Zaras List

Jan. 8, 2008

She was on one of those lists that says, "Please help! Or else will be euthanized at the shelter..." She was one of many out of a shelter in Central CA. There was a transport of large breed dogs coming and after seeing her picture, we agreed to take her on.

Hillary was a beautiful black Lab lady who was in the prime of her life. She was the epitome of what you think of when you hear Lab. She was an awesome family dog who loved everyone whether big or small. Her tail was constantly thumping and when she got excited you could see her grin. Because she was past the puppy age, she was mellow, relaxed, past all the puppy nonsense of chewing and digging and really was hitting her prime. But best of all, she was going to finally have a home she could call her own.

We don't know her story before she came to us. We don't know if she was someone's beloved or if she was a lonely girl who had spent much of her time on the streets. We'll never know.

Hillary died from complications of pyrometria. She came to us unspayed and when she was taken in, it was clear she had some issues going on and it would be a battle for her life. This one she wouldn't survive. She survived the surgery but her heart gave out and couldn't be revived. This girl deserved to live out the rest of her life but because for whatever reason she wasn't spayed earlier in her life, we lost her just when she had the chance to find her home.

If you have an unspayed female dog, please heed the warning of what happened to Hillary. Please know how common this is and what can happen to your dog. Please spay and neuter your animals. Let Hillary's death not be in vain but convince at least one person to alter their pet.