Darleen and Cat Donnelly,

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your kindness, advice and
suggestions for treatments to help me to keep Bongo seizure free.

It is with a very heavy heart that I am telling you that my best
friend passed away on Sunday night. Bongo had been seizure free for 4
months after he had been switched to Potassium Bromide.

He has been to the vet 2 weeks before he died and was found to be in
good health even though his blood work showed that the Bromide levels
were at a level considered to be less than therapeutic.

The week prior to this our weather in NY was very warm and we were
all able to spend lots of time outside playing ball and doing yard
work, Bongo was acting just like a puppy and I was fooled into
thinking that my boy had turned a corner and appeared to be healthy.

On Sunday I cooked some rice and burger for all three dogs as a
special treat. The dogs seemed very content. I went out to the store
and was gone for about 2 hours, and when I returned my husband said
to me that I must have overfed Bongo because he had been throwing up
and that his stomach appeared to be hard and he was groaning.

My husband was blaming me, after sitting with the dog for an hour; I
said to my DH that I think he is going to have a seizure, because I
smell it. He thought I was crazy... I looked at his gums and said
that they were white, so we decided to call the vet. . I called the
vet and asked to have Bongo looked at.

I was asking Bongo if he wanted to go out with me for a car ride, he
perked up and stood up and was walking to me, but not acting right
Bongo was able to stand but he needed to be carried to the car and
put on the seat. He whined about being handled.

I was speaking to him all during the 20 mile drive to the vet
hospital. He had my nephew sitting with him in the car, the dog was
acting like he was having a hard time staying focused, then he stood
up and he was in the rear seat nudging my shoulder and placing his
mouth near my neck, I was still driving the car, but I knew at that
minute that he was saying goodbye to me.

When we were less than 3 minutes from the hospital he slid down the
seat and would only respond to my voice with a whimper, he broke my
heart.

At the hospital he had to be carried out of the car by the vet
examined Bongo, and he said to me that he could bring my boy back. He
said that he was bleeding internally, from what he believed to be a
tumor rupture (he had tumor growths on his liver, along with scar
tissue). I asked for the vet to not let him suffer anymore.

He brought my Bongo back to the hospital area and gave him some
oxygen and then we started the procedure to euthanize my boy. I
stayed with him until the very end. I could not leave him until I was
sure he was gone.

I had him cremated, and bought his urn.

I can't help but feel little guilty because I was never able to
master the raw diet, due to time issues and because he seemed to be
doing so well.

My heart will mend in time, but I am sure that I will never have
another dog like Bongo, he was so connected to me that he was able to
tell people around me when I was having a stroke, and when ever I had
major fluctuations with my blood pressure and he even seemed to know
when I was light headed, or sometimes just before I became dizzy or
light headed.

I owed this dog my life. He was the most devoted companion, loving &
loyal canine friend. I thought of him as my son. This dog taught me
how to love and to be open to love others, even if you get hurt.

I would like to tell you a story about how Bongo has been preparing
all of us for his passing for a very long time.

In August of 2004, I went away for the weekend, I returned home
around dusk, and let the dogs go outside to relieve their selves. A
small black kitten walked din the house with Bongo by his side and
lay down on the floor with him. The other 2 dogs had a fit when the
kitten meowed. Bongo defended his baby.

I was not happy, because I did not want a cat. I live in a very rural
area and have some property, irresponsible pet owners drive by and
dump unwanted pets all of the time.
Bongo convinced us that the kitten should stay, we check with our few
neighbors to see if the cat belonged to them, no takers so we kept
the cat and named him Cleatus.
Bongo convinced the other 2 dogs to accept the kitten. The kitten
went on to become a playmate for all three dogs, my husband, nephew
and myself.

From the time we got the unexpected cat until early November, his
seizure activity was low; we had a really bad spell right after
Thanksgiving. He has cluster seizures for 2 days, we ended up giving
him valium, and Phenobarbital and then began switching him over to
potassium bromide. The new medication seemed to be working.
The cat spent moist of his day being Bongo's shadow, it was like the
cat was his baby. They played together and in turn the cat became
very outgoing and played with the other dogs too. The cat also slept
curled up to Bongo, he even cleaned Bongo's ears.
On the day Bongo died, he played with all the animals. I swear he was
telling them what their duties would be after he was gone. Otherwise
I do not have an explanation for the behaviors they are showing.
On Sunday night, the 2 dogs and the cat slept on my bed all as close
to my husband and me as they could be, the cat and our Aussie would
lick our tears away.

Last night they all changed places, the Shepard slept in Bongo's spot
along side me on the floor, he is now following me every where I go
just like my Bongo did. The cat made a bed inside my headboard and
the Aussie is sleeping under the covers between my DH and me.

Many people say that I am giving the dogs and cat human emotions that
they are not capable of but I remain convinced that they exist.
I know that Bongo is in a better place, but I can't help but wish he
were still with me.

Bongo was my first dog and my life is forever changed from having
known him. I know that he is waiting for me at the rainbow bridge and
that I will see him again.

Today is better than yesterday. The grief is still too fresh, but I
know that someday I will be able to look back and just remember the
very beautiful boy that was part of my life with joy and love.
Again thank you for all you have done for me in the past.

Debbie Rhodes