Tribute to our Beloved Hooch
It is with great sadness that I report the death of Hooch. Andrea sent me an email describing the events that led up to his death and Iwill ask her permission to post it. For those of you that don't know Hooch, he was our brave boxer from Missoula that had been shot with a high powered rifle in the upper shoulder area, totally destroying the bone.
He was operated on by a vet that has a history of working on orthopedic trauma. This vet never even gave it a thought that Hooch would some day regain the ability to use that leg, nor did I. Hooch saw several vets during his transition from Missoula to Rapid City and they all said the same thing. "The leg should come off, he'll never use it."
Hooch was cared for by a former trauam nurse from Beverly Hills for the first two weeks post op. She lovingly massaged the limb to keep blood flow into those toes. Every day Leslie went out and worked with him until it was time for his transport. Every transporter on that trip spoke of the impact that Hooch made on them. He was just that kind of dog.
Hooch ended up in Kathy Hooper's loving care in Riverton, Wyoming for two weeks until we could get him moved the rest of the way. Kathy too massaged that leg and fed him the best nutrient dense food available. She too fell in love with this big beautiful boy.
When I met Kathy Hooper on the transport to pick up Hooch, it was love at first sight. I was ambitious in my thinking that with all that everyone else had done before me, I was not going to let the limb come off. I continued with daily massage and passive physical therapy. Hooch would race around the yard on three legs with a football or soccer ball in his mouth, going ninety miles an hour with his butt tucked under him. That limb just dangled in the breeze. He never made an attempt to put it down. I continued to check every night to make sure we still had pink in his toenails, that way the blood supply was making all the way down, and it was.
Hooch had been with us a few months and still had the steel rod in the bone. We had many xrays done to watch the healing over time. In June we had a Boxer Bash set up at the Humane Society's Pet Expo.HOoch was brought along to meet any interested families. Brigitte,one of our foster moms noticed that Hooch looked as if he was in a
great deal of pain. Something he had not shown since his arrival. The night before a fairly large chunk of bone had made it's way out of the bullet hole. We figured that had caused pain working its way out. A day of pain meds and he was back to our old Hooch.
The great surprise to me was shortly after this event, Hooch began to step on that paw. A week or so after that he was adding a little more body weight and was limping with that leg. We took him in for the rod removal and within a couple of weeks, he was running with that leg. It was TRULY a MIRACLE.
As some of you know, when you work this closely with an injured or sick animal, the bond that grows is too enormous to even describe. Hooch had become part of my heart and I didn't want to let him go. Right at this time Andrea Christman and her family came along. They were in love just by looking at his pictures. As hard as it was, I knew that this was the right place for Hooch to be. He would have a family of his own, his own children and a playmate in their boxer Lady. How could I not let him get the undivided attention and love that our rescues get in an adoptive home? Driving away from him on the day of his transport was one of the hardest days of my life. I
try not to look back when I'm leaving, but I made the mistake of doing so. Much to my surprise, Hooch was all over the guy that was going to drive him to his new owner. He was completely interested in everything HE was doing. And I'd already been forgotten. He was on to knew adventures with his new family. :O) I drove away with a big smile on my face.
Hooch developed an extremely aggressive cancer that took his life in a very short time. He was 8 or 9 yrs old and will be missed by all who came in contact with him.
Goodby Hoochy Boy!!!
Shelley Cumella