We Called Him HoboWe Called Him Hobo
He was a golden retriever, a rescue, a dear soul...He was so gentle, so sweet. He didn't have a name so we named him Hobo.
He was a stray, the most beautiful Red dog. He would snuggle and make woo-woo sounds. I took him for a hike up the mountain and he loved to run. He and Lucy would run together. Her coat shining gold in the sun and his shining beautiful copper red. He was a much better retriever and would drop the ball right at our feet.
I belong to the golden retriever rescue club in Arizona, RAGOFAZ (Rescue a Golden of Arizona). We brought this dear boy in to foster on a Friday. I spent the weekend with him and Monday took him in to get neutered, as we neuter all our rescues. I made a decision that instead of placing this boy up for adoption, he would be mine, his new mom... He made that kind of impression on me.
The vet that I took the boy to (which we had many times before) did something terribly wrong. When I picked him up after the surgery I noticed he we was bleeding. We called the vet back and she couldn't figure out what was wrong. She gave him an IV and sent him home with us. The next day he could barely move, we rushed him to our vet and he did emergency surgery. He found that the first vet had severed a vessel and had not tied it off. Our dear boy had bled to death. He was about 3 years old and he died without even a real name. This boy had been so full of life. We were able to stroke Hobo's head and kiss him goodbye.
In the VERY short time we had this boy I fell deeply in love with him, he deserved to live, he deserved his chance at life! We have no photos of him, only in our minds. And they will be there forever.
All pets cross the Rainbow Bridge to the other side to wait for us... We someday will see him again running in the desert with his hair shining red in the sun. I named him Charlie.
I called the agency that licenses veterinarians (Arizona State Veternary Medical Examination Board). They take consumer complaints in the Phoenix area. I spoke with a most compassionate and wonderful woman named Linda at (602) 542-8167. Linda told me that anyone can call and learn if there are any complaints against a vet and when the vet is licensed. This vet is on probation and has been since January 1998! She was charged with negligence. I have filed a complaint, even though it won't bring Hobo back, it may help so that she doesn't do this sort of thing in the future.
I urge you, if you are looking for a new vet or if you will be using a spay/neuter clinic, please check them out first. We TRUST our vets to take care of our precious goldens, but do we check them out before we hand them over? Take the time to do this, it will be worth your effort to know you are making a valid choice in the vet you entrust your baby to!
I intend to create a Memorial Fund for Hobo. The fund will be started and live a long life, and Hobo will be able to help all other rescues that come along our way by having our rescues spayed and neutered by reputable vets. This way Hobo will live on...
If you would like to contribute to the Hobo Fund please contact RAGOFAZ Hobo Fund
Or you may mail your donation to:
Please make payable to RAGOFAZ and note Hobo Fund.
Links to other sites on the Web
Rescue a Golden of Arizona - RAGOFAZ
Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace
© December 1998 joyce15448@aol.com
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