Good Bye Nola Jean
I met Nola for the first time in October 05. I went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help with animal rescue. The first dog I rescued was a golden eyed impossibly sweet pit bull. I named her Nola and she rode 18 hours home with me to Cincinnati. Nola lived with us and our sheepdogs and was loved by all. My boys adored her, they would herd her to their heart's content and she tolerated every push from their furry heads. She was sweet, affectionate, smart and funny and the opposite of everything I ever heard about her breed. She taught me so many things. She taught me about prejudice that I didn't even know I had- that pit bulls are not the cruel killing machines portrayed by the media. Even with her horrible beginning, she was joyful and happy, she absolutely shook with happiness at the sight of a full bowl of food. She taught me the importance of appreciating right now, and seeing the good in everything. She loved every moment of her brief life and showed it with her huge pittie smile. I had never had her spayed, first because she was so sick ( she had heartworm) and then because I became over protective of her because she was a pittie. My boys were neutered so I kept letting it go, never scheduling that surgery. I finally scheduled it for last week and she went in on Thursday. Something went horribly wrong and the vet could not stop the bleeding. She died Friday morning and a good deal of the joy in my life went with her. Goodbye Nola Jean. I promised you that nothing bad would ever happen to you again, but I was wrong. Something did happen. I can never thank you enough for all you gave me and all you taught me. Your brothers, the sheepies, continue to search for you all over the house. We miss you so much sweet girl. You will never be forgotten. We will meet at the Rainbow Bridge someday. |
|
|
| Wow, what a heart wrenching story. I'm so sorry for the pain your feeling and touched by caring you showed this wonderful girl Nola.
Roland ps: When you are up to it, I sure would like to know exactly what went wrong. I've heard of too many loses and problems lately getting dogs fixed. |
| I'm very sorry for your loss. How tragic. |
I am so sorry about the loss of your beautiful Nola. She sounds like a wonderful girl.  |
| I am so sorry that you lost your girl, and so unexpectedly, too. I know how much you must be hurting right now. Our thoughts are with you. |
| I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your Nola.
You lived up to your promise.... rescued her from devastation and nursed her back to good health. She had three years of love that she probably never knew before she knew you. Please find comfort in knowing her spirit will always be with you. Take care Kathy |
| I'm so very sorry. I've met other great pits in agility and at weightpulls and they've been some of the most wonderful dogs - so funny and sweet. One of Belle's favorite playmates at trials was a little Staffie who just loved everything and everybody.
Your Nola sounds like a very special girl. Such a tragic way to lose her after everything she'd been through, but how fortunate she was to have found you.
Kristine |
| I'm so sorry to hear that you have lost Nola. The quote under my signature sums up my feelings about dogs. |
| Oh my.... I am so sorry.
Nola sounds like she was a real sweetie. Please don't feel bad. You were only trying to do the right thing - I almost lost a dog to pyometra because I didn't spay her. |
| I am so sorry for your loss~!! We try our hardest to be the very best mommies and daddies to our dogs, and when something like this happens, you cannot blame yourself. You did everything right; you loved on Nola when she needed it most, and continued to do so right up until her last. Having your dog spayed was an act of love; I'm so sorry to hear that it resulted in such tragedy! My heart goes out to you!!!! |
| I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Your joy for life will return, and surely Nola wouldn't want you to be sad for too long. Though every smidgeon of pain will not vanish, time WILL heal, it just takes time. I'll be thinking of you tonight. |
zach wrote: When you are up to it, I sure would like to know exactly what went wrong. I've heard of too many loses and problems lately getting dogs fixed.
I have been doing some research since reading this thread; my own girls go for spaying in a handful of days. What I learned was in large and giant breed dogs, if their body temperature is not kept up, this causes the internal bleeding. This is what I read off of a Great Dane website... Quote:" If they get cold coming out of anesthesia and recovery and their body temp drops it can cause them to bleed to death internally, and they are gone before you even know they are bleeding. This is because on a very large dog, the "mass" of the dog is often greater than the area or body surface of the dog, causing them difficulty in keeping hot or cool. ...If after the surgery they carry your dog to recovery and lay them on a cold concrete floor, it can be a death warrant. They MUST keep the dog on a warm floor - with ample bedding under the dog, and keep the dog covered up with a comforter or blanket as well during the recovery process - usually the first 24 hours is the most crucial.....it is the drop in body heat that causes bleedout internally. " The website went on to suggest taking your own blankets and bedding if necessary, and asking your vet to put it in writing that they are willing to follow your requests. They also warn against allowing a large breed dog's head to dangle off the surgical table during procedures, as it leads to slipped discs and other problems ( something called "wobblers syndrome"). The information can be read in its original context here. |
| so very sorry for your sad loss I am crying for you....safe now at rainbow bridge sweetheart |
| I am so sorry for your loss of beautiful Nola. My heart and thoughts are with you.
