The folks at Athenspets have been really great about getting in touch throughout the year. We just received the square photo below, along with an update – kind of a year in review. Mostly really good news about all the pets we have helped through our support of Athenspets, but some sad news about Cindy Lou. I guess I’ll start with that, even though I cry every time I think of it.
I didn’t share the news about Cindy Lou in July because something awful was happening in the news and it didn’t feel like the right time. But now everything’s going so much better (!?) – okay it’s clear that now is the time to share the news, regardless.
[Text in block quotes is from Lisa, the amazing head of Athenspets. Anything not in block quotes is me.]
Here’s sweet Cindy Lou.
You will remember that Cindy Lou had the tumor on her face removed, which Walter’s Fund contributed to. We knew it would grow back at some point, so we didn’t know how long she had. Unfortunately, she didn’t have very long. But she had a great 6 months, and those 6 months were likely the best months of Cindy Lou’s life.
Cindy Lou was selected for “Project Homebound”, the prison dog program Athenspets & Athens-Clarke County started last year, in which selected dogs live at ACC Corrections and inmates care for and train them. Cindy Lou spent her days with the 10 men in the program, learning basic obedience and enjoying play time with the other dogs in the program. It was perfect for Cindy Lou; she had been stressed at the shelter because of the confinement and boredom, but at Project Homebound she flourished and was a star student. The mental work calmed her in a way no amount of physical exercise seemed to.
We’d hoped she would have an opportunity to graduate from the program and find a home, but life had different plans. Over a 48-hour period in early June, her face swelled up. Upon exam, the vet found that her jaw bone up into her eye socket had died as a result of the earlier tumor; the damage was too extensive to remove and too painful to allow her to go on in that condition.
Staff made the decision to give Cindy Lou a final few days (with good pain meds) so the men who had been her handlers and the volunteers who had spent so much time with her could say good-bye. She got doggy day-outs, pupsickles, and lots of love. And then she said good-bye.
On a happier note, Lisa put together this set of photos of some of the pets we helped in 2023. Magnolia Cupcake (older dog at the top right corner) reminds me a bit of our Walter.
We began 2023 with $4,329.69 in Walter’ Fund, and Balloon Juice peeps donated $3,430.73 to Athenspets in 2023, even without an actual calendar!
Lisa shares information about all the pets (pictured above) that were helped by Walter’s Fund in 2023:
These funds have helped 9 animals receive life saving care (clockwise from upper left):
🌸Ikaros: amputation of leg (adopted)
🌸Magnolia Cupcake (far right in photo): senior pup who needed a dental/extractions (she was also treated for heartworms by the shelter) (adopted)
🌸Kira: was living in an abusive home; funding meant we could get her basic vetting done and send her to a rescue in Canada (in a foster home, adoption pending)
🌸Gloria: leg amputation (in a foster home)
🌸Van Helsing: pain management after femoral head ostectomy (adopted)
🌸Peaches: ultrasound (adopted)
🌸In center: Sadie: anterior cruciate ligament repair (adopted)
In addition (but I don’t have photos), 🌸Remi (lab mix puppy) received a leg amputation (her owners had surrendered her to a vet to euthanize since they couldn’t afford it; adopted) and 🌸Axel (dental with extractions; adopted).
The support Balloon Juice has provided means so much to so many of us; seeing these precious animal go from suffering to healthy and loved is amazing. So many thanks for your support through the year!
In case anyone is thinking of year end giving, right now we have matching funds ($6500 left) for donations received through the end of the year.
Many thanks! Lisa (and all of Athenspets!)
Alison Rose
So very sad about Cindy Lou, but I’m glad she had so much love and care in her final days. And it’s amazing to hear about all of these animals that have been helped!
sab
Can I just say we are from all over and my community has needs why give to yours not mine. Then I saw the pictures. And mine has things somewhat in hand
ETA Yours needs us more than mine.
WaterGirl
@Alison Rose: Sadie (in the center of the square) looks like she’s in heaven, and I see that Kira is dressed up for the holiday, but apparently wasn’t in the mood to wear the Santa hat.
