, she began to tell us it was time to go. She went outside one day and laid under the big tree that welcomes visitors to our rescue … and she showed every sign of giving up on the fight. We knew we were going to have to make some decisions soon.
Last night, she made that decision herself and gave up the fight. She passed in her sleep.
The Letting Go
Today, one of our volunteers built her a special casket. She was dressed in her little winter jacket, wrapped in a blanket and laid to rest at the rescue, where she knew love for what may have been the first time in her life.
Chloe, know that you were loved and that we did everything within our power to make your life better than it was those horrible 15 years before you arrived here. We will miss your scrappy, little spirit around here, but know that you will never have to fight again.
Chloe in her little jacket in November.
If You Would Like to Remember Chloe
We are still paying on the vet bills to help save Chloe. If you would like to make a donation in her memory, you can do so online through Paypal. Just state this it’s in Memory of Chloe in the special notes. If you would like to donate directly to our vet bill, you can do so at the following. Just let them know it’s for Georgia Jack Russell Rescue’s account for Chloe.
Lithonia Animal Hospital
2015 Rock Chapel Rd.
Lithonia, GA 30058
770-482-2966
Thank you, everyone, for all your prayers and support the past few months. Thank you also to a couple of of our special volunteers who did what they could to make Chloe as comfortable and happy as possible her last few months here.
