Summer Dreaming

Karma's favorite place is the beach. I will never forget the first time I took her. I had been wanting to go to the beach for a few weeks, but my work schedule was heavy and wasn't allowing me much time off. When I finally had an afternoon off I was excited. The weather was perfect. Well, perfect for me. It was a little on the hot side for my sweet little smush-faced puppy. I debated bringing her with me all week. I felt guilty leaving her at home when she could come with me. But, I didn't want her to overheat.

At the beginning of the week Karma came in to work with me. She was due for a skin scrape. It was negative. It was the last skin scrape. Her mange was gone! I knew that we needed to celebrate. It was the tipping point We were going to the beach.

I found a local beach that was dog friendly. I got my cash together for parking. I packed a bag, making sure that I had supplies for Karma. I even bought a little water bottle that had a drop down bowl for Karma. With our gear in hand we made our way to First Landing State Park.

Having never been to that particular beach I really didn't know what to expect. I was more than pleasantly surprised. There were very few cars in the parking lot. Even though I knew that we were close to the tourist areas of Virginia Beach I felt that we were in a world our own. We made our way up the long track of boardwalk over the dunes and to the beach. It was warm, the sun was shining, and it was still early spring. We couldn't have asked for a better day.

Karma had her nose on overdrive the moment we got out of the car. I could feel her excitement. There were a couple of families enjoying the nice day, sitting out of the beach. There was no one in the water. It was much too early in the season for that, the water was still chilly.

The moment her feet hit the sand she looked back at me. I swear she smiled. She ran right for the water. And she marked her territory. She looked so damn proud of herself. We walked along the water for nearly half a mile. I could tell that she was getting tired. I set up camp and tried to get her to lay not he beach towel with me. But, by that time there were more people walking around. Being the social little butterfly that she is she had to say hello to everyone. She never sat still with me. I knew that if we ever came back to the beach it would be for walks only. No relaxation for me. But, I was perfectly fine with that. I love spending time with my little girl and if she was happy walking then I would be by her side.

It became a weekly tradition. If I didn't have to work Sunday morning we would go to the beach. We had to be there around the time the park opened because it would be too hot as summer came closer. She loved it. If there were still any ghost crabs still out when she got there she would chase them until the ran for their holes. Sometimes the tide would be completely out and she would run the the sandbars. She learned that she could swim. She loved sniffing around the sandbars that are normally covered by water.

Very rarely there would be no one else at the beach. On those few rare occasions I would take Karma to the far end of the beach, all the way to the military base. I would park myself and set up camp and let her off leash. She would run. Stop, sniff for a little while. Then she would run again. She always came back to me. Which was fantastic. She had never looked so free. I loved sitting back and watching her.

She would be exhausted when we got home. No matter how long we were at the beach. She would run to the water bowl for a long drink. Once she had her fill we headed to the shower. She tolerated her bath, but she always looked like she felt better once she was drying. The amount of sand I would get off her was just crazy.

A few months ago we moved further away from the water so our beach trips started to decrease in frequency. To make matters worse Karma's knees have gotten worse. Karma has was is called bilateral luxating patellas. That is fancy veterinary speak for her knee caps don't stay in place like they should. It is not uncommon for Boston terriers, even Boston terrier mixes like Karma, to have this condition. She just can't handle long 3 mile walks in the sand right now. One day, she will have her knees fixed and I look forward to taking her back after her knees heel. I can just see her little face light up as she runs to the water.

Karma's Story

See this little dog, right here. This is Karma. I know what you are most likely thinking. Karma is a bitch. Funny. But, that is not how little girl got her name. You see, this little girl didn't always look like this. Her story started on a much darker note. Oh, she was still the same happy little puppy that she is now. That was, indeed, her saving grace.

Karma's story began a little over three years ago. Before I even came into the picture. At the end of the summer a women came in to the veterinary hospital that I had worked out with a puppy. She had just rescued a little dog, but she knew that there was something seriously wrong with the puppy. More importantly, she knew that she was in over her head.

