Goodbye King

We’ve had an awful week…probably one of the hardest weeks I can remember. Just as soon as I started to get better from fever and diarrhea, Tariq went to take King (our new German Shepherd puppy) out for a short walk on Thursday, July 12th . That was a mistake. While outside, a car ventured too close to the curb and hit King, sending him flying. He landed hard on all fours and broke three of his legs. Tariq tried to take him to the Mine Dog Center but the vets were in an all-day workshop and not available to treat him. So Tariq took him to an Afghan general animal clinic and got him set up with plaster casts – just simple splints of simple cardboard covered with gauze and plaster. For four days we tried our best to take care of him at home, trying to keep him clean, and cool, and free of flies in the blistering heat. He was in a lot of pain but still responsive, thumping his tail when we were near and crying when we were not. I tried my best to stay by his side and keep him company, hoping that somehow we could get through the weeks necessary for healing, hoping he’d be able to walk again. It was just so sad to see him – we have been heartbroken about the whole thing. It’s hard to see a new puppy full of life and play be laid up, unable to move.

We decided that the sensible thing to do was to take King to the Mine Dog Center, which as far as we know has the only X-Ray machine for animals in Kabul. When the X-rays were developed, Tariq could see that two of King’s three legs were mangled – one front leg was broken in six places with a badly dislocated shoulder. Insects had already burrowed into one of the plaster casts – after only three days. The vet at the Center counseled us that King would have a very painful experience being laid up for months – up to six months – and that he would likely not be able to walk. Since King could not stay still – despite the incredible pain – it would be difficult to ever heal. The vet advised us to put him down. So we did, and he is no longer suffering. Despite the fact that the little guy has only been in my life for thirteen days, he made a big impact on my heart. He was so regal, so playful and loving…I asked Tariq to try to find me another dog that looks just like him, somehow this feels right, a way that we can keep his little spirit close to us. I was going to post a picture of King in his casts but decided not to – I don’t want to remember him that way. Here is my favorite picture of him.