North Sentinel Island, located in the Andaman and Nicobar islands chain, is a place I want to discuss today in my 'Dick of the Week'.
An island filled with lush palm trees, white sandy beaches and surrounded by crystal blue azure seas.
A tropical paradise to a small tribe of people who have lived there undisturbed for years, my 'Dick of the Week' recipients today are the kind of people who deserve an all-expenses paid ticket to visit, and, after you hear this story, and perhaps google this destination, you will understand why.
Some weeks ago, one of our clients, I am going to call her 'Sandy', got a little under the weather.
When her parents dropped her off in the driveway before they went on their vacation, they glibly told Kris, "We wouldn't be surprised if she didn't make it by the time we get home."
"Ummm...say what? I'm sorry, did you just say she might not 'make it'? Is she sick? Why is this the first time I'm hearing this?" asked a very, very confused Kris.
"Well, ya know, she's about to be 15 and she hasn't been eating too well recently, so we thought maybe she was coming to the end".
Having been involved in senior care for years at Frankie and Andy's Place sanctuary, Kris said immediately what any one of us would say to them...
"Age is but a number, you guys, you know that? Lots and lots of senior dogs have days where they don't fancy eating and sometimes we just have to put a few more menu options in to get them exited about food. Unless there's something else that you aren't sharing, please don't worry about that. She seems normal and bright right now...once you're out of sight she's always excited to be here. You know how she hates saying goodbye to her Daddy, you two are joined at the hip, but she is always fine once we get her inside and she sees her pals."
So, in trotted 'Sandy', right through the gate, went out into the field and started chasing around with all her old DD pals, just as she always had. She's been coming to us for years and so whenever she comes in, she sees someone she knows and loves, her tail whips up, she prances round a bit, and everyone's in good spirits...it's such a beautiful thing.
About three days in, 'Sandy' threw up some yellow bile.
Kris and I discussed it and changed her diet to a couple of pieces of toast and some scrambled egg for her dinner. Bile can be a sign of an acid-y stomach and very often the toast will just soak up the tummy acid and fix things right away. She would still have been hauling ass like a loonie around the DD field had we let her, but instead we regulated her a little and of course, still allowed her out to play, but brought her in after a short 15 minutes to be inside with our care staff, and then she was out to play every couple hours but just for short periods so she didn't miss out on too much fun but also didn't do too much.... just as a precaution.
She was VERY pissed off to miss all the 'big' fun, but she happily toddled around with everyone each time she went out, so much so that we were chatting about why on earth her parents might think she wasn't doing well? It was weird, to be honest.
On day 5, Sandy had a poop and it was dark blood. She was eating, she was still acting 100% normally, but we know from both experience, and from our vet tech education, that dark blood is something you don't mess with, so we made an appointment at our own vets, Galilee Animal Hospital to get her seen.
I called her parents five times, and texted them, but they didn't answer over the course of the morning and so, in the end, I left messages to let them know that we were taking her in as a precaution. I contacted her own vets to make sure there were no pre-existing issues and to get records sent over to Galilee, and they confirmed that other than a little weight loss last year, there had been nothing concerning.
Thank God Kris got her there, because it turned out she had a bleeding ulcer which needed urgent attention. Dr. Poole also discovered a mass on her liver that needed looking at in greater detail but it was decided we'd leave that til when Mum and Dad got home from vacation. For now though, he prescribed supportive care for the ulcer and felt that she would be feeling better, and we could get the bleeding under control, within a matter of days. But suggested she get back in asap once they got home, to have a follow up.
Greatly relieved that while serious, there was hope for a good outcome, and that she'd likely be fine til Mum and Dad got home, Kris called me from the vets so I could talk to Dr. Poole too. As I was talking to them, my phone rang...it was Sandy's Mum and Dad. I told them I was on the phone with the vets and would call back in two minutes.
When I did, they didn't answer the phone, they'd switched their phones off (I know, like WTF?) and their son, who was supposed to be listening out for my call, had gone to sleep.
