| Spike's Story |
| Hello my name is Spike. I am a 11 year old red and white Shih Tzu. I am pretty much the boss around the McDonald home. My family pretty much knows who rules the roost. I have been known to have nicknames such as Sir Duke and Master Spike! My brothers and sister now have kids and even at such a young age, all three of them are beginning to understand "Don't Mess With Me". My life started out on June 18, 1997. I was the runt of the litter. My mom wasn't going to keep me. She had recently just got over the passing of her other Shih Tzu, Squiggles. I've heard we are very much a like, but yet at the same time very much different. I guess the thing we have most in common is that we are Mamma's Baby. Anyways, back to me (of course), I had this funny little spike on my head so my mom started to call me Spike. My dad told my mom every day, "You really don't need another dog after what happened to Squiggles." Well my mom started taking me to work with her and started spending a lot of time with me since I was so small. My mom got really attached to me and wasn't going to let me go. One night, I was about 6 months old and my mom and sister were playing on the computer and I went into a paralyze stage where I couldn't move. My mom instantly panicked and called Doctor Scott Richter, the vet she works for in Marietta. Doctor Scott looked at me the next morning and told my mom and dad that their was nothing he could do, that only the vet at Cobb Emergency Animal Clinic can do. After getting in touch with the Doctor Early, my family's hopes of a miracle were not looking good. The vet told my mom and dad that he has seen this one other time and it was in a Maltese and after the surgery, the dog didn't make it. After many of tears, it finally came to a point, my parents couldn't put a price on my life. I had the surgery. The vet went in an rewired the muscles in my neck. This is the only surgery they couldn't guarantee. They were told I would never be able to walk again and if I did, it would be several months to a year. After all this, I believe MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN! I have to admit, I got my spoiling from this surgery, from being carried everywhere. My mom slept next to me at night on the floor while I slept in a laundry basket. I was very determined to prove that doctor wrong! I was going to walk. It took me about 4 months and I was walking. I have a funny walk. I sometimes get called Cyclops. It has been 10 years now and I am still going strong. I couldn't ask for a better family. I might be a little bit spoiled, but my mom and dad and brothers and sister love me very much. My brothers and sister like to aggravate me a lot, but I think it's jealously! They just wish mom loved them as she does me! Always have faith! If I can come through this traumatic surgery, anything can be possible! |
