She came to us August 2001. She was one of my first abuse cases. I noticed her when I was doing a routine walk thru the South Los Angeles animal shelter. She was a skeleton draped in black skin laying on the concrete floor, barely able to lift her head up, not able to walk. She had been brought in that day, confiscated from someone's yard, starved almost to the point of death. I knew she didn't stand a chance at the shelter so I decided to take her. We had to carry her to the car because she was literally too weak to stand. On the way home, we shared a burger at Burger King and made the trek up to the rescue. She was very un-trusting at first but it didn't take long for her to realize that I was here to help....especially after seeing that she was now sleeping in my bedroom. Her crate became her safe haven and she reluctantly came out to stretch her legs and do her business. It took years for her to trust anyone besides me. She finally discovered that being a part of our volunteer program meant going out for walks and laying in the sunshine. This is where she met Connie. Connie would sit with Shavar for hours just to let her relax and get belly rubs. This is what Shavar lived for. She now began to enjoy life. But all good things must come to an end. And this past week, I noticed that Shavar was having a hard time walking and when we rushed her to the vet, he said that she was having neurological problems due to tumors on her spine, probably cancer. And because she was now very old, any type of surgery or even trying to fight the cancer would be too hard on her. So we made the very difficult decision to let her go. Jessica was there by her side making the journey to the life beyond, just a little easier. But the pain still lingers with us all. Another great friend is gone.
RIP Shavar.
ReplyDeleteSaying good bye to a dear, beloved friend is never easy and it leaves a hole in your heart that never quite fills. But how lucky she was to have you as her loving family for the past 9 years.
ReplyDeleteRun fast beautiful girl.
Good friends are with us forever. Their bodies may leave us but their memories never will leave our minds, always there for quick recall when something we hear or see jogs our brains into gear. lets always believe that we are also forever in their memories when they leave their tired worn bodies behind to be forever young and safe at our rainbow bridge.
ReplyDeleteFor Shavar everyday at Villalobos was a blessing. We give them what we can, they accept it unconditionally. Maya (Mai Tai) is currently doing very well on pain meds to control her bone cancer pain. When her time comes, she will cross the Rainbow Bridge, and join Shavar, Walter and others, knowing she was VERY well loved! There isn't one person who has met her that hasnt fallen in love. Maya is blessed! And so am I!
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