Seamus.
Every day, from now until our calendar contest ends on October 1st, we’ll feature several of our calendar dog contestants. We’d like you to meet Seamus.
Seamus O’Loughlin’s Story
(by Katy O’Loughlin) We walked into our local animal shelter in August 2004. I wanted to just look, but all animal lovers know you don’t just look. He picked us out. For as sick as he was, he got up from the kennel floor and stuck his nose through the kennel bars and gave my husband a kiss. We knew we found our boy.
Seamus had such severe kennel cough he needed nebulizer treatments to overcome it. At 6 months he was diagnosed with bacterial mange. Again he needed treatments to rid him of this. He handled both situations like a trooper. Never in a bad mood, always wagging his tail as if to tell us it was o.k.
Seamus grew into a beautiful, loving, happy wonderful dog. He acted as if he knew we saved him when we took him home and nursed him back to health. Seamus learned to swim in Canada where we had spent a few weeks each summer. Seamus introduced us to all our neighbors as we had just moved into our home and knew no one. He would go visit each neighbor and while retrieving him we would meet each neighbor and I am happy to say they are like family to us. He also did pet therapy with me. I work with people who are afflicted with HIV/Aids and at the time a few of my patients were very sick and put into hospice. With permission, I took Seamus into hospice so he could give them a few moments of peace and happiness even if he just sat by their sides.
Whoever met Seamus was made to feel as if they were the only one in his world. He would immediately greet you with a wag of his tail and a smile, and if you were lucky you would get the privilege of scratching his rear-end and a nudge of his beak. Seamus taught me that each day is special and not to sweat the small stuff.
On December 3rd, 2008, Seamus was diagnosed with Lymphoma. He was only four years old. We were told by the specialist he had an 80% chance of remission if we did chemo treatments. After the sixth week of chemo, Seamus could handle no more. His breathing became very labored; he could barely stand and would not eat. In his own way he told me it was o.k. to let him go.
On January 18th 2009, I held Seamus and kissed him. I told him how much he taught me and I will always love him. I then said goodbye forever.
Until having gone through this heartbreaking time, I was not aware of the many lives cancer takes and continues to take. I will continue to fight canine cancer in any way I can, in memory of Seamus.
To vote for Seamus, please click on the link.
