Dogs and Loss – A Story of Resilience and Recovery, starring Morgen

How do dogs react when they lose a pack mate?  Do they suffer, are they hurting?  And, how should we, as their owners, react?  In the midst of your own grief, would you be able to pick up on signals that your surviving dog was sending?

Happy Maddy and Morgen

We attempt to answer those questions today as we explore the story of Maddy, and Morgen and Bella Rose.

Let’s get to know the dogs:

Pretty Maddy

Maddy:

Maddy was someone else’s impulse purchase.  After all, everyone loves a Golden Retriever, and a golden puppy is a simply irresistible present, right?  Sadly, that’s not always the case and it certainly wasn’t with Maddy.  She didn’t do anything that puppies don’t do, she chewed, she was a handful, she was an energetic Golden Retriever puppy.  Her owners weren’t prepared for her typical puppy behaviour and as a result she ended up spending most of her early months locked in a crate or tied alone in a backyard.  After five months she was also deemed to be ‘too much’ for her owners and she was given away.

Simply Beautiful Morgen

Morgen:

Now Morgen, she’s a 3 year old Husky/German Shepherd mix.  A beautiful girl, she almost didn’t come to be.  Her Mother was in line to be euthanized while pregnant with Morgen and her siblings.  Thankfully that didn’t happen and Morgen came into the world.  She’s a nervous sort, very tall and slim and very devoted to her family.

By the time they came to live together, Maddy was the more mature of the two and she and Morgen were quite a pair.  For 2 and ½ years they were a team.  Morgen simply adored Maddy.  As it turned out, Maddy had a seizure disorder, and when she was postictal (the time immediately following a seizure), Morgen would try to be by her side despite her owners attempts to keep them apart.  And like human siblings, they didn’t always get along.  There were the predictable jealousies and fights over rawhides, toys and treats.

Maddy and Morgen, Happy Together

On January 14^th, 2011 Maddy was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma.  A decision was made to pursue holistic treatment including vitamins, powders and acupuncture for pain management.

For the ensuing 11 weeks, Morgen was there, watching Maddy’s struggle and feeling the worry and sadness in the home.  Morgen seldom left Maddy’s side, perhaps sensing what she was going through she stayed put, providing comfort and support.  Towards the end, in the last few hours, Morgen moved away from Maddy’s side and instead stood watch from the doorway.  In a sense perhaps she was letting her go, knowing that the end had come.  That Sunday, dear Maddy passed away a mere 11 weeks and 3 days after diagnosis.

The family came to notice that Morgen had not touched her food that had been put out for her a few days before.  They assumed now that Maddy had passed and the suffering had ended, Morgen would eat.  This was not the case.  Morgen didn’t eat and she wasn’t herself.  She sat in her owner’s laps and that was it.  Eleven weeks had taken its toll on everyone including the usually very happy and energetic Morgen.

Thankfully, a close family member who was at an arm’s length from the situation could see what needed to happen.  She’d witnessed the suffering, she seen the struggle both in the humans and in Morgen and she didn’t hesitate.  Knowing that Morgen was in danger having not eaten for several days and exhibiting signs of lethargy, she couldn’t risk waiting.

Morgen and Bella Rose

And so, she got busy, and with lightening speed she acted.  This family needing healing and this time the medication came in the form of Bella Rose, a Golden Retriever puppy who just happened to be looking for a home.  Sometimes, as they say, timing is everything.  Just as Maddy had appeared, now Bella Rose had appeared.

Morgen and Bella Rose, Dirty Dogs

Bella Rose moved in, and Morgen had a purpose again and yes immediately she started eating.  After all, she needed her energy as she eased quickly into a maternal role, rearing the young Bella Rose.  When Bella Rose was recovering from being spayed, Morgen lay beside her.  Morgen would also go and get water for her young charge, carrying it in her mouth and bringing it to Bella Rose to keep her hydrated.  In addition to helping the young pup, Morgen’s actions were a constant reminder to the rest of the family that they had done the right thing.  Getting Bella Rose was exactly what Morgen and the humans needed to aid them all in their healing and recovery.  Coincidentally, in her day, Maddy had been called the ‘little nurse’ in the household as she was always at someone’s side when they were ill.  You can’t help but wonder if somewhere along the line Maddy taught Morgen this role.

Bella Rose is now 11 months old and weighs in at a healthy 70 pounds.  Her owners describe her as the Zen dog of the household which serves as the perfect balance to Morgen’s naturally hyper nature.  Together they are Yin and Yang.  A typical Golden, Bella Rose loves everyone and happily greets every dog she meets.  Motivated by food, she loves to play ball and enjoys frolicking in the water.

Morgen and Bella Rose are teamwork in action.  Together they attend training classes, Bella Rose always trying to show up Morgen in obedience so as to get the treat first.  Morgen relies on Bella Rose’s calm demeanour and stability to help ease her fears during socialization class.  There has been a marked difference in how Morgen responds to situations that once caused her greater stress, such as being in a room full of other dogs.

Bella Rose and Morgen Together at Training

I’d like to thank Maddy, Morgen and Bella Rose’s family for sharing their story and for having the courage to pick up and carry on, the courage to take a chance and welcome Bella Rose into their home when they’d just lost their precious Maddy and were grieving.

And a special thank you to the family member who knew that in this particular situation the arrival of a new puppy was exactly what this one family needed to help them heal.