How long is forever?

As many of you know, I picked up my current foster, Peaches, from the Roscommon County shelter early last month.  Peaches was surrendered to the shelter when her owner went into an assisted living facility and could no longer care for her.  I learned from the shelter staff that she had lived in a home with another dog that had died from cancer just a couple of months before Peaches was surrendered.  What many of you don't know is that after arriving at the shelter, Peaches had a mammary tumor removed and that tumor was found to be cancerous.  

Freedom Ride!

 Most county shelters aren't set up to deal with a dog with serious health issues like cancer and in many cases a dog with cancer would probably be euthanized.  Thankfully the staff at the Roscommon County shelter decided to contact a rescue to see if someone else could help and of course they reached out to ISR.  When I received the email asking if I would be willing to foster Peaches, of course I said yes and happily traveled the two hours North to bring her home with me.  Although I had seen the mention of cancer in the original email, it wasn't going to stop me from bringing her into my home and giving her a chance at life.  I didn't even give it a second thought.  Rather naively, probably, I assumed that there would be some sort of treatment plan and she'd get healthy and go on to live a good long life with whatever family was lucky enough to adopt her and make her a part of their family. 

Unfortunately, when Peaches had her follow-up visit with our local vet, chest x-rays showed that the cancer has spread to several other mammary tumors and has metastasized to her lungs.  There is no treatment available as chemotherapy doesn't work on mammary cancer in dogs.  Peaches was given a terminal diagnosis...with an estimate of 2 years to live.  Two years.  When thinking about an older dog, an additional 2 years seems like a lifetime.  But for Peaches, who is only six, it's just downright unfair.

Surveying her kingdom

Peaches has a zest for life and loves to run.  She is a silly girl full of personality and you certainly wouldn't know that she is sick from the way she acts.   She came into my home very happy to be here, although a little timid and unsure of her new surroundings at first.  But that is totally understandable.  She has now settled in nicely at my house with all of us here and she loves to run and play with our neighbor dog and with her buddy Bentley.  She has even gotten my silly old Imke to play a bit of chase, even if it is only for 30 seconds.  Peaches looks and acts like most normal, healthy, six year old GSPs.  She could definitely use a little work on loose-leash walking, but hey, what country dog knows how to walk nicely on a leash?  Other than that small issue, she is a well-mannered, well-trained, very sweet and lovable girl. 

Peaches has been through a lot of loss and change over the last few months.  I don't want her to have to go through anymore.  So when asked recently if we wanted to be her hospice foster or as some people call it, her forever foster,  I said yes.  It was not without hesitation though.  I did not hesitate because of the cancer or because I don't want her here; I  hesitated thinking of all of the other dogs that I wouldn't be able to help while she is here  But then I thought of the one dog I would be helping and that made my decision easy.  She deserves a place where she is happy and comfortable, a place with stability and love and adventure.  

I have decided that Peaches will stay here, as my hospice foster until we see the zest for life leave her eyes and, as our vet Dr. Gill stated so well when Jake was sick-when I can see she no longer wants to just be a dog.

Friends

So we aren't going to be sad or feel sorry for ourselves and we're not going to slow down, not while she has life left to live.  She seems to have had a pretty good life up to this point and I'm going to make sure she goes out with a bang.  That's where you come in...I've decided to be cliche' and make a Peaches bucket list.  First on that list is a visit to the UP and of course she'll be joining our 100 mile North Country Trail hike challenge this year.  I have some other ideas too, but I'd love your suggestions on things you'd like to see Peaches do.  And who knows, maybe she'll even get her own Instagram account so you can follow along on her adventures.  I don't know how long forever is, but we're going to make the most of it!