Tears, |
I am sorry for your loss.  |
| I am so very sorry for your loss. |
| How sad, I'm so sorry . You were wonderful to give her such a happy home. |
| I am so sorry for you and your wonderful girl..I'm crying also for you and her. You did what was right and she knows it - you are a very good person to have given her she a happy life my heart goes out to you. |
| Hi,
I'm so sorry for the loss of your beautiful Nola. From your description of her life there's no doubt her time with you and her furry brothers were the happiest of her life. Take comfort in knowing that you provided such a difference in her life that she otherwise may have never known. How wonderful you were to have rescued her from Hurricane Katrina. Her last years were filled with love and happiness. May she now be running free at the Bridge. Hugs to you. Marianne |
| I read with sadness about the loss of Nola Jean. There are some lovey, licky pits out there and she was one of them. I know your heart aches and just want you to know I am thinking of you. Good bye Nola Jean hunt with the hounds and swim with the retrievers.............. Wait for your master at the bridge. |
I'm very sorry for your loss.  |
| First of all, thank you so much. In the short time that I have been a part of this forum, I have found so much support.
But now, I need to ask for advice from all of you once more. What I have now come to believe is that Nola's death was probably a result of not being taken care of properly after her surgery. "If after the surgery they carry your dog to recovery and lay them on a cold concrete floor, it can be a death warrant. They MUST keep the dog on a warm floor - with ample bedding under the dog, and keep the dog covered up with a comforter or blanket as well during the recovery process - usually the first 24 hours is the most crucial.....it is the drop in body heat that causes bleedout internally. " Thank you Zach for that information, I think that is exactly what happened to Nola. One of the hardest things now is to realize that I was not aware of this- I did not know the complications that might result. If I had known, I would have insisted that Nola be kept warm after her surgery. But I did not have the information. What needs to be done so that this extremely important information can be made available to people who are placing their animals at risk just like I did? How do you let people know so it won't happen to them? If I could save one animal's life, if I could save one person the grief I have felt, it would help so much. |
| This is so tragic. I am so sorry you and your family had to go through this _ Nola knows you loved her. |
SheepzRUS wrote: First of all, thank you so much. In the short time that I have been a part of this forum, I have found so much support.
But now, I need to ask for advice from all of you once more. What I have now come to believe is that Nola's death was probably a result of not being taken care of properly after her surgery. "If after the surgery they carry your dog to recovery and lay them on a cold concrete floor, it can be a death warrant. They MUST keep the dog on a warm floor - with ample bedding under the dog, and keep the dog covered up with a comforter or blanket as well during the recovery process - usually the first 24 hours is the most crucial.....it is the drop in body heat that causes bleedout internally. " Thank you Zach for that information, I think that is exactly what happened to Nola. One of the hardest things now is to realize that I was not aware of this- I did not know the complications that might result. If I had known, I would have insisted that Nola be kept warm after her surgery. But I did not have the information. What needs to be done so that this extremely important information can be made available to people who are placing their animals at risk just like I did? How do you let people know so it won't happen to them? If I could save one animal's life, if I could save one person the grief I have felt, it would help so much. I had no idea this could happen; I thought spaying was a very common and routine surgery. If not for the tragedy that has befallen you and your beloved Nola, I would not have done more research and learned this information. But I agree with you; we need to get the word out to other dog owners. We think our pet's doctors know what they are doing, and we are trusting them with what is our must valued possession; our much loved companions. And we are doing the right thing, by spaying our dogs. Never in my wildest dreams would I think, as you said, that we are in fact putting them at risk. I'm horrified at what has befallen you; I cannot express how really, really sorry I am. |
| I am sorry for your loss. It is hard to be a good mama and loss our fuzzy babies. My thoughts are with you. |
| I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Just know that you did give Nola a great life after her rescue. |
| So very sorry for your loss of Nola. |
| Your beautiful tribute to Nola has me in tears. Thank you for sharing.
My heart goes out to you at this very difficult time. With prayers for peace. |
| I am so sorry for your loss! |
| I'm soo sad to hear that Nola died after an "normal" operation! I just spayed Charlie at the Vets and I was trying to move the operation away each month cause I was worried about something might go wrong. Therefor I can understand exactly what you where going through now!
At the end I did decide to spay her and was worried all day when she was at the vets. Gladly she made it fine but still had some problems hours after spaying and after couple of days later! I wished Nola would have come out the same way as Charlie and I'm very very sad that she died that way!
Always remember she gave you a lovely life and loads of happiness as you gave to her too!!! 
Loads of hugs and kisses from all of us!!! |
| I am so sorry for your loss. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|