| As I pulled my 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass into the | | | | from the West penetrated the entire reception |
| back parking lot of Haydel and Haydel Chiropractic | | | | area lighting it up like it was summer. Lady just |
| my terrier/poodle Lady jumped up on to the | | | | wouldn't leave Kerry and he seemed to want to |
| center arm rest in great excitement with her tail | | | | hold on to her as well. I started snapping pictures |
| wagging. She had always loved going to see Dr. | | | | and Lady posed like a professional model as usual. |
| Kerry Haydel. It was the Tuesday afternoon | | | | She loved having her picture taken. I took |
| before Christmas 1986. I felt absolutely no joy or | | | | pictures of Lady sitting with Terry and Kerry on |
| happiness in my heart that afternoon. I felt like I | | | | the sofa. I snapped her on the floor with Kerry |
| was dying emotionally. Lady had been pronounced | | | | sitting next to her and talking. |
| terminal with cancer in September. Her cancer | | | | Arlene brought Julia into the reception area. She |
| was inoperable and she had been receiving | | | | let her play on the floor. Julia wanted to know |
| chemotherapy since her diagnosis. | | | | what all the commotion was about. She seemed |
| After parking the car I put on her harness and | | | | to sense there was something interesting going |
| leash to walk her into the building. In the back | | | | on. |
| seat was a soft-sided dog carrier that contained | | | | Lady was enjoying every minute of the attention. |
| my new puppy Shih Tzu, Julia. As I opened the | | | | To see her frolicking in the office one would |
| car door Lady bounded out pulling on the leash to | | | | never suspect that she lay on the wooden bench |
| get inside the office. I reached into the back to | | | | at the end of my bed all day and night at home, |
| retrieve the carrier with Julia. Lady could care less | | | | because it was cool to her chemotherapy-heated |
| about this new puppy, as far as she was | | | | body. It was apparent that Lady knew this was |
| concerned it was an annoyance she didn't need. I | | | | her last visit in the office and she wanted to |
| had just gotten Julia the day before so that I | | | | pretend that her misery was an illusion. |
| would have companionship when Lady was gone. | | | | The "boys" had me laughing with their antics. |
| The first thing Lady did when I brought Julia home | | | | They were rolling on the floor and pretending to |
| was to bite her. She wanted Julia to know she | | | | be dogs just to amuse Lady. It was delightful to |
| was still the boss of the house. | | | | be in their presence. It was giving me the |
| I was taking Lady for a last visit to Dr. Haydel's | | | | emotional vacation I needed; I was able to put |
| office, as I had made the decision to stop the | | | | aside my misery and grief during the time we |
| chemotherapy the past week. I knew that she | | | | were in their office. This is what I had always |
| did not have but a few days left to life, and I | | | | liked about them, their ability to make others |
| wanted to give her as much enjoyment as | | | | laugh. |
| possible. This was the off hours for his office so I | | | | We stayed for over an hour, during which time |
| knew there would be no patients that would be | | | | Julia peed and pottied on the light blue carpet to |
| shocked to see two dogs in a doctor's office. | | | | my horror. Kerry said, "Don't worry about it, its |
| As usual the back door was unlocked and once I | | | | no big thing." I cleaned up the mess. |
| opened it I let go of the leash so Lady could run | | | | I asked Kerry "When the time comes will you |
| into the office and find Dr. Haydel. Little Julia was | | | | take Lady to the doctors office for the final |
| whining inside the carrier wanting to get out. This | | | | injection?" |
| was her first visit to Dr. Haydel's office. I walked | | | | He did not hesitate with his answer "Of course I |
| down the hallway to see where Lady had gone | | | | will - don't worry about it." |
| and found her sitting on the lap of Dr. Haydel in | | | | I knew we had to leave before rush hour traffic |
| his office. "I see she found you." I commented. | | | | hit, as it would be a nightmare getting back to my |
| "My big girl sure did find me. Look how pretty you | | | | mobile home. My emotions were so over the |
| look today. " He was talking to her like she was a | | | | edge I didn't need the added burden of rush hour |
| little human being. You could just see the joy on | | | | traffic in Los Angeles. |
| her face as he talked to her. His identical twin | | | | I put Julia back into the carrier and she started |
| brother Terry was also in the office as well as his | | | | whining once more. Lady was getting very |
| secretary Arlene. Terry and Kerry both took | | | | fatigued although she didn't want to stop getting |
| turns holding Lady and talking to her. | | | | the love and attention from the "boys." Terry |
| "She just doesn't look sick." Terry said surprisingly. | | | | kissed and hugged Lady goodbye stating, "It's |
| Terry and Kerry had not seen my new puppy | | | | going to be OK, I will always think of you." |
| and I wanted Julia to get accustomed to socializing | | | | Kerry told her "I will see you again in a few days." |
| with people. I had brought my camera, which I | | | | Arlene didn't know what to say it was beyond |
| hadn't used in over a year to take photographs. I | | | | her. |
| wanted to capture this moment forever. | | | | I attached the leash back to Lady's harness. As |
| When I took Julia out of the carrier Arlene was | | | | we went down the hallway Lady moved like a |
| thrilled at such a cute little puppy. "Oh, can I hold | | | | great burden had been lifted from her. I opened |
| her?" she asked. | | | | the car door and she jumped into her seat next |
| "Yes please, this will give Lady full attention from | | | | to me. She stood up on the armrest in the middle |
| Kerry and Terry." | | | | of the two seats looking at the door of the |
| We moved into the reception area so that I could | | | | office, as though she was saying goodbye to the |
| take pictures of the "boys" (my nickname for | | | | office. I said to her "OK Little Sunny Sunshine let's |
| Kerry and Terry) and Lady. The sun coming in | | | | go. |