Taylor the Fairy Godmother to all
When we first got Taylor we really did not know a whole lot about pedigrees and such. From doing research we know that the parents needed to have hips and elbow clearances, eyes needed to be cerf’d and some test the thyroid and the heart (which Alice did). Well after doing the research about pedigrees, we realized what a great pedigree Taylor had! Her father was #1 producer of champions for two years, He was imported from Sweden.
We started obedience classes at 5 ½ months old. She was the youngest! But at the top of her class!! She passed with flying colors!!
When Taylor was a little over a year old she ruptured her crutiate ligament. Our vet had a wonderful orthopedic surgeon do the surgery. What a sight. They shaved her entire leg! And no band aids on the incision! Lots of rest and only outside for potty breaks for 6 to 8 weeks. For a lab puppy?? Well, she was so very good. We opened the pool early so she could do water therapy. Wow, no limping or anything! The knee just felt a bit thicker. The surgeon reminded us that over 50% of FEMALE Labradors that rupture one crutiate, will do the other. Great, something to look forward to. Well, we did not have to wait too long! The following April she ruptured the other one. A week after little Madison arrived! By this time we were pros! Again, the water therapy did wonders. She runs and plays with the other girls, you would never know she had both knees repaired!
Taylor was a very good teacher with Madison. She had lots of patience! Maddie was quick to learn. They became best of buddies. They passed their Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Tests together. When they passed we made arrangements to visit a local care facility. The week before we were do to go for the first time Sophie arrived! I called the director and explained that we would have to postpone our visit. She said, no, bring the pup along with you! Well, there has been no looking back! The joy these dogs bring to the residents is so amazing……There was a resident with severe Alzheimer’s who spoke to no one, wanted no one near her, but when she saw Sophie she reached out and we put Sophie on her lap. She held on and then began singing to her…..Sophie just licked her hand the entire time.
Once again she played the big sister to Sophie in showing her the ropes. She always had patience and tolerated a lot from both Maddie and Sophie. Sometimes the poor thing had no privacy or peace and quiet! Thought this chubby little yellow thing was lots of fun.
She has helped to train and nurture both Maddie and Sophie, help them to become the wonderful girls they are now.
Taylor enjoys the simple things in life, a good meal, a nap on the couch, a ride in the car or a lap around the pool. She is the first to sit beside you when you are down and may need a lick or a paw on your knee. Because of her spirit, love of life and wonderful personality we have surrounded ourselves with labs.
In November of ’02 we brought Taylor and Maddie in for their shots. I had asked Dr. Glicker if she felt “something” deep in Taylor’s neck. A bit bigger than the fatty cysts that she has had in the past. When she felt around I could see a look of concern on her face. She aspirated it and sent it for a biopsy. The results came back nonmalignant. But the tumor must be removed. We scheduled the surgery for the following Friday. The surgery was very rough……..large inscion under her neck. Maddie and Sophie were great nurses. The results would be back in a week. Thyroid carcinoma. Well, I thought that someone hit me in the chest with a brick…..They must be wrong…….The surgery was successful in removing the tumor, but there MAY have been some vascular invasion. The oncologist suggests four chemotherapy treatments to begin immediately. WAIT a minute, this is my TAYLOR………We had hundred of questions, concerns, fears………The oncologist was brilliant, he felt that Taylor had about a 60% chance of a complete recovery, based on size, grade and mobility. Ok. The treatment begins. When we picked Taylor up, she came trotting out of the treatment room like nothing happened. Happy, looking for supper! Meet with the oncologist again, he changed the protocol, we will do only three treatments and lower the dose! Great news! I must say dogs handle the chemo amazingly well. She had no hair loss except for all but THREE of her whiskers!
Well, Taylor just had her three-month check up; everything looks GREAT!! And, we now have 16 whiskers!!!
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