Cut Short

As you may have well guessed, the title of this story reflects the life of Sierra, our baby girl, our princess and true Canine best friend to everyone that she encountered. Tail up wagging, yearing for everyones affection Sierra would greet nearly anyone and anything even skunks without the slightest hint of aggression, with one notable exception; Fuzz the cat! To be fair, Fuzz is a Feline best friend known through our old neighborhood and truly believes he owns it. I am sure of that much!

On October 13, 2003 I was working away in a miserable job doing telephone technical support for Verizon Online DSL when I was informed that there is someone there to see me; and they seemed very upset.  Immediately I knew Trish had shown up to visit me at work.  However, I could not determine why she would have been terribly upset as described by a co-worker.  The moment my call ended I went to see what was bothering her and it became very obvious that the girl I had been with for 2 years was still truly devestated and longing for a canine companion since the passing of her German Shepherd (Cybill) 2 years prior.  Immediately, she told me of a "GREAT DEAL" she found for Huskies in the London Free Press.  We called the breeder and received direction to their kennel in St. Josephs Ontario, near Grand Bend, so I went in and informed my boss, that I was "SICK" and had to leave.

    Upon our arrival at the kennel in St. Josephs Ontario all seemed pretty normal at the front of the house.  Upon entering the back yard, my first impression was this "great there is  a shed, a chicken coop, and one overly large husky chained near the side of the house."  The kennel operator took us to his facilities... the Chicken Coop.  If I recall correctly, there was a bird breeding program on the second level of the coop.  The puppies were kenneled in a clean, well watered, well fed run with their very small mother or just very young mother.  To me, in hindsight I would have to say it was her very first heat cycle.  We looked around and determined that we should go talk in the privacy of the car.

    During the conversation, I pointed out that this is not the place to purchase a puppy, as they were a multi breed / multi species breeder and we should hold off.  Now extremely upset, Trish noted that I say that about every kennel we visit, and it was true, up until that place I had taken a wait and see approach.  So an argument insued, and it was well establsihed that if the dog were to be purchased in St. Joseph's, I would not assist in the care or any possible vets bills.  Trish said fine and we argued some more about not getting the puppy here, when she played the good home card, and a GREAT home Trish truly could provide.  The money was exchanged and we were en route to London deciding on a name for the lil girl.  We decided on Sierra.

    We got Sierra home and all was well, but she seemed to be very shaky while she slept.  Me being paranoid about seizures called the breeder and was assured the dog was healthy, but we could bring her back if we wanted.  A few days went by and we began to notice an odd situation, while she slept she would pee, totally unknown to her.  By now, this was MY Baby Girl and Trish's Princess.  We took her to Northdale Animal Hospital in London and they speculated that she had a condition known as an Ectopic Ureter.  After a day of X-Rays and a balance sheet that was now $600.00 less then 8 hours previous, we still had no definitive answers.  They tried administering an anti-biotic in hopes that she had an infection, but this did not prove to be the case.

    We again called the breeder and were told just bring the dog back and get a refund and they would take the dog back.  We decided that this would have been a fatal move for Sierra as the breeder was all about money; they cared very little - if at all about the animals.  The problem did not get better, so we knew she needed some serious love.  Sierra was NEVER punished for peeing in the sleep, even if on the bed or couch.  This was not her fault and while awake she let you know she needed out.

    Over a course of months, my own love for Sierra was such that she was always spending the night at my house in my bed with me, yes, I woke up soaking wet more then once, but with her condition it was just water and not concentrated urine as very little water found its way to the bladder.  Grouse, you say... maybe but what is one to do aside from change their boxers, take her out to finish releasing.

    On April 14, 2005 when Trish purchased her first house all still seemed as normal as normal was with Sierra, but after a couple of weeks her appetite began to decline as did her consumption of water.  We took her to Northdale Animal Hospital again, now I was saying, I would happily pay half for my Baby Girl as she was more and more my girl. Blood tests showed she was enemic and had insanely high Kidney function levels and that Princess A.K.A Sierra needed to be hospitalized and given fluids by IV to try and reverse this anamoly.  All had failed and the doctors asked us to have an Ultra Sonic test performed where is was determined that over 80% of her kidneys were destroyed.  Options were expensive and limited, but the Doctor at the afterhours clinic (not Northdale) recomnded euthanizing Sierra it was now May 13, 2005.    

Sierra made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge on May 14, 2005.

Always Loved, Never Forgotten Sierra will always be my best canine friend, and my baby girl. To me this is a truly remarkable feat for a dog I wanted no part of prior to the car ride home.