(VICT) Re: Chimette: AKA Met December 4, 1996 - September 10, 2007

  • From: Sheila Styron <sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:12:24 -0500

Dear Karyn,
I can hardly ever remember being touched by such expressions of love for
a dog and the accompanying pain of losing such a beloved companion as I
have been while reading your recent posts. Please accept my deepest
condolences on Met's crossing over The Rainbow Bridge and I wish you
peace and strength as you grieve and find your way to your next as yet
unknown special partner.

Very best wishes,
Sheila and The Gretch


Sheila Styron, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
816-363-3172
sheilastyron@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of metnme2
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 11:31 PM
To: Vi-Clicker
Subject: (VICT) Chimette: AKA Met December 4, 1996 - September 10, 2007


It is with an enormous amount of greif that words
could never fully contain that I let you all know that
Met is free. I sat here last night and wrote an
extensively long email to the epilepsy lists where we
were a part of the community there since 1998 but then
the shock and numbness wore off and try as I might
today I have not been able to duplicate for you the
way Met has touched my life. 
Chimette was that one dog in few who despite not
seeming right initially for public access work, not
only proved me and many people so completely wrong but
did so in the grandest of ways. 
In the early days, weeks, and months we considered him
my little disaster. Smile 
But that little disaster changed my life in ways I
could never begin to portray completely to all of you.
He was adopted to be trained as a hearing dog but no
sooner had I decided he did not have what it would
take for public access then he began to change in
amazing ways- he began to blossom, began to take on
the world and above all began to do some of those
amazing
life saving things. He took me from someone who was
merely existing rather than living and showed me the
beauty that life had to offer. He brought me out of my
shell and gave me back a side of adventure,
determination, and independence. As my disabilities
progressed he became not only a full fledged hearing
and service dog with public access rights, but he took
on the role of my guide. There could never be a better
more intune dog as Met has been to me and all my
numerous needs. 
Last month when Met stepped out of harness but still
wanted to be my service and hearing dog, I had no idea
that in a months time he would be stepping out of life
itself. This is such a scary uncertain time for me-
losing my combo trained service dog has me uncertain
how I am going to make it, but I love Met way too much
to have made him live in the condition his body had
faltered to.
Many of you know that Met was a special needs service
dog... that is one with his own problems. Epilepsy did
not take Chimette from me. In fact he had
been seizure free since November 6, 2003 (almost 4
years)He remained seizure free through surgery in 2006
a big feat IMO, through the horrendous effects on his
weak blood brain barrier which was somehow
re-triggered this past summer and even through the
complete removal of his meds 4 days ago to give him
the peace he needed from the torment his body was
going through. Met had severe spondylosis where his
lumbar and sacral areas were evidently fusing together
and was in horrid pain that could not be stopped. I
was told that spondylosis in canines was not usually problematic, but
then Met was not a pet and Met does not have a habit of doing anything
the *usual* way. He also had some serious issue going on that affected
him with horrid anxiety, frenzy type behavior that followed the
consumption of all meds and food until we pulled his meds and
supplements for good a few days before his death. A risky venture, but a
necessary one. Since Monday Met's system just really began shutting
down. His hearing was failing him and he was downright terrified at
times by the changes going on. His kidneys were also failing fast. 
On Tuesday I told him it was time to rest- that he had
been the bestest service dog I could have ever asked
for and that I would be OK. He separated himself from
me more and more as the days progressed, no more
petting, no more walks, a level of confusion that just
broke my heart.
Yesterday with the help of his vet who returned from
vacation that day, we set Met free in the side yard at
my folks place where he so often loved to run and play
and show us how rapidly he could water all moms
plants.
Though I know it was his time, it does not make this
journey I have travelled these last couple weeks
especially an easy one. He will always and forever be
in my heart, be my sidekick. He has taught me so much
about life, about animal health and above all about
not taking veterinary information at face value. Any
vet who had the experience of caring for my special
man, came away with a vast amount of knowledge that
you won't find in any veterinary manual. 
Gosh my heart hurts so badly- I am so numb and I feel
so lost... There was nothing anyone could have done to
stop this from happening. We know they are going to
die some day, but we just never expect it this way...
people have questioned with me today if he could have
gotten ahold of anything out of China but honestly I
don't think that was the case- at least not in terms
of food though I know we had struggled the last months
to find a good solution for him. Supplements though is
a topic that has me wondering... who knows though? I
can't beat myself up over this.
Met never got the genetic cancer that was uncovered in
his family history when he was about 4 years old which
truly terrified me. It sent much of his
family to early graves. Tonight I imagine him with all
his family, with his girlfriend and with my special
tiels who went before him. This loss is just so
unbelievable! 
Run free baby boy with your full lucious coat and the
ability to jump and twist and tumble without feeling
anything but pure joy!
Momma loves you  

Karyn and Angel Chimette 
*We Treasured the Moments*

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