Lets start out with Hank. Hank is a two year old boxer with Diabetes Insipidus. He requires daily injections, 12 hours apart. The cost of his medication, which he will need for life, is $30 a week. But Hank has been with our rescue for 5 months now. With his DI under control, he is a perfectly normal dog, but people can't get past the fact he has this condition. He is the apple of his foster mom's eye, loves other dogs and kids, you probably couldn't ask for a better boy, yet he waits.
Now I'll talk about my Devon. Devon has been diagnosed with mild to moderate hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and epilepsy. Her prognosis is unknown, every day is a blessing. Because of these conditions she has suffered brain damage and is very slow to learn. She may never learn to go to the bathroom outside or sit or give paw. Before she started her medication, the only way to comfort this dog, was to hold her close to you. Needless to say, the bond between her and I was almost instant. The normal response to this is 'poor thing' and my response is YEAH RIGHT!! I wish I could show them my videos of her running around the yard with the other dogs and just being her tazmanian devil self!
There are lots of things Devon can't do, but we don't focus on those, we focus on what she can do. Devon knows her name and she comes when called, better then any of our other dogs I might say. She knows where her food is and when it is dinnertime, she also knows where her pills and peanut butter are kept and when it is time for that. She learned to go out the door and is getting really good at walking on the leash. Devon goes to daycare three days a week and plays with other dogs of sizes and shapes!
Now everything is not always flowers, having to watch this beautiful creature go through seizures is devastating. Each time she has one, I just want to hold her forever; I'd do anything to make them go away. She's been with us for 3 months and we've had her to the E-vet twice. She needs to get bloodwork often to check her medication levels. I spend alot of time on the phone with her neurologist making sure her dosages are right; there is alot of work involved in a dog like Devon. But man, when she learns something new or I see her playing like a normal puppy, my heart just swells with joy and sometimes I even start to cry with so much joy in my heart. Many dogs like Devon never get a chance to live life at all, I am happy she is here, I love her with such intensity, it is difficult to even describe.
All that being said, I realize that not everyone could deal with the type of demands having a dog like Devon would place on them. There was a time when my mom and I couldn't even foster because of my grandmother's condition, so I do understand that there are things in life that prohibit people from being able to care of a special needs dog like Devon, but I know there are people out there who simply wouldn't want the burden and how sad for them.
There is nothing special about my mom and I that allows us to care for Devon. We love animals and we took Devon in and we love who she is no matter what. Even when it is sad and frustrating and we want to throw in the towel (and believe me, there are days) we step back and watch her. She doesn't know she is brain damaged, she is just being who she is and you have to smile. She is a gift, everyday, a little gift to remind us what true love is.
Have a look at one of the most recent videos of Devon trying to get Mork, one of our other dogs to play. Be happy for her!
