June/July 2013 - Community Connections

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Community Connections Page 26 June/July 2013 Saying Goodbye By Ron Kesseler For those of you that are animal owners and lovers, you will understand that our animals become part of our family. We often speak to them as if they were human, with instructions on what to do, when to go out or where not to go, fully expecting that they understand our every word. Dogs and cats are the most common of house pets and there are hundreds of sizes, breeds and appearances, all of which are endearing to us, their owners. We take care of them by feeding, playing, taking care of them to the best of our ability, all of which is in return for LOVE. Animals in contrast to humans, for the most part only wish to please their “masters”. Dogs want to run and play or rest … cats just want to be stroked and pampered when they are done “exploring.” If you are a reader of my articles, you know that I had two Chocolate Labs, Bubba and Maggie. As is common with the breed of Labrador Retrievers, both my companions suffered from epilepsy. Because we cared so much, we, along with our vet, tried numerous medications and dosages to give them the best quality of life possible. Bubba succumbed to sickness and age in 2009 leaving Maggie to mourn his loss with us. Maggie didn’t seem too upset at the beginning, until we went camping. We left her alone for about 10 minutes while we were talking with neighbors. All of a sudden we heard a loud howling noise coming from our campsite. It was Maggie in her first display of grief in being without her brother and the loneliness was something she had never experienced. It was a very sad moment for us as well. Maggie became independent over the next few weeks learning to cope alone. As a distraction, I would take her out more than before. Maggie’s favorite game was HOCKEY! I would have to take a ball and my hockey stick and try to get the ball past her. She got so good she could have been signed up by the Habs! Maggie would follow us anywhere, stopping at friends' houses. She would come in and stay by my side and never wander unless I called her. She never would go for food on tables or sneak treats unless they were offered. She was a great traveler, welcome almost anywhere. Her favorite place was the campground we have been going to for over 30 years. She loved to run around always looking over her shoulder to make sure I was near. She never ran after other dogs, cats, raccoons, etc., but not because she was afraid, she just seemed to know it wasn’t alright. In February past, we came in from outside and Maggie greeted me at the door as usual, tail wagging with an almost visible smile, waiting for me to say … “Wanna play?” I reached down and scratched the scruff of her neck and I felt a small lump under her neck. It didn’t seem to cause her pain, so I decided to wait and watch closely for changes. Two weeks later the lump had grown to about the size of a marble so I took her to our family vet for a check up. She said it could be an infection or possibly a tumor. We had previously removed small growths on her lips which were pea size. Over the next few weeks the lump doubled in size, so our vet took a sample for testing. Three days later she called and said Maggie had carcinoma. We were devastated. She told us that at the age of almost 13, she suggested watching the growth and should it hamper her breathing, we would have to make a decision about putting her down. Maggie continued to run and play hockey with me every day, with her ears perking up like a pup’s ears and although she couldn’t play for as long as before, she enjoyed every second. We began to notice the lump had grown to the size of a golf ball and was irritating her. She would rub on the floor and would love it when I scratched it. This let me know that the stretching of the skin was bothering her. Maggie slept in our bedroom on her own pet bed turning in at the same time we would. Every night when she would lie down, she let out a big sigh as if to say, “That was a good day!” Knowing the end was approaching, we decided last week to take Maggie to the lake where she enjoyed herself the most. She ran and would stop with that “Are you still there?” look and I swear I saw a smile on her face. For some reason, she kept running back to me and walked at my side, periodically sliding her head on my leg and looking up at me. After two days of her having good times, it was time to go home. Maggie was getting old and could no longer jump into my truck so I lifted her to the back seat as usual and onto her favorite blanket in preparation for the three hour ride home. This time seemed different. She wasn’t able to relax she seemed out of sorts and wouldn’t lay her head down as she had hundreds of times in my truck. The ride home was strenuous, just because I knew something was up. She wouldn’t drink water and didn’t even perk up when I asked her if she wanted a “treat” which she would usually do back flips for. We arrived in the driveway and as usual she stood up knowing she was home. I opened the door, scratched her scruff and picked her up. I put her down in the driveway and she spotted her hockey ball so she turned to pick it up. As she did that she let out a sharp cry and raised her left rear leg. She then ran around the front yard her leg in the air yelping every time she would attempt to put weight on it. I ran over to her and scooped her up and ran