Pet Gallery

"Mamadog" the pet that survives the death of her beloved master
Kyle Harris

A letter from Heather

Hello there Loft friends!

I have some good news! The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Lone Star Chapter surprised me last week with a wonderful gift as a way to celebrate and remember Kyle's time, effort, and generosity during his time he spent with me with them. As you know, Kyle and Mamadog gladly volunteered with the National MS Society Lone Star Chapter in different capacities from 2004 onward on my behalf (obviously when he was alive):

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/TXH/index.aspx

Kyle and Mamadog did everything from participating/volunteering in the yearly North Texas NMSS fundraisers such as the MS Walk and MS 150 Bike Ride, creating pro bono graphic designs for T-shirts and marketing collateral at the annual NMSS Scooters to Hooters event, all the way to attending MS learning events, seminars, and monthly volunteer days with me. All in all, I couldn't have overcome my MS diagnosis and lived on with my life without Kyle and Mamadog. And the Lone Star Chapter saw and recognized this.

Therefore, the NMSS Lone Star Chapter thought it would be a great mitzvah or deed to surprise me at its last meeting by telling me what it plans to do for my birthday this year (July). One of the Lone Star Chapter's most active MS members will be donating a service/therapy dog to me to at no cost in return for all the help I have provided the chapter over the years. Boy, was I surprised...what a great birthday present! Her name is "Bella Kyle" and she is a border collie/chow/sheperd mix...very similar to the temperament and intelligence of Mamadog. And do I looooooove Mamadog!! I miss her dearly too. I'm getting sad just thinking about how much I miss Mamadog and Kyle now. Therefore, a picture of "Bella Kyle" is attached for you to look at. "Bella Kyle" is currently in training over the next three months to become a certified working service dog as well as a therapy dog similar to those involved in Paws Across Texas. I met her tonight and she's such a joy...very much like Mamadog was to all of us. When Bella is finally trained, she will be my service dog and will take on the caretaker/protector role as soon as she gets here. I really don't need a service dog, but I'm having her get certified just in case I do. The trainer agrees and will get it done for me. My MS has definitely progressed over the last 5 years, so I never know when my next attack will be or when there will be a cure. I can't wait to have you all meet her! :)

Anyway, this particular MS Lone Star Chapter member has been hearing about everything I have gone through since October last year and decided to donate one of the dogs she is training to me. She concluded that this would be a positive and constructive way for me to overcome my last MS exacerbation from November 2008 and live a full and happy life again after Kyle's death. The whole Chapter has seen how much the loss of my love, Kyle, has been devastating to me both mentally and physically.

Actually, the staff, volunteers, and other MS members of the Lone Star Chapter have been equally dealing with the loss of Kyle just as much as I have been. They have gotten to know, love, and welcomed Kyle into their lives since June 9, 2004: the day I was diagnosed with MS. So much so, the Lone Star Chapter has invited my mother to speak on my behalf as well as Kyle's about the importance of proactively yet positively dealing with brain diseases such as MS and depression over time to key legislators, lobbyists, and public officials in Austin and Washington DC. She is in DC right now as we speak. My mother didn't have to pay to go; the MS Society Lone Star Chapter brought her on board its Texas advocacy panel at its expense. My mother traveled to Austin two weeks ago and she is in Washington DC for the next few days. She will focus on educating legislators on how to make medications, health insurance, wellness options, and psychotherapy more accessible and affordable for those who are afflicted with MS and/or depression. It is very typical that those diagnosed with MS also suffer from depression. Both are interconnected via the misregulation of neurotransmitters/chemicals and nerve conductivity within the brain and spinal chord. In fact, there are huge percentages of MS'ers dealing with depression on a daily basis. I know some personally. So, I can't thank my mother enough for doing this. It means so much to me. I know she'll do great!

With that said, please do get familiar with "Bella Kyle's" picture. You will be meeting her soon... March 27-29, 2009 to be exact. I would love for your dogs and families to get to know Bella when I finally get her three months from now. She'll be fully trained and I get to use her as a service dog for me and a therapy dog for others. I was thinking of bringing her to future NAMI/MHMR/NMSS gatherings and events. What do you think? Any tips I should learn about taking care of a dog? This will be my first! So please let me know. :)Heather :D PS - Did you know a certified working service dog costs about $18,000-$20,000 a piece? I just found that out tonight. Wow!

My dog’s name is Lady. We named her after the dog in the movie Lady and the Tramp because she looks just like Lady. My dad went to the pet store after work one day. He looked for a dog. When he saw Lady he knew that if we got a dog that was the one. We would get the dog if we got any dog because the dog wagged it’s big fluffy tail back and forth and ran around in a circle! My dad told the store owner to not sale the dog while he brings the rest of the family. The owner said, ok. My dad drove home to pick us up to take us to the pet store. We all got dressed and got in the car. When we got there my dad told us to stick our hands in the cage if you want her to lick you. My sister and I put our fingers in the cage and she licked our fingers! My sister giggled. I looked at information about the dog. It is a girl. Its real name is Chloe. And its birthday is March 15!!!!!! My birthday is March 16!! Her birthday is one day before mine! I told my parents the new news about the dog. My parents looked surprised that we liked the dog so much and that her birthday is one day before my birthday. Me and my sister soon asked if we could keep the dog. My parents discussed if we were going to keep the dog or not outside the pet store. My sister and I walked out of the store and asked if we are keeping the dog or not. My dad said its up to your mother. Please, please with a cherry on top we begged to keep the dog on our knees looking like total fools. Ok, my mom said. Hurray, we cheered jumping around like crazy people. We went in the pet store and bought the dog. We named her Lady and I explained why already. Lady slept on me the rest of the way home. When we got home we put Lady in our parents room away from our cat Roxy. Then we quickly drove to Wal-Mart to but her some toys and food. My mom and sister went to get dog food. My dad and I went to go get a couple toys for Lady. We all found what we were looking for then we left the store and went home. I gave Lady the toy. My sister got to give my dog water and food.

1 YEAR LATER: November

We all have had one Christmas together and good memories with the dog like when we put the dog on the trampoline and she got scared! And when the dog and cat chased each other. Oh yeah also when Lady takes baths her eyes look like they are going to pop out of her head. We be careful not to get water in her ears. When she is done a bath she doesn’t roll on the towel we give her she rubs her body on the couch! My dog also sleeps with my parents at the bottom of the bed. I’ve seen her get in the bed and get comfortable. It isn’t easy for a dog or maybe even just her. She goes in a circle 10 times then laid down. More and more months went bye.

SAD DECEMBER

One night my dog couldn’t stand up. My parents and us kids got scared. My dad called the doctor. When they were done talking my dad said we need to take her to the pet hospital now! I wanted to go but my dad only let my sister go with him. Me and my mom were awake for hours and hours with out any new news. I tried to act cool and not cry but when I looked my dog in the eye I couldn’t stop thinking about when we got her and the good times we have had then I started to cry. Have you ever had that happen to you? When someone in your family might die and you try to play it cool and it doesn’t work because you realize that this might be the last time you ever see them alive. It doesn’t work trust me. My mom and I prayed 2 times or more. We watched television while they were at the doctor. When they got back they figured out that something in her neck is swollen and if it gets to swollen she will be paralyzed then ……….. Put to sleep. We need to keep her in a play pen to make sure she doesn’t get hit there again. I hoped that she wouldn’t be miserable in the play pen.

1 WEEK LATER

She is in the play pen now. We keep buying her bones to chew on because she can’t play with anything. She looks happy and not depressed. Well........... so far.

TO BE CONTINUED .......... MAYBE

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