Jada ~ A Puppy at Heart
Within an instant, the fate of one senior pup, Jada, changed when she was found and taken in by Boston Animal Control.
A cursory exam showed this tangled mop of black fur had been neglected as she was underweight and covered in fleas. Jada was found to be anemic due to the flea infestation. She also had ear infections, dermatitis, and needed a dental to remove rotting teeth. Once eight-year-old Jada recovered, this spunky, loving, and adventurous girl was ready for the next phase of her journey so Boston Animal Control transferred her into Baypath’s care.
During an exam at Baypath, shelter vet Andrea Moolenbeek, DVM, found a mammary mass on Jada. While Jada waited for her procedure, she was placed with experienced foster parents, Andrew and Paul.
When her mass was removed, a biopsy confirmed the sweet girl had mammary cancer. Two different surgeons said surgical intervention was not ideal for her. Given that advice, the best option for Jada was to keep her happy and comfortable and adopt her out as hospice.
Hospice adoptions may not be an easy option for some to consider. As hard as it may be to take in an animal while in the later stages of their life, it is incredibly rewarding for the adopter as much as it is for the animal.
The day Andrew and Paul came to the shelter to meet Jada, Paul recalls hearing a bark of what they thought “surely was a Shepherd or Doberman.” It wasn’t until Paul got closer to the outdoor pen to see what was so loud that the little black mop came into view. There she was, “the mouse that roared.”
From that first day and for the next ten months, Jada quickly ruled their house and won their hearts. This spirited senior, nicknamed “Tillie,” would let out a “woof” to let them know when it was mealtime and would scold them if they were tardy for their daily walks.
Paul said that it was easy to forget that this spunky gal had a terminal illness while she was in their care. Her loving and dedicated fosters had nursed her back from surgery, often bringing her back and forth to medical appointments while working through her skin issues. They admittedly spoiled her with multiple dog beds and even gave her a beauty makeover.
Jada gets a makeover while in foster care
Due to the uncertainty of her future, Jada was often overlooked for adoption. In August, Jada’s fate was about to change once again thanks to the kind hearts of Marnie & Bob. They immediately fell in love with her and brought her home. Marnie says they just adore her and so does anyone that meets her! Marnie says, “It’s hard to remember that she has a terminal illness.” Just recently she was playing with a friend’s dog and “darted and ran around like a puppy. They couldn’t believe her age and health issues.”
Jada, like so many animals, is astonishingly resilient as Marnie, Bob, Paul, and Andrew can attest to. While it may seem difficult to adopt an animal in hospice, you are giving them a lifetime of love.
Let us all hope that we can continue to keep it a secret from Tillie that she isn’t a young puppy and here is hoping that she may go on to live her best life that we hope will last a long, long time.
