IN MEMORY OF “REAGAN”

June 9, 2004

It was raining and had been doing so for several days.  The call came from our groomer Sherry of Bow-Wow Boutique in Springtown, Texas.  A client of hers had called her saying that a presumably stray dog had been shot by a neighbor and was screaming in pain in a pasture near her home.  She called the man who said he shot him and he said he would go finish the job.  She told him to stay away and not go near him.  That’s when she called Sherry.  Sherry called us and started from her home near Springtown, for where the dog was and I started from Jacksboro.

Since Sherry was closer, she arrived before me and called me on my cell phone, saying she didn’t think the injury was bad and that she could get him in her truck so we arranged to meet.  We did so on Hwy 51, just north of Springtown and transferred him to my truck.  Unfortunately, the closest vet was closed because it had been raining for several days and much of Springtown was flooded and the animal clinic was in that area.  Being more interested in getting him to our vet, Paul Lillard, in Jacksboro, I didn’t attempt to look at the wound.  The dog was a beautiful male Blue Heeler. I was afraid he would go into shock due to loss of blood, etc.  He was in pain but he never attempted to bite any of those who were helping him.  Another neighbor had taken blankets to put over him and sit with him until we got to him. 

I made a flying trip back to Jacksboro calling to alert the clinic I was coming in with an injured animal.  Immediately upon arrival, Pat, my second in command here at Animal Angels and part time tech at the clinic, was waiting and carried him inside. Dr. Lillard started an IV, gave him pain medication, started oxygen and began to examine the wound.  Upon examination, he found his little penis was badly torn and his left back leg was literally shattered.  He had also lost a lot of blood due to the femoral artery being severed by the trauma.  The wound in the leg was packed with gauze and stitched to stop the bleeding then Dr. Lillard took a x-ray of the leg.  You will remember we were told he had been shot because the guy admitted to shooting him.

The x-ray showed no bullet fragments and there was no exit wound.  Dr. Lillard said he feared his bladder had been ruptured and couldn’t be sure other organs were not involved.  We don’t know what could have happened to him but I feel certain the idiot who said he shot him was most likely responsible for what ultimately happened.  Most likely the idiot couldn’t hit the green side of a red barn but hit near him and frightened him into the path of a vehicle.  When I left the clinic, he was resting comfortably and was in no pain and although his injuries were bad, I felt good about his chances.

Here I need to tell you a few days before, our country lost whom many people, and myself, considered to have been the best and most effective President of the 20^th century, x-President Ronald Reagan.  Wednesday, June 9, 2004, was the day his body was flown to Washington D.C. and was to lie in State in the Capitol rotunda.  I bestowed on this magnificent animal this wonderful man's last name,  “Reagan”.

At about 7:30 PM, Dr. Lillard called to say that Reagan had died.  Bless his little heart, he only touched our lives for a few hours but we grieve for him, miss him and love him.  He had a hard life but he knew kindness and that he was loved and treasured for the last few hours of his sweet life.