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Riley went to Rainbow Bridge on Sunday, January 3, 2009. He passed at home with family and under the Christmas tree. He will be cremated and his ashes will remain at home as a testament to his foster family's love and devotion to the old gentleman who stole their hearts and to all Westies who are abandoned because of people who see them as a burden.
I met Riley on December 6, 2008 in Dr. Wild's office. Riley had been abandoned and was picked up by a local animal control office. We learned during Dr. Wild's exam that Riley had bradycardia, a heart disease which caused his heart to beat at about half the pace it should. Additionally, Riley was heartworm positive but couldn't have treatments because of the bradycardia. Riley had been neutered at the animal control office, and it was a wonder he hadn't slipped away while under anesthesia then. It didn't take long to realize that Riley was unique and had a strong will to live.
He adopted me straight off and I knew that we couldn't part. I gave Riley medicine three times a day and learned more about the treatment of bradycardia than I ever wanted to know. My wife Melanie dubbed him Riley Roo Who and gave him his medicine and dressed him in warm coats and loved him unconditionally. Roo Who had chronic ear infections and we cleaned ears regularly, sometimes on a daily basis. I'm not sure how long he'd had the infections, but he had lost most of his hearing. He had cataracts which limited his sight. Even for all of this, he was always quick to hand out kisses and he could smell a hot dog a mile away. I think he knew I was hiding his medicine in the wieners, but oh boy did he love his hot dogs. We tried Pill Pockets because I thought they were healthier, but they just didn't have the same allure. Coming in a close second was Nutter Butters. I know, I know, but hey, everybody needs an occasional treat. We would sometimes play ball and even though he didn't see well, he loved to pounce on his racquetball until he got tired.
Roo Who was a world traveler. He made several trips to Arkansas to visit family and one trip to Possum Kingdom. He seemed to enjoy riding and usually slept. Dr. Wild was one of his favorite people and he always gave her kisses. I think she was sweet on him also since she never charged for his office visits even though we saw her once a week at the office and a couple of times at her home after hours.
Christmas was an especially fond time for Roo Who. He enjoyed scratching his back on the lower limbs of the tree and would take naps under it as if dreaming of sugarplums and waiting for Santa. It was fitting then that he passed under the tree this morning. There is a big hole in my heart, but I know he was happy for the past year. And I'll never have a better Christmas present than the love he brought.
Roo Who, I will see you soon at The Bridge and I'll bring hot dogs.
You have my heart forever,
Dad
The following is a piece that Riley wrote for WRNT in December 2008.
Walking Them Home
by Riley
Hi, whipper snappers. My name is Riley. My whole name is Riley Roo Who. When I rescued my parents, I had a lotta hair. Since it was close to Christmas, Mom thought I looked like a Who. You know, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I wanna introduce y'all to a program Westie Rescue of North Texas has called “Walking them Home.” I just became a member and I'm glad I did!
Don't worry. I may have a Texas accent, but I ain't gonna be like Wilford Brimley and tell you about die-uh-beetus.
Aging is a problem for all of us, Westies included. The “Walking them Home” program cares for those of us that need a little extra help as we get close to the Rainbow Bridge. I'm now in a permanent foster home where I'll be loved until I hafta make the trip to The Bridge.
I came to Westie Rescue of North Texas from an animal shelter where I had been left. They believe I am somewhere around the age of 12-14 years young. My biggest problems come from my heart. I've got heart cooties (that means heartworm positive) and on top of that, my ticker don't beat like it ought to. The way I understand what the cardiologist said is that my heart beats about half as fast as it ought to. Some of y'all might call it bradycardia.
My foster parents give me heart medicine three times a day and they are saying that another heart medicine may be added on top of the one I am already taking. They are trying to get my heart in shape so that I can possibly be treated for the cooties. I also have bad ears. I've got hearing loss because somebody let the wax get so bad in my ears that it hurt 'em. When I first meet my foster mom, she thought someone had coated my head with old bacon grease. But they found out what I already knew, that the wax was so bad in my ears it had started coating my head. They say they have that under control now with medicine.
Oh, yeah I also can’t see real well due to cataracts.
Don't feel bad. I'm happy an' I know I'm loved. I rescued Mom and Dad too. I'm tellin' y'all my problems to let y'all know about what some of us old folks go through. We're not the cute bouncy puppies that everyone wants to have in their home. We don't have nothin' against puppies, but we all get old and need someone to care for us. If you would be interested in walking another Westie home to the Rainbow Bridge please fill out an application and let us know. If that's not possible for you at this time please think about a donation to the “Walking them Home” program. Just like with people, healthcare ain't free or cheap. Thankfully most of us old guys and girls get to stay with the people we love through the senior years but occasionally something happens and we end up here where we need help. Please help if you can.