into the house. She was in obvious pain. I called my son and asked him to come over right away. Unfortunately it was 5:30 Saturday evening and our vet’s office was closed as were all local animal hospitals. My neighbor (who is my vet) was away at a conference but her husband suggested DMV Veterinary Hospital in Blainville because they were open 24/7. After a call, my son and I took Maggie to the vet who after a quick verification said it appeared Maggie had either a dislocated or fractured hip. When I explained she had carcinoma, the vet told me it had probably spread to her bones which would cause them to become brittle. A decision was made there to put her out of her pain. With my son cradling her body and me her head, the vet asked if we wanted some time with her alone, I said, “No, it was time, no more suffering.” The vet then proceeded and Maggie went to sleep in my arms. She went peacefully and surrounded with love. As a police officer I have witnessed sorrow and grief, but because it was expected of me, without showing emotion. Well, I must say, my son and I cried like babies all the way home, and it was not a good week at the Kesseler household. We had Maggie cremated and she now rests next to her brother Bubba at her spot at the campground, the place she loved the most. We now have two cats and 12 fish to occupy our time and I’m not sure, but the latest cat we rescued a few weeks ago loves to follow me around and is constantly rubbing her head on my leg while looking up … a coincidence? I guess. So long old girl, you will be missed. Until next time, these are my thoughts.
Community Connections Page 27 June/July 2013 Saying Goodbye to LTM By Lindsay Parr It seems not long ago that I was walking out of my front door on a late August morning. I wore a black skirt and my hair was brushed back. I was nervous as I made the walk up the street to my bus stop, but I remember being filled with excitement. I was about to leave my elementary school years behind and start a whole new chapter of my life: High school. As I walked through the doors of Lake of Two Mountains High School, I was shocked by the number of people who were bustling from here to there. They were greeting one another after a short lived summer, and they were shouting with joy as they found out about the classes that they shared with one another. I, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to safely locate my locker and homeroom. With my friends by my side, the first day of high school wasn’t as horrible as the movies made it out to be. During the following years, I became more comfortable with the whole concept of high school. In all honesty, it wasn’t intimidating at all. As the years began to fly by, the first day of school wasn’t all about finding the way to my locker. I soon came to the realization that it was impossible to get lost within the walls of LTM. From the very beginning, I loved high school and wanted to do everything that I could to get involved. I didn’t want to miss out on anything! I’ve participated in everything from the girls’ soccer team to the drama productions. In secondary three, I even joined leadership and student council. My student council career debuted when I was appointed treasurer. Two years later, I was voted in as the president. This has allowed me to plan and volunteer in the various activities that take place around the school, such as: Color Clash, Spirit Week, and Cultural Awareness Week. On the other hand, I have also attended the Montreal Regional Science Fair for two consecutive years, and participated in LTM’s Free the Children Club. This year, I was even presented with the opportunity to help out with the graduation committee and the yearbook. High school will only be a good experience if you make it one. Getting involved with my school’s community has definitely helped to improve my high school years. In all honesty, I’m really going to miss LTM. The teachers are dedicated to the student’s education, and they are always willing to support students in and outside of the classroom. Students are able to establish great relationships with their teachers, due to the relatively small class sizes. All in all, the teachers are very committed to the education of the students. There is always something happening at LTM, and the various activities and sports definitely help contribute to the memories. The LTM community is friendly and welcoming, and the size of the school allows students to really get to know one another. Next year, I’ll be attending Champlain Saint-Lambert in International Baccalaureate of Science. This program allows me to take courses such as Chemistry, Physics and Calculus, as well as Philosophy and Literature. In addition to taking some really cool courses, the IB curriculum obliges students to get involved with their school’s community. I’ll also have to write a mini thesis upon graduation, and work on a personal project. There’s a busy two years ahead of me, but I feel well prepared to take on this chapter of my life! During my five years at LTM, I’ve learned to fall in love with the sciences, but I also discovered my passion for reading and writing. I don’t know where IB Sciences will bring me, but I’m eager to find out. The thought of Cégep is intimidating, but I thought the same thing about high school not five years ago
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June/July 2013 - Community Connections

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