Losing Rocky, Saving Bella

The Carson Center’s Marketing Director Lisa Lauck was absolutely heartbroken when Rocky, her 15-year-old Lhasa Apso, passed away Oct. 30. But this Thanksgiving, Lisa has found joy again, rescuing Bella, a 5-year-old Brussels Griffon, and giving her a far better life — and giving Lisa a way to honor Rocky’s memory.

No one can tell the story better than Lisa, herself. So here in Lisa’s own words is one of my new favorite Thanksgiving stories:

Lisa with Rocky, her 15-year-old Lhasa Apso. Lisa was heartbroken to lose him to kidney failure in October.

I got Rocky when he was 8 weeks old in 1994. He is a pure bred Lhasa Apso. He had been my companion for 15 years. I moved a lot and he was fine so long as he was with me. He was a great traveling dog.

He went completely blind and deaf several years ago but adjusted fine to it. He still knew where his treat drawer was and always made sure you knew he was there since he couldn’t see or hear you.

Rocky hated bathes and since he had bad allergies, I had to give him one every week. I found out that his worst allergy was to human dander, which I thought was very ironic. So I had to find ways to treat the allergies since he wasn’t getting rid of me.

He loved to sunbathe and anytime he got a new plush toy his mission was to kill the squeaker in it.

Rocky was truly all boy as he was only a lap dog when he didn’t feel good and only gave me kisses when I was crying.

One of my favorite memories is when I lived in Delaware in a two-story house. He would go to the top of the stairs and whine, letting me know it was time for bed. He wouldn’t stop until I went upstairs and put us in bed.

He passed away on Oct. 30 from liver failure. I was heartbroken to lose my best friend and cried every day on my way home knowing he wouldn’t be there to greet me.

5-year-old Bella needed a home — and loving care. She and Lisa found one another, just at the right time.

It’s so true that God closes one door so he can open another. Two weeks later a friend told me about a little 5-year-old Brussels Griffon that was a breeding dog. The breeder* was finished with her and she needed a home.

I told my friend that I really wasn’t ready but to bring her by and let me meet her. For a dog that has spent her entire life locked up in a cage, she was an absolute sweetheart.

Her name is Bella.

I said I would take her for a week and see how we did with each other since she is not used to human contact. She seemed so sad, and I noticed a few odd habits along with her difficulty in urinating.

So I took her to the vet and was told she has a bad UTI and a huge kidney stone that developed over time from chronic untreated UTIs.

Right then I knew that she was brought to me for a reason because she needed someone to take care of her. Now I understand why she has such sad eyes and my heart breaks to think of how much pain she has been in for so long. She had surgery the other day to remove the stone — she did fine — and I’m excited to see what kind of personality this little girl has once she feels better.

Her first five years of life was imprisonment, and I hope to make the next five years the kind of life she should have had.   

*Note from Patience: NO responsible breeder would EVER ignore their dogs’ health problems. NEVER. This is the definition of irresponsibility. Folks, this is why it’s critically important to research the breeder. I’m so grateful that Bella is in now in safe, loving, RESPONSIBLE hands.

Lisa, you rock!

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