Sadie Keene
FAREWELL TO OUR LOVELY LADY (2001 to 19/4/2012)
Shirley says “Today we had to say goodbye to our beautiful, unique and loving Sadie. We loved her so very much. She was amazingly calm, as if she knew we were doing what we had to for her. She even wanted the vet to stroke her in spite of him making her cry when he was examining her. She just lay back with us stroking her and talking to her. No more pain now…………………
She was always “her own dog” which was difficult to start with but became one of her most endearing traits. We will always remember the times she flew off along the beach, like an exocet missile, after a seagull, hotly pursued by Christopher.
Then there was the time she swam out after gulls at Perranuthnoe, again followed by Christopher wearing his McDonalds uniform and his boots, until Graham had to call the coastguard who came, accompanied by the RNLI lifeboat, followed by an ambulance for Christopher who was suffering from hypothermia. Sadie, of course, came back to shore, wondering what all the fuss was about! That one made the local paper!
And then we think of when she swam out to the Long Rock where she was determined to catch the gulls perched there and we hailed some kayakers who collected her from the rock and brought her back to dry land. She sat on the front of the kayak like a viking figurehead, then jumped off in the shallow water looking most put out.
We hope we made up for her horrible first few years and gave her the life she deserved. We will miss her so dreadfully.”
Sandra says “I am so very sorry to hear the sad news but she is no longer in pain and is at peace.
She had such a loving family and a fantastic home. A girl could not ask for more than that. She had the best life! And she was her own unique person, even making the news!
This is so very painful and your hearts will be aching, but your last act for her was the most difficult and yet the most loving. My thoughts are with you all.”
Pauline, Steve and Jean said “We all loved Sadie and will remember her with great fondness. You gave her the most wonderful home where she wanted for nothing. Thankyou for giving her seven very special years. No doubt, Sadie will already be running, free of pain, and chasing the gulls in Heaven.”
TEDDY and SADIE’S STORY
SADIE and TEDDY (previously known as Katie & Blaise) who are aunty and nephew were surrendered to us because of a change in family circumstances.
They were fostered together in London by Sandra who gradually gained their trust. We knew they had to have an extra special home where they could stay together as they were totally inseparable. They found this with Shirley, Graham and Christopher in Cornwall where they have the beach practically at the end of their back garden. Teddy quickly settled well but Sadie took a lot of gentle guidance and TLC before she could totally relax. Fortunately, her new family were patient and kind and, eventually, she realised this home really was forever.
SADIE AND TEDDY ON THEIR HOLIDAYS 2007
Sadie and Teddy had a wonderful time running and playing with Lynne and Pauline’s dogs and were very happy to meet up again with their foster mum, Sandra.
WORRYING NEWS IN 2011
Teddy has been very poorly but, with the help of Nick Thompson as well as that of his usual vet, his symptoms seem to be under control. He is having lots of small energy-boosting meals which he regards as something of a treat. Despite his illness, he has remained a very happy and loving boy.
19 APRIL 2012 DEVASTATING NEWS
Teddy (who is now 9yrs) is still doing fine, with loads of energy and his own hilarious antics. Sadie, however, has been a very poorly girl. A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday night, the dogs went into the garden for their final visit. Sadie didn’t want to come in and her back legs collapsed. She was in a lot of pain – almost yelping with it – so they called the vet who said she had hurt her back which could be a result of arthritis (spondylosis) or a disc problem.
Sadie was given tramadol and lexicom and a steroidal injection which, in itself, was extremely painful and heartrending to hear. Over the next week, with a lot of rest and quiet, she seemed to be making progress, so much so that she was lying in the garden a lot as the weather was so nice. However, last Friday there was a loud yelp from the bank at the side of the garden.
Sadie had obviously felt better enough to do some of her favourite “rooting about” and had hurt herself again, putting things back to square one. The vet prescribed diazepam to get Sadie to calm down and prednisolone which she has been on since. When she did move, so painfully, her back was almost arched. By Thursday Sadie lost the use of her back legs. On Thursday 19th April, the vet visited again and when he examined Sadie, there was no refractory response in her hindquarters. In view of her history of arthritis, the vet was fairly sure she had ankylosing spondylosis and, even if there had been a disc problem which could have been operated on, he still felt her prognosis was poor.
Although there was the option of taking her to Newquay to see an orthopaedic specialist, there was so much doubt as to the outcome of any investigations or surgery. She would have had to stay there for several days, alone, with nobody she knew, and, after all that, there was the possibility she wouldn’t have come home again. She was in so much pain and, given her history, such a separation would have been devastating for Sadie and her family felt this would be betraying her trust so Sadie went calmly to Rainbow Bridge with her family gently stroking her and talking to her.