Text Box: Shelby was being treated for Blasto for the past 4 months and we had no idea that she had cancer on top of it. I woke up Thursday morning to find Shelby not looking to well so I took her temp and it had spiked to 104.9. Her lipoids were so swollen she looked as if she swallowed 2 tennis balls. That morning before I went to work, I rushed her to the vet, one of many rushed emergency visits for a spiked fever and swollen lipoids. Before leaving the vet that morning, I leaned over and gave Shelby a big hug, kissed her on the nose and told her that I loved her, not knowing I was saying goodbye to her for the last time and that I would never see her again. Thinking it was just another routine stay over for a couple of days, I went off to work. Sometimes she would have to stay for a week due to her complications where I would go in everyday and sit with her for hours knowing I could not take her home. I called several times that day to check on her and was told she was doing fine. However, the last call I made I was told that she possibly had leukemia of the lipoids. Upset, I called Jan who put out the plea for prayers. The next morning I got up early so that I could sit with Shelby for a few hours as I always did not knowing the horrible news that was about to come. I went into the kitchen and caught the tail end of Elvis Presley singing "Silent Night" with the words "sleep in heavenly peace". A sick feeling came over me as a premonition. Still being worried about Shelby's condition, I shrugged it off as being just a coincidence. The phone call came in and Jim came down stairs with the heart wrenching news that Shelby passed on from the cancer. It was all through her bone marrow and was continuing to spread. I was sickened by the thought that I was not there for her to say goodbye and to tell her about the Bridge where she would run in lustrous green fields and always be warmed by the sunlight, though my vet was and sat up all night with her until the end. Early that same morning, one of our Collies, Jake, knew that something was very wrong and knew of the painful final minutes Shelby had left. He woke up about the same time Shelby was passing and started barking profusely to go outside. He never does this, he always sleeps soundly through the night. He was very determined to go outside that night. My husband finally let him out, but to Jim's surprise not to go to the bathroom but rather Jake walked all around the backyard barking and looking as to be searching for something. This carried on for about 10 minutes and then all of sudden Jake appeared at the door wanting to come in. As if nothing happened, Jake followed Jim back into the bedroom, laid down and went back to sleep by my side. Shelby was a owner turn in at a shelter in Louisiana who was due to be put down the next day. I received a phone call about her and of course I had to take her in. After being with us for 2 weeks she started becoming very ill and after chest x-rays and blood work we discovered that she had Blasto and started treating her immediately. When I first laid eyes on her I knew she was very special. Out of 57 Collies that have crossed my path, Shelby by far was the sweetest Collie I had ever encountered. She did not bark, she never complained when I poked and prodded her with injections for spiked fevers, never complained when I had to take her temp, sometimes 5 times a day, and always sat patiently while waiting for her dinner even as the others were already eating. As sick as she was she never let me know what she was going through. The night of her passing I was so distraught that it took every bit of energy I could muster up just to feed the dogs that night knowing Shelby's dish would not be displayed on the counter along with all the other bowls. I wish so much that I could have been there for her to say goodbye and tell her how special and dear she was to me. Sleep in heavenly peace Shelby, I love you dearly and will never forget you sweetheart!!!!!!

Shelby

Last updated 1/26/2002

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