You are the Sunshine of my Life - SUNNY

 

Sunny came to me via Lea and Whitney. Lea is the Foster Coordinator for Homeward Bound, and Lea and Whitney had taken her in initially after she had been rescued from a Napa (Wine country) animal shelter. 

We did not know much about her history. Homeward Bound had arranged to have a few nasty, but benign tumors removed; and she arrived with stitches on her lips and foot. She was receiving medication for her severely inflamed ears, which were so bad she was nearly deaf. Even after all the care she had received, her skin was flaky and itchy. She still only weighed 50 lbs in spite of being a tall girl. Her hind legs were very weak, and she had some difficulties with supporting herself on our daily walks at first. At some point in her life she must have been either an outside dog, or had rested a lot on harsh surfaces, for she was sporting the biggest calluses I had seen in a dog before.
 
Remarkable is her fear of the dark; and especially flashlights – she will freeze, buckle and run away if she encounters one; even from far away. Nobody else can take her for a walk on these dark winter mornings and evenings but me. She will refuse to move with another person; or simply run away when she sees the leash. 

But put the dark thoughts of an abused Goldie housed in the dark on concrete floor away, because she is an extremely well socialized dog – with people, even children, other dogs, and any other animals (I have free-roaming rabbits and ducks, which she very much respects). Aside from her fear of going outside in the dark, she is very trusting, outgoing, and friendly. Also she was house trained from the beginning, and always lets me know, when she has to go do her business.
 
What motivated her former guardian(s) to surrender her to a shelter, facing sure euthanasia due to her tumors and old age (she was 13)? Did her guardian die, and there was nobody else on earth, relatives or friends, wanting to take her in for the little time she had left? One will never know. 

Here is what I know: I have a beautiful, very happy, content, outgoing, playful and affectionate 14 year-old Angel in my home. My home would not be a home without her anymore. She greets me by bringing me one of her stuffed toys. She follows me everywhere; and lies down by my feet when I sit down. She lets me know when she needs extra closeness and caressing by nudging me with her snout and putting her paw on my leg....sometimes she wants to join me on the couch or bed, and I help her up there, for her legs are too weak to support climbing up herself. Nothing is more soothing than hugging my sweet Sunny, feeling her calm breathing, and dozing away on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sunny brought joy and warmth into my house. I would not give her up for anything; except the inevitable….

.....The inevitable knocked at our door when she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer this summer. The prognosis was guarded. My vet did not want to pursue surgery, chemotherapy and radiation; and neither did I. Rather I wanted to her to live out her life in peace and dignity, and spoil her rotten; enjoying every day and count our blessings. After all, she was 14 and the survival rate for this cancer called adenocarcinoma is ½ to 1 year. 

It is about one half year later now, and Christmas time. Our second Christmas together. Sunny is doing remarkably well; eating, playing, cuddling, and sleeping a lot. Always at my side. I can see her age is catching up with her, especially in her eyes – they have gotten cloudier and have started to sink in a bit, which gives her the looks of a very old, dignified Lady. She still insists on her two daily walks, and will do anything for a treat. I know she is not cured, but I know she is feeling pretty good in spite of what is growing inside her. I know it won’t last forever, but Sunny has a forever place in my heart.