By Janet McAfee
On March 2, 2012, I arrived at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter, a crowded facility on a dead-end street. I was on a shelter run to rescue a couple dogs for Loving All Animals then located in Palm Desert. Suddenly a volunteer came running from the kennel area holding a small black & brown pup yelling, “They’re going to kill this dog because the other ones in her kennel are picking on her!” I stopped her and visited with the friendly little 6-lb Chihuahua who looked like she might be part Mini Pin. The pup was listed as just 1-yr-old. Of course, I said, “I’ll take her!”
I named her Natalie Wood after the beautiful movie star who had big brown eyes. Loving All Animals arranged for her to be spayed at the Country Club Animal Clinic. She came into my home for fostering and proved to be very smart, immediately house trained, and cuddled next to me under the covers every night. When I had a visitor come and stay overnight, Natalie insisted on cuddling with them in the guest room.
Natalie loved my other dogs, but most of all she loved me. She welcomed every foster dog who arrived after her. Natalie followed me throughout the house watching over me. She enjoyed our neighborhood walks where we happily met the other “dog people” gathering outside Marcia’s home where treats were offered from her backyard porch. Having a dog brings amazing joy including the benefit of meeting your neighbors and making new friends. With her charming ways, Natalie proved to be a “foster failure”, and she became part of my family.
The years passed and Natalie enjoyed relatively good health. In her senior years she never showed any signs of being old. She was spunky, confident, full of life, and yes, she protected the house with barking like many of her breed.
Late on the night of September 29, 2024, Natalie had a grand mal seizure, and we rushed out to the Animal Emergency Clinic Grand Terrace near San Bernardino. The only 24-hour clinic in the Coachella Valley closed last year. She was treated with keppra, an effective anti-seizure medication and we happily headed home as the sun was rising.
The emergency clinic provided me with an extensive hand out “Seizure Disorders in Dogs” by Wendy Brooks, DVM. It said, “Watching your dog have a seizure is both frightening and disturbing…there is collapse, involuntary movement, and often loss of consciousness followed by a period of daze and disorientation. Prolonged seizure activity constitutes an emergency and veterinary assistance is needed…..Classically, the patient loses consciousness, collapses, becomes stiff at first, and then begins paddling or struggling but seizures can take many forms.”
For animals over 5 years old, seizures are usually caused by a tumor growing off the skull and pressing on the brain which is called Meningioma. Natalie was now13 years of age. An MRI was the next step to make an accurate diagnosis. There are no MRI machines in the Coachella Valley. The extensive reporting information from government regulation for this already expensive equipment makes the cost prohibitive. We traveled overnight to the Veterinary Neurology Center in Tustin in Orange County for an MRI.
On March 12, 14-yr-old Natalie was diagnosed with Meningioma, a slow growing brain tumor surrounded by fluid. We were told to continue with the keppra adding steroids to reduce the fluid. Dr. Jensen said that radiation therapy performed by a Veterinary Oncologist is a consideration. However, radiation for animals is not available in or near the Coachella Valley, and it needs to be administered for several consecutive days for repeated sessions. There can be harmful side effects from radiation that can cause more distress, and another vet recommended against this. Meanwhile, Natalie thrived and was full of life, enjoying every moment like dogs do.
On May 10, Natalie suffered another grand mal seizure, and we rushed to the Emergency Veterinary Center of Redlands where she was admitted overnight for treatment. I received text messages during the night on her progress. We drove to Redlands the following morning expecting to bring my spunky buddy home. However, when they brought Natalie out, she was still seizing. The vet said she was in no pain but had no quality of life left. I asked if she would euthanize her if she was her dog and she said “Yes”. Mike and I held her when she left us to go to heaven. We buried her in Mike’s mom’s backyard on Mother’s Day next to his wonderful dog Pepper.
I posted Natalie’s adorable photos on Facebook and the hundreds of sympathy comments touched my heart. Flowers arrived, one from Vanessa who has a dog with epilepsy, and another from Lynne who used to work at Loving All Animals. Sympathy cards arrived, including a handmade card from Christine with Natalie wearing wings. Then a packet of handmade drawings and messages arrived from 4th grade students in San Bernardino; their teacher Alice operates a dog rescue group in that city.
I so appreciate the love and support from everyone. One friend suggested I take on part of Natalie’s spirit, and her spunky attitude and joyful ways will always be a part of me. My other dogs bring me comfort. I truly believe God sent us these Angels in Fur to teach us many lessons including how to love unconditionally and how to live happily in the moment. Surely, they go to heaven when they leave us.
