He was an active puppy and at about 7 months of age, he starting limping consistently on his right front leg. He was diagnosed with OCD in his shoulder and would need surgery to repair it. He also had a retained testicle which required him to be neutered as well. We were referred to a specialty clinic in OH for his surgery. And I am so sorry that we went there... Something drastic happened during Gage's surgery and they did their best to hide it. But one look at his bill and we knew something was up. Being in EMS, I know first line cardiac drugs when I see them. All we were told was that "his heart slowed down a bit" during surgery. Not likely with the meds that were used on him. Somehow, Gage's brain lacked oxygen at some point. We gave them a bright 9 month old Border Collie puppy and got back something much less... Even though we knew he had surgery, something just wasn't right with him now. His personality and capacity for learning had changed. Within 3 months, he had his first seizure... These would plague him the rest of his life.
At 14 months, we almost lost him to acute hemorrhagic gastritis. But through all of this, he remained sweet and sunny, always a tail wag or smile for everyone he encountered. I'd like to say that all was well from then on, but it wasn't. He had a chronic problem with his tummy and diarrhea which was partially solved by yogurt and enzymes. It would be years later that he would be diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We spent a great deal of time trying different food and med combinations on him. He ate rocks and other things which didn't help matters either.
Learning frustrated him, so I stopped trying. He was happy just being Gage. He was content to hang out and just be with us. He loved his floppy frisbees. He was not your typical Border Collie in energy or activity level. But that made him a GREAT therapy dog. It took us 3 times to pass the test because although he had the temperament, he just didn't have the skills. He barely passed the last time because he just couldn't do the stay away from me. The tester moved me a bit closer, probably feeling bad that this was our 3rd time trying, and he managed to stay there JUST long enough. I cried when I was told he passed. This was finally something he and I could do together. Something none of the other dogs did. He wasn't an athlete or herding dog. This would be his place to shine.
Shine he did... He so enjoyed visiting nursing homes and their residents. It was not long after that I had heard of dogs being used as "reading dogs" for children with reading disabilities. This was tailor-made for Gage. He adored kids and they him. I found a willing teacher in the school district I attended when I was younger. We got the principal on board and the "Read To Me" program was born. He so enjoyed going to school to see "his" kids. He worked with one group from the time they were 2nd graders. He was a calming presence in the room... not judging, just enjoying being read to, hugged, brushed and kissed. I was pleased that the kids felt as if I was just an extension of Gage and they were comfortable with me too. Sometimes, the kids were inhibited with adults, but with Gage, I was no longer an adult... I was Gage's mom and that was okay.
Gage was also a huge comfort to my mom when she became sick. Several times a week, I would bring him down with me to her house to visit her. He loved his time with Grandma. My mom adored, as she called him, "the lop-eared ginny whimper", and he adored her. We brought him to visit her the day before she passed away. She had become basically unresponsive, but the moment we laid her hand on his black, soft, shiny coat, her eyes opened wide and she smiled, trying to say his name. She passed away in her sleep early the following morning.
In January of 2009, after an ice and snow storm had blanketed us again with a layer of ice underneath the snow, Gage was running across the top of the back yard. His feet slipped out from under him and he came down with his full weight on his right elbow. He laid there crying as my husband got to him and helped him back up. He held the leg in the air and limped back to the house. At first we thought he was just cold and got a stinger. But as he warmed up, I could feel the fracture and my heart sank. My vet was called and off we went. Gage fractured his ulna, about 2 inches from his elbow. My vet decided to try and cast him to give the leg time to heal. But Gage developed complications from this and eventually the fracture came apart again. He was referred to the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Clinic for surgery.
Dr. Anthony Pardo decided the best course of action would be to pin the fracture. Gage was home the same night. This was also the time that Gage's Angels came about... I had managed to get a credit line with Care Credit for Gage's surgery that covered it and his other medical expenses at PVSEC. It was alot of money but I also knew that we just needed to take one day at a time. Many of my friends new about Gage's plight and about the surgery. As my husband drove down to pick him up after surgery, my friends were calling in their credit card numbers to help with his expenses. When Bob went to pay the bill, it was significantly less, but we had no idea what had happened until we took him back for a re-check. That's when we were told that friends had contributed funds towards Gage's bills. Gage's Angels was born. I couldn't have asked for any greater gift than my friends and their love for us and a little black and white Border Collie.
After several months of rehab and healing, Gage was doing fairly well. He was back to doing therapy and reading visits and thoroughly enjoying life. But a bit over a year after his fall, he came up lame again. He was diagnosed with an infection in his elbow. After two courses of antibiotics, he was still painful and limping. Dr. Pardo is a wonderful, caring vet and surgeon. He examined Gage and had a grave look on his face. He said he hoped he was wrong, but he thought he knew what the problem was... Gage had a nerve root tumor going to his spinal cord. He carefully probed his right shoulder and could feel a very small mass. Without a CT scan, which Gage couldn't have because of a heart murmur he developed, he couldn't be certain, but he was about 95% sure that this was what was wrong.
I take Dr. Pardo very seriously. He told us what to expect and we cried half the way home. If this is what it was, the cancer could progress quickly. It did. This type of cancer is difficult to diagnose and most of the time, it's too late to do anything about it. Most of the time, if it's caught early enough... the treatment is amputation. But usually, the limping is diagnosed incorrectly as an orthopedic problem. But Gage's cancer was already affecting 2 of 3 legs. There was nothing to be done except control his pain. This was in April 2010.
In May, he was able to visit his kids at school one last time. The kids did not know that this would be the last time they visited with their beloved reading partner. I did my level best to fight back the tears in front of the kids. We took pictures and Gage got cuddled, loved, brushed, kissed and hugged. No reading was done that day. At the end of the visit, he was truly tired, but very happy and content. His last job was completed.
By June, we could no longer control his pain and he was maxed out on his pain medications. We made the sad decision to release him from his failing body. On June 9th, the last day of school, Gage went to the Bridge where he is whole and healthy and playing once again. His ashes grace a shelf in the dog room where his therapy tags, bandanna, photos and newspapers articles are also kept.
This school year, Seeker picked up where Gage had left off as a Reading dog... He was working with Gage's kids, now big 5th graders, and they embraced him with the same enthusiasm they did Gage. I had photos of them made from the day of Gage's last visit and the kids treasure them. I was so worried that the kids wouldn't want or like Seeker. But I didn't need to be concerned. Seeker has his own way of being and his enthusiasm for life is just as infectious. And he has Gage by his side...
As I've said before, I believe that dogs come in to our lives for a specific purpose and reason. Gage's lessons were easy... He taught me peace and love all over again. He taught me patience and tolerance. He taught me to laugh at myself and enjoy every moment of life. All valuable lessons... all lessons that I keep with me as I do his love and his memory.
I miss Gage... I miss his comical expression, his concentration as he chased merrily after his flippy, his sweet kisses and snuggles and his easy-going nature. RIP sweet Gagey... and thank you for just being you...
If Gage's story has touched you, please consider giving a donation to the National Canine Cancer Foundation in his memory...
Photo by Cindy Noland... Noland Dog Art
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