In Loving Memory of Casper

I intended to write my next blog post about the canine bundle of joy that joined our family on Saturday, and despite really tough circumstances, I am still going to do so. So, here goes-- the story from beginning to end.

Aaron and I searched far and wide for the right dog to join our family. We spent hours scouring craigslist, rescue organization Web sites, and shelters. We typed, we clicked, we emailed, we called. We visited Animal Humane, three different shelters, and an adoption fair.

On Saturday, our search ended. While I toiled away on finance homework, Aaron went back to the adoption fair we had visited together the day before, in case more dogs would be there. That is where he found Casper, who would not live long enough to hear his name spoken aloud.

Casper was a soft, cream-colored puppy with big brown eyes who loved to cuddle just as much as he loved to play. Aaron was told that he'd been a stray in Gallup before living at the shelter there. Shelter staff guessed he was about four months old and initially called him a golden retriever mix, though we suspected he was probably more like a blonde lab/white German shepherd mix. He was 15 1/2 lbs. the day Aaron brought him home-- the perfect size to cuddle in my lap while I sat cross-legged on the floor.

On Sunday, we went shopping for Casper. We got him his own food bowl and some chew toys to help him cope with teething. We also made a leash coupler so that we could walk both him and Max together. Max's first collar fit Casper perfectly, and when we hooked the two of them up together, they looked adorable walking/running alongside each other, with Max showing Casper how it was done. And speaking of togetherness, Max and Casper bonded quickly. When I gave Max a bone that I had stuffed with peanut butter at both ends, he shared; Casper licked one end of the bone while Max licked at the other. Casper loved to climb in Max's bed, and they even started to cuddle a little bit. I just wish I had taken more pictures.

The entire time, Casper did not have a name. Aaron and I just couldn't seem to agree on one that fit his unique personality. In the meantime, he was called "Little One," "Little Dude," and "Little Guy" -- because boy did he seem little next to 84-lb. Max.

As we started to fall in love with Little One, we also grew concerned. He had diarrhea and not much of an appetite. However, he would still drink lots of water, play with Max, cuddle and run clumsily up and down the stairs (which he seemed to love doing!) as though nothing was wrong. Nonetheless, we resolved to take him to the vet on Monday -- both to make sure he didn't have a disease and also to check an odd lump we found behind his front leg.

This morning (Monday), I could tell that Little One was not doing very well. He looked like he had lost weight, and he seemed tired. After I left for work, Aaron told me that Little One was spitting up any water he would drink. And now, he only weighed 12 lbs. I knew what was wrong, but I refused to believe it. While I was at work, I finally came up with a name for the puppy -- Casper (because of his white coloring & friendly nature). I guess I felt like finally giving him a name would give him something for which to live-- that it would mean he just had a minor disease that could be treated with antibiotics and would be ok. I didn't realize at the time how fitting the "ghost" part of the name would be.

While I was at home on my lunch break, Aaron called from the vet's office and, in a choked-up voice, confirmed my worst fear. Casper had severe parvo. We could pay $900 per day to hospitalize him, whereby he would be stuck with IVs and probably wouldn't survive anyway, or we could have him put to sleep and delivered from pain. It was a tough decision. Aaron had to bear the worst of the situation, delivering Casper to Animal Control wrapped in a blanket, just like a dead body.

Reflecting on what has happened through my tears, I am happy that we were able to give Casper love during his last few days on this earth and save him from some of the pain he may otherwise have experienced. In just two days, he brought us a great deal of joy, and he showed us that Max will make a great big brother someday to the next dog we bring into the family.

Max has been vaccinated against parvo, but please pray that he remains healthy, as a small chance of contraction still exists. (The incubation period is about three weeks.)

In loving memory of Casper,

Christina