This last Thursday I had to take my dog Cricket in to the vet for what I suspected to be pneumonia she got from her eye removal surgery earlier in the month. Turns out that her oxygen level was dangerously low due to not only pneumonia, but respiratory failure. What I thought was going to be a simple matter of antibiotics and perhaps an x-ray turned into an oxygen chamber that she could not leave for long.

At the end of the day I had to drive her several towns over to a 24 hour emergency pet hospital so she could remain on oxygen while the medications did their work. That night I was given a call at 2am that she was really struggling and I had to rush there to see her for what could be the last time. Luckily that was not the case, but she was struggling to breath so much that she did not sleep, eat, or drink for two days. After several days her condition seemed to be improving, and as long as she was fighting it I did everything in my power to let her. The medical team was very kind and would give updates several times per day, which went a long way to reassure me.

However on Monday morning at 5am I was called and told that she had passed away. Despite all the medicine and the direct oxygen, her lungs were too damaged. I did my best to keep my composure as my family and I picked up her body, and took her to the regular vet for cremation services, but later that night all I could do was look at the empty dog bed and cry.

Cricket was the last of my four dogs, all of whom have passed in less than the last two years. October 2022, February 2023, October 2023, and now June 2024. It has been a long two years of grieving that just compacts in on itself and my bank accounts, unfortunately.

So to help with the vast medical bills, I will be offering up some of my characters for sale instead of opening up for donations or something like that as I would likely feel guilty, knowing me. Send me a note or comment if you're interested in any of the characters below.

Ulzana $15

Howard $35

Gryphon $20

Lysander $125