There is never a good time to let you know one of our precious pups has crossed over The Rainbow Bridge. We rescued Titus on March 12, 2012. He was a chihuahua/pug mix that was around two years old. He was picked up as a stray in Chesterfield, SC. Half of his rear leg was missing and infected with the bone protruding, and the other rear leg was severely damaged from dragging it.
Titus, a dog of remarkable resilience, was scheduled to be euthanized when I stepped up and said I would take him. We assumed his leg was caught in a trap since he did not appear to have other injuries. What we later discovered was Titus also had a spinal injury and needed surgery. He was a young pup when we got him. I wanted to give him the best chance of living as normal a life as possible, given his limitations. We did everything imaginable to provide him with that Life.
Titus's spinal cord had been injured, and even after surgery, we would have to express his bladder for the rest of his Life. Given his limitations, he was a special needs pup that needed a special home. He was with a family briefly until caring for him became too much. When we got Titus back, he was overweight and was a diabetic.
Titus's health and quality of Life were our top priority. We managed his diabetes, got his weight off, and got into a rhythm of expressing his bladder. Titus never knew he was sick or had a disability. Every day, he greeted us with a smile that lasted all day. He played with all of the dogs and learned to hop around the yard without his cart. Titus was our big personality, little dog Mascot, who showered us with love.
Everyone loved him. Titus was the dog we would always take out to schools or communities when they wanted to see what we do at Noah's Arks Rescue. He was the perfect example of never giving up on animals when the World has discarded them as broken and worthless. His Life was a testament to the impact one small, determined creature can have on the World.
Expressing a dog's bladder for so long has its complications. We were meticulous about it and tested his urine the second we thought he might have a bladder infection, which happened several times a year. Over the last six months, Titus had been developing clots in his bladder that needed to be flushed out. He was going to the hospital at least once a month for this procedure. He took it like a Champ and always returned to his usual cheerful self.
On one of the visits, he did not want to eat and appeared to be in a lot of pain. X-rays showed a lesion at T-11 and fluid in his abdomen. His abdominal effusion was consistent with malignant carcinoma with a metastatic lesion in his spine. His abdomen was bathed in cancer cells. Once we got Titus's pain under control, he left the hospital and returned to us his usual chipper self.
We were very guarded and sad at the thought of losing Titus. Well, Titus was not going to participate in our sadness. He went about his days, chipper as ever, cheering us on and ensuring every pup in our care got their daily smooches. Every ER visit over the last six months was filled with dread for us. Was today the day we had to say goodbye? Titus rallied every time, and off we returned to the Rehab Center, delighted we got one more day.
We loved every second the Universe Gifted us with this precious bundle of Joy. The day finally came when Titus could no longer rally, and I knew it was time. He couldn't come back to the Rehab Center to say goodbye, so I came to him in the hospital. I knew the minute I held him in my arms today was the day. When I looked into his eyes, I was Gifted with thirteen years of beautiful memories. Titus gave me his final kiss and was gone.
Every time I look at his kennel, I remember the boisterous pup who chose happiness every day of his Life. Titus has always been a reminder to look beyond disabilities and into the heart and soul of the person or animal we are graced with daily. We are the lucky ones to experience their unconditional, infectious Joy.
Tonight, when you look into the Night Sky, look for the brightest star hopping all around with tiny stars chasing it. That will be Titus and all the other NAR pups that passed before him. Their delight in having him cross over will light up the Night Sky forever.
Titus's bills kept mounting over the last six months, but we continued. Please DONATE in his honor and give us a chance to pay off his bills and help more dogs like Titus. With all his disabilities, our precious pup lived out his natural Life Span. Titus was almost fifteen years old when he passed. Titus was under the Love and Care of Noah's Arks Rescue for thirteen years. Titus is a perfect example of what we do when the World has given up on a beautiful pup, and we step in.
Thanks for giving Titus and all the other pups at Noah's Arks Rescue the Gift of Life, which is filled with unconditional love and support.
