Name: Peppa
Gender: Female
Estimated Date of Birth: 12/16/2011
Size: 44 lbs
Color: White and tan
Today I met the most amazing gals. They took me outside and spent time with me. I really don't want much else right now - just a human to snuggle with. They told me my new adventure starts tomorrow. I can't wait.
December 17, 2017
I had almost given up. Most of today went by as every other day since I came into the shelter, but then, after they brought around dinner that I didn't eat, because who wants to eat in a time like this. One of the ladies from yesterday open my cage and sat with me. She pet me and coaxed me to leave my kennel for a bathroom break. After taking care of business, I got a much needed bath. It felt so good to wash some of the stink off of me and get clean.
Then we left the shelter and started the ride to my new foster home. Trust me, I know the sound of a car door opening and I was SUPER ready to 'go for a ride'. I even had a comfy spot waiting for me with a blanket and toy to keep me busy for the drive.
Now I'm all settled in at my foster home and am getting ready to eat dinner. Thanks everyone for taking a chance on me. I'm more grateful than you could ever know.
December 29, 2017
Tom Petty was right. The waiting is the hardest part. We got my biopsy results back days before the Christmas holiday. My foster mom asked me if I wanted to go ahead and tell my story. I decided to wait. The holiday season is hard enough for some people I don't want to add to any heartache or sorrow.
You see, my cancer is inoperable. Casa del Toro could remove my tumors but I would still have cancer so we're not going to seek treatment. I'm going to live out the remainder of my time happy and peaceful in my foster home.
I'm old. I've got bad knees due to chronic untreated ACL injuries and it's hard for me to get around. I'm heart worm positive. Three of the four tumors that were biopsied came back positive as Mass Cell Tumors. After talking with a couple of people I've learned that a dog having multiple mass cell tumors at the same time is not very common. Two of my tumors are larger than 4cm in diameter which is big and also not common. We know from Boomer & Luna's surgeries earlier this year that we need to have 3" margins removed around the mass cell tumor.
You see the problem is the mass cell tumor I have on my front left leg in the 'elbow' joint. The tumor is so large that if they could remove it they couldn't get clean margins. I just don't have an extra 6" of skin around my leg. So we could go ahead and remove the tumors knowing that I may still have cancerous cells left behind in my front leg. I can't justify going through all of that pain and money trying to postpone the inevitable.
In order to remove the cancer completely we would have to amputate. I physically can't do that. I can't be a tri-paw'd because my back legs are bad. I can barely get around now and am 'top heavy' (have a very muscular shoulder region) from years of hauling my weak back legs around.
What's a gal to do? I'm going to enjoy this opportunity. I'm going to live my life to the fullest and surround myself in love.
Thank you everyone for taking a chance on me. I know my time with you may be limited but I promise we will make the most of it.