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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com FREE Dog Wa with pur lk cha of 4 walk se s
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October 9, 2009
Life lessons learned from my dog can have a profound effect
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UTOPIC GARDENS
As a history buff, I am aware that life in the centuries before ours did not come with a sense of longevity, security or health. Life often ended quickly from a variety of causes, including many we take for granted today. And so when my wife and I rescued a small 10-year-old Chihuahua-Italian greyhound from the county animal shelter in July, the last thing we expected was to wind up watching the dog overwhelmed by involuntary spasms. The seizures would strike without warning, throwing the house in turmoil. But there you have it: a small animal with no life mission but to extend love to those who belong to it, laying on the floor, body twitching and jerking as though it was being electrocuted – which in a sense he was as his brain fired off uncontrolled electrical impulses, turning him into a ragdoll within a second. The vet told us he also had a heart murmur and could not rule out, at first, a heart problem. Either way, our little rescue was in trouble and was destined to have a complicated life. There is medication to treat seizures and epilepsy in animals, but it is a trial and
GIZMO
error process to find the dose that offers the best relief from the internal electrocution. This comes at a cost to the animal, with the medication slowly destroying organs that ultimately will fail and end the life of the animal too soon. The alternative is an even earlier death. Abraham Lincoln said: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” He should know, having had a rich, albeit short life. As I watched my dog Gizmo during one of his attacks, it made me consider how much of life we take for granted. Such as the “simple”
acts of breathing, eating, interpreting the sensory inputs we have and deciphering their meaning. We add understanding and a set of values and choices that we hope will enrich our lives. And often we guess wrong. The millions of parts that make up our physical shell must work together flawlessly in order for us to function at a base level. Include talent like that of a worldclass violinist and you increase the number of parts that must function flawlessly. Turn back the clock a few centuries and a family of 10 would lose half its members shortly after birth. Those who lived faced a life of hardship and either died in servitude or in battle, usually by their early 20s. Today, as a man of 50, I can reasonably expect another 20 or so years of quality in my life before having to worry about parts not working. And each year, that baseline increases. I am told that within a generation the lifespan of an average human will be in excess of 120 years, almost a hundred years more than my ancestors a few centuries ago. Gizmo seems to be unaware that he has seizures, or at least the details of the
ANDRÉ GENSBURGER
DEAL WITH IT blood work done and the time and cost of the vet to determine this malady. Like most dogs, he seeks simple pleasures before being rudely interrupted by his own body. The look on his face is more bewilderment than pain or fear, although fear must certainly be present as he struggles to regain lost footing only to have his body hurl him in a different direction. As I watch, or hold him waiting for the storm to subside, I consider my own good fortune to not have this affliction, to not be one of the millions who suffer from epileptic attacks while their friends and family helplessly watch, uncertain what to say or do. Life is short. Our world has many shortcomings. People can be all the negative things one can imagine. In the end, it is a dog’s day that we all share. And if we are lucky, we get to deal with it.
André Gensburger is a staff reporter and feature writer for the Pioneer. His email address is andre@claytonpioneer.com
Franny and Mae West are ARF’s Adoption Stars Welcome!
925.524.0055 DESIGN & INSTALLATION LIC. NO. 898331 Fully Insured - Clayton Resident
www.utopicgardens.com
Franny is a loving and playful four-year-old who can’t wait to bond with her new family over a training class! She would enjoy meeting new people and brushing up on her manners as well. Franny would dearly love any family with children ages ten and older. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $225 and includes 60 percent off one 7-week dog training session. Mae West is a sweet little girl that will mesmerize you with her personality. She can be shy at first, but once she gets to know you, she’ll be your buddy. Mae West should be an INDOOR ONLY cat, and would appreciate a calm, quiet household with children ten years and older.
FRANNY The adoption fee for adult cats is $50. Meet your forever friend at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 to 7 p.m.
MAE WEST Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The primary caretaker must be present to adopt. ARF also encourages kids 16 and younger and canine family members (dog adoptions only) to be present during the adoption process.
Would you like to be part of the heroic team that saves the lives of rescued dogs and cats? Can you share your talents to connect people and animals? ARF volunteers are making a difference! For more information see our website, www.arf.net, or call 925.256.1ARF.
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