Continued from page 1
Apollo takes High in Trial at All Breed Trial in Canada
(Mom grins proudly)Just in 1995 Apollo completed approximately 25 nursing home and hospital visits, other years before and after were similar. He was awarded the Muscular Dystrophy Association "Cutest Pet" award for NE in 1995, by being the dog to campaign for the most contributions that year, he raised over $1200 himself, and presented the total check for the region at the Jerry Lewis Telethon that fall.
In 1996 Apollo was "arrested" by the Manchester police department for the United Ways annual "Jail and Bail", he had to raise $600 for his bail, and I had to raise $400 for mine...Guess who was bailed before me
? Throughout 1995, Ô96 and Ô97, Apollo was a "Demo Dog" during Manchester's annual "Thursday Night Live" street fair. In this street fair, the training school at which I work presents an obedience demonstration each year. Apollo was the star for the last 3 years, sharing the spotlight with a 5 pound Yorkshire Terrier. This Yorkie used Apollo as a "Jump" and performed tricks with Apollo. Apollo as well as other dogs in the demo, were given to youngsters to practice heeling work with...total strangers. Apollo was welcomed in most places of business in Manchester, including restaurants and stores. Everyone who knew him loved him, if I went to the post office, bank or hairdressers and he wasn't with me, I heard, "Hey, where's Apollo?". More people knew his name, than knew mine.
I am trying to paint you a picture here, one of a dog who was very social, and well adjusted.
In November 1996, my husband and I rescued a nephew of ours from a very bad situation and have been fostering him since. Immediately upon his entering our home, there became an "issue" between Apollo and the child Eric. Eric was not very dog smart, and Apollo had never had to share "his" home with a child before. Children outside were great, but at home it seemed there was a problem. The fact that Eric did not react properly to dogs did not help matters, and it took a long time to educate him in proper behavior around dogs. Belle and Molly, our other 2 dogs, seemed accepting and forgiving of his childish errors, Apollo was not. A behaviorist was brought in from outside and his opinion was that Apollo resented Eric's' intrusion, but that Eric working with Apollo would help solve the issues. We followed the suggestions of the behaviorist and some of them worked, though the matter between Apollo and Eric never fully resolved itself.
This past summer, Eric and Apollo seemed to have come to an uneasy truce, basically avoiding each other. Occasionally, Eric would challenge Apollo for space or a toy, and win but it was always an uneasy situation. During the same period of time, Apollo began to challenge the other two dogs for territory, toys and food. This had never occurred before, as he was basically easygoing and though he was the boss or alpha dog in our home, he was gracious about it. All of a sudden, he would not back off and I had to start refereeing dog squabbles. The squabbles escalated and even the cats became wary of Apollo, avoiding him even outdoors. Previously, they had slept together as buddies.
As you can see, the signs of a problem were presenting themselves, but we did not see them clearly. Apollo grabbed a chicken bone one day from the garbage. I yelled for him to "drop it" and he quickly complied. As I reached down for the bone, Molly was sneaking up from behind me, in an attempt to steal it. Apollo nailed Molly, and got me as well. Fortunately my wound was small, but I was put on alert. Again, the behaviorist was consulted. He suggested that there might be a chemical imbalance in Apollo's brain, and took blood samples. The results were inconclusive. A brain scan would not show visible tumors, so that wouldn't mean much either.
Apollo's behavior continued to get worse, I had to discontinue his Nursing home visits, as I could not trust him. I did continue to take him for rides around to our usual haunts, but less frequently. When company visited, I crated him. Finally the blow I was trying to prevent occurred...on my birthday.
On October 7, 1997 my husband decide to treat me to Taiwanese food. We carried the food home, and were avidly opening boxes, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the enticing smells. Eric gently elbowed Apollo away from the counter, the better to see the food, and BANG- Apollo bit Eric. No provocation, no warning. It was over in a second.
No, it wasn't. For 2 days...long harrowing days, we agonized. We did not see how we could possibly allow Apollo to remain with us in this condition. We did not see how we could possibly decide to end his life. Oh, how I still cry over that decision...my best friend, who trusted me with his very life...to take it from him while he looked into my eyes with such trust.
But, honestly, the dog whose eyes I looked into after he bit Eric, was NOT the dog whose eyes I had looked into in the last 5 years. The real Apollo was gone, and there was someone else there sometimes. Not always, but when these episodes took place, I looked into "empty" eyes, not the eyes I knew and loved. The day after the bite episode, Apollo attacked our Pointer Molly, savagely and with no apparent cause, hours later he went after Belle our female Dane, leaving a hole in her neck. We were left with no choice. I could not see this lovely dog, who wore the reputation of an emissary of joy, being saddled with the onus of a savage beast, locked away from the people he loved. He would never have understood the isolation and would have been lonely and sad.
On October 9, 1997 we said good-bye to Apollo. He went to sleep with quiet dignity, but he didn't want to die and went out fighting. I will always remember my buddy this way. Apollo wanted to live and live he did, well and happily. Making others lives happy as he gathered his kudos and pats, trotting happily from place to place.
Someday, I know he'll be standing with quiet dignity, gently waiting to welcome us home. Until then, fare thee well my sweet boy, I'll be dreaming of you with love.
Mom
Lyn Richards, 1997Into my heart dark clouds have flown,
the sun no longer shines.
Apollo my love, please wait for me,
at the Bridge, until my time.....
The Best Friend I Ever Had
by Pamela Richards ShearerBlack as night, heart of gold
we share memories that go untold.
With the innocence of a child
some of your antics drove me wild.
But through it all your love was true
my heart is aching, what am I to do.
Alone with my memories feeling so sad
Apollo...you're the best friend that I ever had.
Contact Lyn Richards About Lyn Richards
Copyright© Lyn Richards DaneLady@doglogic.com
Obedience Train Your Dane!
HomePage DOGLOGIC http://www.doglogic.com/
Worldwide pager http://wwp.mirabilis.com/1327208
3020 Brown Ave #10, Manchester, NH 03103
603-668-8157Published with permission of the author.
Top Back
 NetPets Main Page |
contact information |  The Dog Center |
