This page I have dedicated to "The Baby". His name is Judah and he's a Basset Hound / Bloodhound mix. Angela and I had been dating for 6 months and she had mentioned that she would enjoy having a pet of some sort. So we got to looking and I called the Arizona Humane Society in Phoenix, AZ and was told that they had a Basset Hound named Buddy that was up for adoption. I told Angela about him and she said that we needed to go see him. So we did.
We arrived at the Humane Society and I had been told he was in Kennel 29. So I asked where that was and was told that I was standing in front of that very one. When I turned around, there Buddy/Judah was. He looked at me with them big, sad, baby browns and in my heart, I KNEW that he was ours. I looked at Angela and I knew she felt that very same way as I did. We asked questions about him and was told he had an ear infection and because of that, he was only 40 dollars instead of the regular 65 dollars to adopt. The medication was provided as was a free vet visit within 2 weeks of adoption. We got to go in a small enclosure to get to meet with him and I was in love with him instantly. He just adapted to us so well. I remember calling the worker there over and told him that we wanted to adopt him. He said ok, go in the office and do the paperwork, and as he led Judah away till we did all that, I turned along with Angela to look at him once more, and Judah stopped, turned around as if to say, thank you Dad and Mom. I about cried at that point. We filled out the papers and was told he wouldn't be able to leave that day due to him having to have to be neutered before he could leave. That is the policy with the Humane Society and we agreed to let it be done.
A couple of days later, they called and said Buddy/Judah was available to be picked up. We were so excited and could think of nothing those last two days. We went hog wild and bought all these toys, food dishes, treats, and everything we could imagine to make his homecoming a joy. After she got off work, we drove down there and they led him out. Talk about a tail wagging a mile a minute. It was as though he KNEW we were there for him. We took him out and took off, and believe me, it didnt take long for him to "claim" that backseat as his own as well as the entire car. He let us know he wanted that window open to look out and say it as LOOK AT ME! I'M GOING HOME! We finally arrived at her place, and that's when things began to happen.
He adapted to the apartment well, claimed the rocking chair as well as the couch, the kitchen, bedroom, and all else as his, and we felt all was well. But that was not to be. He began to lose weight, refused to eat, threw up and went to the bathroom all over the place. It finally became so bad that he didn't do anything. He would lay there and that was it. He dropped from 29 pounds to a measly 24 or so pounds in a week's time. Angela and I began to worry a lot then. I took him for his free vet visit and was quite disappointed with the treatment and the lack of care for his well being. I was told he had some sort of problem but what it was, they didn't know. So the vet put him on an antibiotic and sent me home with him. Things still didn't get any better, but in reality, they just got worse.
The days went on and still he refused to do anything. When I'd come to check on him, he'd wag his little tail at me so pitifully and I just wanted to cry my eyes out. Angela was a wreck with worry. So I said that I wanted to take him to an actual Animal Hospital and have him looked at. So one day while she was at work, I did just that. The doctor there knew something immediately was wrong. He said that blood work would show him so much more than an actual visual exam could. I called Angela and she agreed to do it. So 200 dollars later, his blood was drawn and we waited for the results. The possibilities were Tick Fever and Valley Fever, with Valley Fever being the worst of the two. Tick Fever is curable unlike Valley Fever and we began to pray about it. I don't know if folks believe that God heals an animal but I personally do. After all, did not the God of Heaven CREATE them? So why can He not heal them as well? The Bible says that the Lord knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, and I knew He knew we wanted our Judah to have life. We prayed and finally we heard the results. He tested positive for Tick Fever, but the results on the Valley Fever weren't in just yet. We didn't get them results till a few days later. And thanks to God, Judah tested negative to that one.
Then came the recovery period for our Judah. For 4 months following the announcement of him having Tick Fever, we had to put him on antibiotics to cure him. He did well and today, he's full of fight, fun, and just loves to have a good time eating, sleeping, or wrestlin' with mommy and daddy. He sure loves Savannah as well. He'll hop up there and make sure she's ok and give her a love lick and on he goes. He loves a good car ride and he loves to look out while wearing his cowboy hat and look at folks. Needless to say, he attracts the attention. He is quite skittish of folks, but he does well for the most part. We feel that before we had him, he was an abused dog, thus accounting for his behavior around people. But he may change someday. But if not, we still love our baby. I thank God for that dog and for the Lord healing our Judah. We love you and thank God for you Judah!!! |
