He had to stay in the hospital on more sedatives until Sunday morning, but had not had more seizures.

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Samson Marshall
5 years ago
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Cissy wasn t sure about this monster dog that came into our lives.

But Tor knew how to handle her and let her take her own time to fall in love with him.

she thought, and they became the best of friends.

We had a lovable monster dog and never a dull moment with our El Torro (E.T., Tor).

So, how can I describe my feeling for my Tor?

But he also gave me his heart and everything that he had to show how much he loved me.

2 Cissy wasn t sure about this monster dog that came into our lives. She had to get used to this wild, crazy dog invading her privacy. But Tor knew how to handle her and let her take her own time to fall in love with him. After two months, Cis finally realized he wasn t going anywhere, and he wasn t as bad as she thought, and they became the best of friends. What a joy to see our two dogs finally play together! We had a lovable monster dog and never a dull moment with our El Torro (E.T., Tor). He knew exactly how far he could go before we would send him back to the Dalmatian Rescue. He also knew that would never happen because he simply belonged with us and with Cis. So, how can I describe my feeling for my Tor? He has given me gray hair, worry wrinkles and provided me with some sleepless nights. But he also gave me his heart and everything that he had to show how much he loved me. He knew, he felt, and had no doubts that I would do everything for him. He had blind faith in me and what I would do with him... I was so proud of him when he was approved as a PAWS Therapy Dog and even more proud when I saw him in action at his first visit to the Children s Home. Torro proved then and there that he was a born Therapy Dog

What I hadn t managed to teach him during three different obedience classes was not his fault. This was what he wanted to do.

In the course of the last nine years, he had brought so many smiles and made so many kids very happy just by being there for them. What a wonderful experience to have a dog like that!

I felt so sad, but I realized that Boef must have had something to do with it and had chosen Tor for us, knowing that we would take good care of his successor.

Little by little, more meds were added to control his different pains. Little by little, we had to start more seizure meds and make changes when we had little or no control.

3 What I hadn t managed to teach him during three different obedience classes was not his fault. This was what he wanted to do. He knew instinctively how to do his job, how he had to behave himself and what was expected of him. And he did all of it without me having to tell or teach him anything. He just knew. In the course of the last nine years, he had brought so many smiles and made so many kids very happy just by being there for them. What a wonderful experience to have a dog like that! In July 2006, he had his first seizure. My heart broke when I realized what was happening.torro was Boef s successor. Boef also had seizures and now our tough guy, Tor, had the same. I felt so sad, but I realized that Boef must have had something to do with it and had chosen Tor for us, knowing that we would take good care of his successor. God must have thought we could handle it. As time went by, Tor had two pancreatitis attacks, spondylosis in his back and arthritis in his front paw and back knee. Little by little, more meds were added to control his different pains. Little by little, we had to start more seizure meds and make changes when we had little or no control. Little by little, the side effects started to come up as well. But Tor was always a very happy boy. We did what we could to help him when needed and make him feel as comfortable as we could. We let him do what he could and helped him with the things that he couldn t do. I think we succeeded in giving him the dignity that he deserved. On Saturday morning, March 21, 2009, he went into a Status Seizure.We rushed him to our vet and he was immediately put on an IV and mega doses of valium to stop the seizure. They even had to put him under some type of anesthesia to get control.

4 He had to stay in the hospital on more sedatives until Sunday morning, but had not had more seizures.. When we took him home on Sunday, March 22, he was still sedated and couldn t stand, let alone walk on his own. We were told it was from all the drugs in his system and once that would be flushed out, he would improve. Once we had him home, he was very restless and tried so hard to get up on all four legs, but his hind side just wouldn t do what he wanted. When we helped him stand up, he felt better. But as soon as we let go, his legs buckled and he fell down again. This went on for the entire day. Nine hours after we took him home, there was no improvement at all. Things had gotten worse, and by 6:30 p.m. he had not gotten any rest. All he had done was cry and fight to get up. We were at our wits end and decided to take him to the Emergency Clinic for advice. The doctors there contacted our vet. After the examination, they concluded that Tor probably had suffered brain damage during the length of the Status, and it was unlikely that he could make a full recovery. We all agreed that Tor had fought hard enough, but he could not win this fight and now deserved his rest. After the vet gave Tor a sedative he started to breath easy and he relaxed while slowly closing his eyes. His Daddy told him what a good boy he was and how much he loved him. He then hugged and kissed Tor goodbye. The vet came back in the room.. While holding him tight in my arms, I kissed Tor s face a hundred times and told him one hundred times how much I loved him, what a good dog he was, and thanked him for being my boy. With all his trust in me, he gave me his last breath as his final goodbye. Our Tor was loved more than I can say, and we know he loved us back with all his heart. What a blessing to have had a friend like him. Dory and Jerry And Cissy too

The Dalmatian Dog we Loved So Much Through our tears we saw you fading, As you began to go away. Our heart almost broke in two, As you fought so valiantly to stay.

5 The Dalmatian Dog we Loved So Much Through our tears we saw you fading, As you began to go away. Our heart almost broke in two, As you fought so valiantly to stay. But when we saw you sleeping, So quietly without pain, We knew we could never wish you back To endure through this again. Although, your physical presence has left us, And your furry little head we can not touch, We have so many happy memories Of the Dalmatian Dog we Loved So Much! Your memories will be our keepsake, Which means we'll never really part. Now heaven has you in its keeping, And we will have you forever, Deep within our heart... Adapted from the poem by Angela R. Grier, 1999

A NOTE FROM THE CREATOR

I A NOTE FROM THE CREATOR m excited to roll out the new Casey and Kyle cartoon magazine! Everything is bigger now! The cartoons are larger so that they are easier to read. There s more room for the drawings