A few months later a small bump


appeared on his front leg at the wrist or distal radius. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Knowing this was a rapidly spreading, fatal cancer and that all treatment is palliative, I was devas- tated and did not sleep for days. Determined to extend his life for as long as possible, Oliver and I made multiple trips to the University of Florida veteri- nary school over the next few weeks, for state-of-the-art stereotactic radiation on the tumor. We also made regular trips to Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa for chemo therapy, administered by Dr. Jen Coyle. He loved going on these trips since they involved a long ride in “the dog mobile” and an opportunity to visit with other pets and people at the clinics. He tolerated the treatments


very well, but knowing that all of this would not cure the cancer, I decided that Oliver's quality of life would be my number one priority. I took our bed apart and placed it on the floor so Oliver could easily get on it. We put throw rugs over the floor of our house so Oliver could walk easi- ly. I cooked high protein meals with meat and eggs and gave him pain medicine in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. I took him outside any time he wanted. Frequently this was in the middle of the night and early morning. It seemed he just wanted to stand around and enjoy the cool night air under the stars. My goal was to spend as much time as possible with my partner and to make sure he lived a good life, to the end. It is easy for a dog to fracture a can-


recently joined the Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, to visit our home to evaluate Oliver’s condition. Despite his attentive- ness, playfulness and good appetite Oliver was in poor condition, Dr. Frye told me. His limp and the tumor were starting to deform his front leg. If he fractured the leg he would be in enormous pain, she said. I would have a medical emergency and dif- ficulty getting him to a vet due to his size and painful condition. She told me it was time to euthanize him and not take such a risk.


Oliver was happy and alert up to the


end. I experienced the paradox and the tragedy of so many pet owners. We are the ones who have to decide to euthanize the pets we love for their own sake. Oliver was cremated. When I picked up his ashes, the


but they insisted on knowing because they considered her family. She told them I had written her a message that the family Doberman, Oliver North had died and showed them a photo of him. Impressed with his stature and striking looks and sympathetic to her loss, without hesitation the soldiers formed a circle around her and proposed a toast “to the good life of the Doberman Oliver North.” In the days and weeks following


Columbia Restaurant, hosted by Richard Gonzmart, for the University of Florida Veterinary School.


kind lady commented on what a beautiful, big dog he was. He was still receiving compliments. In the evening of that day, we put his ashes in the nature area where we had walked daily. It’s peaceful, in nature and under the trees and stars at night. I knew he would like it there. With Oliver gone, I was distraught


cerous leg bone. As an extra precaution, Oliver was leashed when outside the house. He seemed to understand the rea- son for the leash and no longer chewed through it. He was placed on some heavy pain medications as bone cancer swells the bone from the inside out and is very painful. He never whimpered or cried. He remained stoic even though he developed a heavy limp on his front leg at the end of the third month. At this point I was not sure how much time he had left and start- ed taking it one day at a time. I thanked God for each new day that I had to share with my best friend. As Oliver’s limp became worse, I asked our local vet, Dr. Lisa Frye, who had 32 THE NEW BARKER


and heartbroken. I cried for days and could do nothing except think of Oliver. The feeling of loss was total as I had ded- icated myself to taking care of him 24/7 for his last four months of life. I kept thinking how happy he was in his final hours and that I had somehow failed him. I sent Shelane, who was now an Army


captain and deployed abroad, a message that Oliver North had died and that I was a lost soul. After working a full 16 hours and half way around the world at a mili- tary base, she read my email before leaving the command center where she was working. The tears she got in her eyes were noticed by her colleagues who were special forces soldiers - some of the tough- est warriors in the world. They asked her what was wrong and she said it was okay,


I was fortuitously invited to a special meeting at


Oliver’s death, I kept thinking about what I could have done, or should have done to take better care of Oliver to prevent this cancer from taking his life. I even thought that if I had prayed more or deeper or harder that perhaps he would have lived longer. Like a caregiver who has focused all of their effort on the sick family mem- ber, I was in a void once Oliver was gone. I knew that his death was inevitable, but I could not accept it. Looking for answers, I searched the internet and talked to people who had known Oliver and to the vets who were involved in his case. While communicating with


the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, I was for- tuitously invited to a special meeting at the Columbia


Restaurant in Tampa, hosted by Richard Gonzmart, a longtime German Shepherd Dog owner. The meeting was attended by the Dean of the veterinary college, Dr. James Lloyd, to hear a presentation on current research being done on osteosar- coma by UF Dr. Rowan Milner. Many of my questions were


answered. It turns out, bone cancer can- not be found until it appears as a bump. By the time the bump is detected, the cancer has already most likely spread to other parts of the body. I learned that 40,000 dogs (primarily large dogs) die each year in the U.S. from this type of aggressive cancer. Yet, there has been no real advance- ment in the treatment of bone cancer in dogs for 30 years. 30 years. Dr. Milner informed us in the clinical


trials the school was conducting, he had begun using immunotherapy via injec- tions of certain medicines. The trials were showing results in extending the lives of dogs. Moreover, he said that this treatment could be an important breakthrough in treating bone cancer, not only in canines, but children as well.


www.TheNewBarker.com


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