That little puppy was Karma, then called a different name long since forgotten. I've been told it didn't fit the personality of the little dog. What was wrong with the puppy? Well, for starters, she had no fur. The little dog was covered in open wounds. The lymph nodes in her neck were swollen to nearly the size of tennis balls. Oh, and she smelled. The poor thing had a double ear infection and was under weight. To say that she was suffering would be an understatement.

But, that's the thing. She wasn't acting like a dog in pain. She didn't behave like she was sick. She was  wagging her little crooked tail and trying to lick the faces of anyone she could get close enough to reach. Which, didn't please the staff too much. Imagine a little greasy dog, with no fur, and large seeping wounds trying to lick your face. Just think of the potential zoonotic diseases. But, that little happy, sick, puppy was winning the hearts of the staff.

The veterinarian knew what was wrong with the puppy. She let the women know that it was treatable, but it would like a lot of time. Of course, anyone that has a pet knows that veterinary care can be expensive. To say that this little puppy's care would be expensive would be an understatement. The women said that she could barely afford to feed the dog and would never be able to afford the vet bills. Without veterinary care the puppy would further suffer and could die.

A charity was contacted. After looking into the case in great detail they determined that even if they covered the veterinary care the women would not be able to take care of the dog. They offered to euthanize. The women was apathetic. The veterinarian was not sold on the idea, but there did not seem to be another option.

So, what exactly was wrong with Karma? She had generalized demodex mange, various bacterial and fungal injections in her skin and ears, and she was underweight. All of which could be treated.

One of the veterinary assistants heard what was going to happen to the little puppy and she stepped in. She felt strongly that the little dog was not ready to die. Typically a dog with her illnesses would be in pain, withdrawn, and subdued. But, this little puppy was actively trying to meet anyone she could and give them as many kisses as they would allow. She was a fighter. So, the vet assistant let the veterinarian know that if the owner wished to sign her over to the hospital she would take the puppy and cover all of the veterinary expenses. She offered to rehabilitate the puppy and then find her a home when she was well.

The woman agreed to sign the puppy over to the hospital. The vet assistant named the little puppy Karma. She felt that she had such overwhelming positive energy that she passed it on to everyone that she met. Treatment began immediately. It was a long, hard fought, battle. There were so many tests done, medications prescribed, and in hospital treatment was frequent. Nearly five months later I was hired on at the veterinary hospital.

My third day of work I was cornered. I had quickly become friends with the vet assistant that had rescued little Karma. Even though I had no interest in her breed, or small dogs with smushed in faces in general I agreed to take her home for a few nights. When I first met her I was nervous. I had never been solely responsible for another living being. Sure, I had pets growing up, but my parents did all of the hard work. I didn't know how I would do taking care of a dog. Especially, a dog that was receiving daily medications to get over a serious infection.

Karma walked on a leash, but she chased after ever person we met on our way home. She ran around my car as I drove. And she was overly excited to make her way up the stairs to the apartment. After running around and playing with my roommates she tired herself out. I set up her food and water bowls and decided that we should head to bed. That little dog jumped right up into the bed, buried under the covers, and snuggled right up next to me.

It was a beautiful moment. It felt like a moment from a movie. This little dog chose me. She wanted to be with me. She loved me already. I knew in that moment that I would not be giving Karma back. She was mine. I would take care of her, protect her, and make sure that she wanted for nothing. And from that moment on it would be Karma and I going through life together.

Karma came in to my life for a reason. She helped to restore my faith in humanity. My coworker had taken on the little puppy without a second thought, because it was the right thing to do, but she could have just let it go as it wasn't her problem. That woman could have just as easily refused to sign over the puppy and taken her home to suffer and die. The veterinarian could have euthanized the puppy and gone on with her day.

Karma was given a second chance at life. She came in to my life at a time when I was most in need of a friend. A companion. She truly does spread good Karma. She makes me happy. She brings a smile to nearly everyone she meets. She is a ray of sunshine that always shines through the darkest, cloud filled sky.

The point of Karma's story is not to lay blame. Everything happens for a reason. Karma is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met, and that is without biased I assure you. (And let me tell you, I have met a lot of dog in my life since I work at a veterinary hospital). I guess if we could all be like Karma, maybe the world will be a better place.