I need to tell you Poco's story.  In case you don't know, Poco is my 14-year-old Chihuahua. 

I was working for a vet in the '90s when a woman came in one day with a tiny animal wrapped in a towel.  She said the animal belonged to her next door neighbors and she had found it in her yard.  When I unwrapped the towel, I found a tiny, tiny Chihuahua that I thought was dead.  Fortunately, one of the vets was able to detect a faint heartbeat, so work began on the dog immediately to try to save him.

Teenage boys living in the home with the dog had kicked him in the head, so his head was very swollen due to water on the brain.  He had a rope burn around his neck and cigarette burns on his body.  He was malnourished and dehydrated, and all this at only 4 months of age!

For two weeks he laid in a cage at the vet hospital with IV's in him, and we didn't know whether or not he would live or die.  We also realized that even if he did live, he might be brain damaged or sickly all his life.  The only thing the Humane Society could do was keep him from going back to that home he had come from.

We all fell in love with him, and after he got off the IV's several of us that worked there took turns taking him home with us at night so that we could give him pills that he needed every two hours, and also squirt water down his throat because he couldn't seem to remember how to drink (I taught him how to do that again).

Eventually he was well enough to go to a new home, and I adopted him, vowing that he would never be cruelly treated again, and he never has been!!!

He was not retarded or sickly, and seemed to even forget the torture he had been through because he loved people (and loved to give kisses)!!  He wasn't a nervous dog or one that barked very much, and he became a therapy dog, visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes.  He really brought a lot of joy to a lot of people, especially me!

Now he is back in that same vet hospital with IV's in him, once again fighting for his life.  This time it's from kidney failure, which is related to his age.  He has been in the hospital for three days, and the numbers on the blood work have improved tremendously, but he is not eating.  They said today that if he doesn't start eating by Saturday (a low-protein diet that isn't hard on the kidneys), there may be no hope for him.  But on the other hand, he could still live for a good long time if he can eat this special food and keep it down.  So right now it's a waiting game.  If you don't mind saying a prayer for a dog, I would appreciate you praying for him and for me.  If he doesn't make it, I have the comfort that he's had a good life and I'll have wonderful memories, but at the same time I know it will be rough for me emotionally for awhile.

Poco and my other dog, Duchess, are right now involved in a BRingo game on Bonanza Brand, and I'm not telling the players about Poco's illness because I don't want to ruin their fun.  And I'm not giving up hope for Poco's recovery yet!

Pine, that's such a wonderful, touching story of how Poco became yours. I hope & pray that he comes back to you this time. I know how much joy he brings. Most importantly, he had a good life and that was all because of you.

Pine, my prayers are with you, Poco and Duchess. What a great story. I hope those teenagers were punished for what they did.:(

I'm pulling for Poco! He sounds like a little fighter.

Pine, All of us here are sending love and prayers to Poco - he's an amazing dog who has beaten the odds before!

Pine, I am praying for both of you. I know how special Poco is to you. Blessings to you.