Finally, I got hold of them, explained her diagnosis and while I was still explaining about care for a bleeding ulcer, her Dad interrupted me and said " I don't want her to suffer, put her down."
"No wait" I said, "you're not understanding! Yes, this is serious and that mass is very concerning but right now she is feeling good, and Dr Poole says that with the right care she will maybe be fine for weeks to come, and certainly til you get home on Monday".
"No, I love her, and she's her Daddy's girl, she's been my best friend for over 14 years, but I want you to put her down".
I argued with them, trying to explain that this was f*cking needless and wrong, that surely they didn't get it, and asked them to speak to the vets. When I told poor Kris, she was shocked, then she started bawling, she couldn't take it in, poor girl, this was just not what anyone expected. She called and spoke to them herself, and explained AGAIN that she could very well be okay for weeks to come, and that they could discuss further with the vets when they got home from vacation.
"No, we are going to let her go, Kristen" they said, "We've done this before, and it's better if she doesn't suffer."
"So what if you've done this before? It's part of loving your dog to be with them at the end! We should ALL be there for our dogs! Let us keep her comfortable until you get home PLEASE and then you can decide what you want to do but right now she's in no pain and she certainly isn't suffering, she just has a bad diagnosis, is all. You CAN"T put her down! You always say that you LOVE this dog! She adores you! She actually LIVES for you! Surely you want to be with her to see her over the bridge if that's what you choose to do? You could drive back from Hilton head today and go back tomorrow so you don't lose your vacation, but for God's sake, don't let her leave this life without you! At least talk to the vet, please."
When they spoke to the vet and Dr Poole explained that her symptoms could be likely managed short term and that he was happy to work out a medium-to-hopefully-long-term care strategy centered around quality of life when they got home on Monday, they just refused to see sense, and said it again..."We don't want Sandy to suffer, put her down. It'll hurt us so much but just put her down."
"But, please" said Dr. Poole, "We can get her comfortable and send her home with Kris today so that at least she can still be here when you get home and if you decide to let her go then, she will leave with your arms around her. It's clear she loves Kristen but obviously you will want to be there with her?"
And then came the shocker.
" No, our mind is made up. Let her go. And by the way, what did you say it was that's wrong with her?"
They hadn't even bothered to listen to the diagnosis.
What a pair of f*cking a$$holes.
That was the sentence that did it for me and Kris.
Dr Poole looked at Kristen and shook his head over and over...his technician was crying, he was visibly upset, but with a dog in that condition he had no choice but to abide by the owner's wishes.
Sandy died with Kristen's arms around her, her voice in her ear telling her what a perfect girl she was, how all the DD guests that she had known over the years who had passed would be so excited to see her...
She told her that up there, the sun's always shining and that she wouldn't have to have her muddy paws wiped ever again, and that sausages and steaks grow on trees, always ripe for the picking...
That sweet woman held it together until Sandy's last breath and then when she had passed, she sobbed her heart out and didn't stop for three hours straight.
Had Sandy been able to live without her precious Daddy, we would have tried to find a spot for her at Frankie and Andy's Place.
But here's the kicker...the Marine veteran for whom she was a therapy dog, the man who was her life, her job, her reason for waking up, the man who callously tossed her life aside, was also the reason that she could not be anywhere but in his home long term.
She was okay for a week or so without her daddy, but 10 years of boarding her had taught us that any more than that and she became unbearably stressed without him.
She passed knowing that she mattered and that she was loved...just not by the one whom she had given her life to look after.
Trust me, no matter how nice their next dog is, we will not be having any more to do with these people again, poor Kristen's heart couldn't take it, this broke her.
Money is never our first concern at DD...it's the relationship that always comes first. How could we welcome them back knowing that this is who they are?
...And so, those people whose coastal vacation just 5 hours away was more important than their beloved dog, those vile pieces of feces who couldn't even be bothered to understand her diagnosis, or keep their phones on while we were at the vets with their precious girl, get this week's prize of a one way ticket to North Sentinel island.
I hear the locals are as welcoming as these folks deserve and I really hope they extend all of their usual hospitality.
'Sandy's parents, you are my Dick of the Week.