Easy Come, Easy Go

The check from the sales of my art in the Alaska Botanical Gardens Outdoor Art Show arrived in the mail yesterday. Good thing, because half of it needed to go to Pet Emergency last night. Within 24 hours, Tauzer (our Giant Schnauzer) spiraled downward to needing to overnight at Alaska Pet Emergency Treatment, hooked up to full IV meds and fluids. She had what the doctor described as acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) -the name alone hopefully spares me from blogging any further graphic details. We have no idea what brought on her illness, but she went from happily going on her morning "walkies" yesterday, to not being able to keep anything down (or in her) and with each passing hour became lethargic with more violent purges. It was horrible. She just stood motionless looking at us with pleading eyes. Thank goodness PetEmergency was open, as our regular Vet's office had just closed. I rushed her to the Treatment Center as she lay motionless in the back of the car, and they immediately did blood work and ran other tests. A big thank you to the dedicated staff at Pet Emergency and Dr. Diederich, who was on staff all night keeping watch over Tauzer and administering IV fluids to her in her special pet bed. 

We are very fortunate in Anchorage to have a modern veterinary medical staff and facility to treat our pets, many pets are like members of our families. After gladly pre-paying the bill last night, I was grateful that there was such an animal hospital close by in our city. Had Tauzer gone even one night without treatment, she had become so dehydrated that she would not have lived. The phone call early this morning from Dr. Diederich told us Tauzer had recovered well from her HGE and is on an antibiotic but can resume her regular routine as soon as she feels up for it. She didn't want her "walkies" but is barking, drinking bowls full of water and happily wagging her tail again.

Now that I am a new supporter of the Pet Emergency Treatment center, I am also a supporter of  the Roscoe Fund. 

The Fund was created to help assist owners or rescue animals in need of emergency treatment. It is the goal of the Center to reduce suffering in animals that might otherwise remain untreated or euthanized for purely economic reasons. After a conversation I had with the office manager, Laura, she told me that the fund is used for many things a animal may need, from a single pain injection to ease discomfort that some people may not be able to afford and elect not to have done, to an abandoned animals necessary treatment. The fund has helped hundreds of pets since it's beginning in 2000 and though we were fortunate to be able to pay our entire bill, many others cannot and the fund is used an average of 3 times a week at the Center. If you go to the web site, you can read the stories of many pets who have benefitted from the Roscoe Fund.

 Well before the doggie drama, I was able to go over to Gina's studio to deliver her Raku pieces from the Alaska Botanical Garden Show. I put "Chenik Fox" in the front seat, and buckled him in because he's already been paid for and didn't want any accidents! Customers will be picking up their purchases directly from Gina at her studio. Gina likes to meet her customers and the customers are in for a real treat when they see her and Ward's "art compound." She recently remodeled her studio adding new work tables, tiled floor, stainless steel sinks and ceilings. It's beautiful. After the Gala, Gina, Steve Gordon and I made a promise to have a Raku retreat at Gina's in July. Stay posted for upcoming images of that art soirée!