Alison Rose
@WaterGirl: I love that the kitty somehow manages to look dignified in the collar :)
sab
We have a Sadie who packed her bags to move this morning, after a night with the house dryer. It sounds like an actual airplane in our house.
Sadie decided today that regular food and permanent access to food makes up for occassional disturbing household extremely loud noise.
Other cats are lurking around having made the same choice. Sadie was the only one with the guts to pack her bags and threaten to move out of her comfy zone. Brave cat.
WaterGirl
This is an update, not a request for funds. But I’m sure someone will ask for the thermometer, so I added it to the sidebar.
TThe thermometer shows $7,681 – reflecting the total donation amount through the thermometer. The current balance of Walter’s Fund is just under $500. (As always, no one should feel obligation to donate to anything at Balloon Juice.) But if anyone is so inclined, I have added the thermometer to the sidebar.
sab
We all remember Walter
debit let him live out the life at the end that he had always deserved
At home with people who loved him.
Avalie
Lost my grand old lady cat Sheba this week. Donated $100 in her memory.
WaterGirl
@Avalie: I’m so sorry, Avalie. 💕
Since you described her as your grand old lady cat, it sounds like you guys had a good long run together. Which, of course, only makes it harder to lose them.
sab
@Avalie: I am so sorry for you. Cats live so much longer than dogs that we think they will always be with us.
Avalie
@WaterGirl: I was not ready. She was 18+, but the end came so suddenly. She was a great floof with much attitude to the end.
Alison Rose
@Avalie: So very sorry <3
WaterGirl
@Avalie: Of course you weren’t. I am so sorry. When it’s sudden, it seem impossible to wrap your head or your heart around the loss. I have been thinking about Zandar. Boom, one minute you’re here, and then you’re not.
Maxim
I just saw a post a few minutes ago from a woman who runs a rescue, a tribute to one of her dogs who left her suddenly. But even when we know it’s coming, it’s so hard to let them go.
Thank you for posting the thermometer and that there are matching funds available.
eclare
@Avalie:
I am so sorry. It always comes too fast.
raven
@eclare: Not always, sometimes it’s agonizingly slow for everyone.
lowtechcyclist
Just chipped in $100. Can’t think of a better cause.
WaterGirl
@lowtechcyclist: Kind of you!
Mel
@Alison Rose: Same here. That she had a great last few days makes the sadness a little less bitter and a bit more bittersweet.
I’m so very thankful that the folks who had been nurturing her, training her, and undoubtedly had grown to love her got the chance to say their goodbyes over a few days, not in a hurried, traumatic rush. That is so important, and such a gift when anyone loses a fur baby, but maybe especially for the trainers in the prison dog programs, whose first real trusting, loving, fear-free bond might be the bond that they form with the beautiful dogs that they are training.
Rest in peace, sweet Cindy Lou.
Kristine
@Avalie: I am so very sorry.
WaterGirl
I am so glad we named our fund after Walter, and I’m always so happy to see Walter with his best friend, living his best life.
realbtl
In for $50. I adopted my 3 yo long haired chihuahua/? from the local pound a year ago. He obviously had previous owners who had dragged him around by the leash/collar as he hates it. We came to an agreement.
WaterGirl
@realbtl: Terrible people.
My cocker spaniel pup used to like to carry her leash in her mouth instead ofd being hooked up.
Mel
@Avalie: Oh, Avalie, I am so, so sorry.
Mel
Eugene O’Neill wrote a beautiful piece after he and his wife Carlotta lost their beloved elderly Dalmation, Blemie. It’s what he imagined that Blemie would want to tell them if Blemie could have written his thoughts on his passing.
Reading it helped me a bit when I lost my sweet little Pixie this summer. Below, a few bits that touched me the most, in the hope that they might give a little comfort to anyone here who is missing their fur kid:
“There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most… But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book… ”
“I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life, I have tried to be a comfort to them times of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness… Let them remember that no dog has ever had a happier life…”
eclare
@Mel:
Oh that is beautiful. Thank you.
surfk9
@WaterGirl: What is yor email address as I want to send you something you might be interested in
WaterGirl
@surfk9: watergirl at balloon-juice.com