Stanley was not too fond of cats. When he was a pup, he became too inquisitive with a certain cat and was swatted. After that he didn't like cats and was afraid of them.
One of Stanley's tricks was to ring a bell to go outside. Luv says that she is sure that sometimes he would see the cat by the door, ring the bell, and hope that the cat would go out and not return. :o)
Another trick was to bow. He would bow at everything. In a fun match in obedience, on the recall, he came to Luv, circled around and then did his bow. The judge got a big laugh out of that.
Stanley had contracted Hepatitis a few years ago for some unknown reason. His Mom believes that he contracted it at a community dog dish at a dog show. She strongly urges people to take their dog's own water bowl to these and any events as to prevent this.
After Stanley contracted hepatitis, he was put on prednisone. Eventually that made him diabetic. Stanley soon needed insulin and then became blind. Even blind though....he could still bow! Instead of visual hand signals, Stan learned touch. By rubbing her hand down his leg, he knew to bow. He never forgot the question "Stanley, do you want to be a cat or rather be dead?" He would then lay down and play dead. Just recently they switched his insulin, and it seems to not have agreed with him.
He followed his Mom around ALL morning on Monday....much more closely than usual. Room to room they went. He just wanted to be petted and touched. By that afternoon, he showed signs of getting pretty sick. They went to the vet, and his glucose level was so low. He had had many seizures. At 2:30 Tuesday morning he seemed to be convulsing.....and still at 3 am. She gave him a towel to bite on, turned off the light and said a prayer ..... "Please Lord, don't let him suffer much longer." She heard two more gasps of breath, turned the light on, and Stanley was gone.
1990-1999