This page is dedicated to Zila. A former puppy mill prisoner now in a safe forever home. Rescued on Sept~18~04. Zila (Pookie Bear) is a blind 15 year old Chihuahua who was given to me by a puppy mill. He was near death at less than 3 pounds (all bones visible and no body fat!) and suffering from rotting and cracked teeth, liver disease, enlarged heart (all from starvation and lack of medical care), skin and anal gland infections, ear infection, severe arthritis in his toes (from not having his nails trimmed), Flea Bites, Blood spots in his eye (from blunt force trauma to the head), Severe hair loss (from starvation and illness), severe dehydration, and much more. I had to dropper feed him to keep him alive the first few weeks. He has recently had half of his teeth removed due to rotting (others broken) and poor nutrition. Zila's previous owners (before the puppy mill...back yard breeder) had taken great care of Zila and loved him very much but they had to give him up and did not realize that it was EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to neuter Zila for his own safety! (Puppy Millers and back yard breeders will not want to have your pet if it is fixed and that may have spared Zila from falling into the wrong hands!) I am sure they truly thought that the new home would be safe and loving but unfortunately for Zila his new owner was not what she had seemed to be and did not care for him or provide proper food and medical care. (Instead she bred him...knowing full well that any dog who has Zila's genetic issues and obvious medical troubles is not going to produce healthy pups! Thus costing the new puppy owners hundreds if not thousands of dollars for treatment AND MOST OF ALL.....will cost many of his babies their lives because of this indiscriminate breeding!) Zila has suffered greatly under this puppy millers "care". He is the sweetest and most loving boy even after all he has been through. Zila was having horrible nightmares causing him to cry at night but as he learns he is safe here he is sleeping better and through most of the night without waking! He enjoys snuggling with my other Chihuahua Toby...who has decided that Zila is his buddy. They snuggle in the covers together and Toby leads Zila around the room and when we go into the yard. Dearest Friends, I picked up Zila’s ashes and my wonderful Vet also saved some of my boys little hair and his paw print for me. Its weird but I feel a little better just having his ashes home. I miss Zila sooo much. My heart is broken. Toby is doing better. He still digs in the blanket in the morning for his brother and tip toes around the bed as if he is afraid he will step on Zila. He will sometimes gather all his babies and snuggle in Zila’s blanket. Toby has his ups and downs but I think he is dealing with the loss of his brother well. He still runs around in the room none stop and wants to play fetch and chase just as much as always. But there are those moments when he starts to search for Zila and fusses that he can’t find him. Toby will hold still and let me snuggle him more. Its really hard for my active little guy to hold still but he loves to have his tummy rubbed and he will lay on my lap and let me rub his tummy for hours right now. I love it. I miss holding Zila and I am having a really hard time dealing with my arms being empty. I cry a lot and Toby is a wonderful comfort. Thank you all for your prayers. They mean a lot to me. Hugs Catherine Pics of my beloved little man yesterday before going in for the injection to help him let go. He was such a fighter and he wouldn’t let go no matter how much his body told him it was time. I love him for holding on but I couldn’t let him suffer. I held him and kissed him to the end. I told him how much I love him and I thanked him for coming to me and staying with me so long. With the Vets help Zila was comfortable and the end was quick and painless. He is and will always be missed so very much. Dearest Friends, My sweet little Pookie Bear Zila has gone to heaven. I am not up to posting much right now but I want to let everyone know that he is gone. I will try to post more when I can think clearly but right now I am still in shock and not able to do this…..Please pray for my family. For those who would like to help cover today’s Vet bill and the cremation bill (was $185.00 now = $0.00 Thank You! to Annette & Odean for your donations and thank you to the anonymous donator God bless you!) for Zila you can call this Vet clinic were we went today: (this is a new vet for the boys so the old information is no longer correct.) I will be able to pick up his ashes in a little over a week. They are also getting his little paw print for me and some keepsake hair for my locket. Prairie Animal Hospital (208) 772-3214 920 W Prairie Ave Coeur D Alene, Idaho 83815 Update June 9th Desperately Urgent! Zila is sick and needs prayer! Please pray for Zila. He has been healthy for so many months but 48 hours ago he suddenly became lethargic and was not able to stand for more than a few moments without falling over. He did take a few small drinks today but will not eat anything. His lasix is not working which means is kidneys are not working. He is very tired. He has gone through these little rough patches before but I am very worried and upset that this time it may be to much for him to overcome. Please pray that if it is his time that he will go quickly and without pain and if it is not yet his time please please pray that God will heal him and that we will get more time together. He is not showing any signs of being in pain only very tired and weak. I know that if I leave him at the Vets he will die as he gives up when he is left there for any length of time. I have to be with him. I am devastated. We only just lost my little nephew in Dec and I have been dealing with being sick myself and not feeling well because of my cancer. I don’t want to lose my sweet boy. I will not let him suffer. If Zila does not improve soon I will have to take him in to have him put to sleep since it would not be fair to him to let this drag out if he is not going to get better. I love him so much. Please pray for my sweet little old man. Hugs Catherine Update 4~22~07 Zila is doing wonderfully! He is a happy sweet little old man who is never short of hugs and kisses for his family. He is loving his new bed and now that the weather is warmer he will get to go outside more. You should see my little blind man run in the yard! I place him at the back fence and go across the yard to the swing and wait for him to come to me. He always finds me and he is very delighted with himself for his accomplishment. He gets the biggest grin and you can see that he is so proud of himself. I love to watch him strut around showing off “see what I can do”. He is such a blessing to have in my life. My little nieces often come into my room to play games and both Zila and Toby love to pick a girl and snuggle on her while she plays. Zila pushes his little head against the girls giving them the best hug he can and then he snuggles up close and sleeps. If they move he will get up and move closer to them then snuggle down for a nap again. Its wonderful to watch! I hope all our fur baby friends are doing well and know that for those who have been sick, you are in our daily prayers! Hugs and puppy kisses to all! Catherine, Zila and Toby ~ Dec, Jan and Feb Update ~ Our months since baby Samuel died have all seemed to roll into one. Our hearts are broken but God holds the pieces. Without Gods comfort I don’t know who we would be making it through this horrible time. Toby still checks the baby swing to see if his little Sam is there but he is beginning to understand that Sam is gone. We, the boys and I, went to stay with my sister Emily and her hubby, 6 year old son and new baby Kylynn (5 months) to give our family here some time to mourn alone and just be a family without auntie and chi’s for a few weeks. It was a long train ride (graciously paid for by our church family!) for us but the boys did well. I could tell they were worried why we were leaving and must have wondered if we were ever going back to their home. They both did very well when we got to Em’s. Toby had a wonderful time playing with Tristen and he followed everyone around when they were holding baby Kylynn. She was very delighted with all Toby’s attentions. She smiled at him and she loves to sing and talk all the time and she really would get going when she saw Toby around. It was so beautiful. Our train home was much better than the one going over and both boys did very well. I think Toby started to get we were going home about the last few hours of our train ride since he could barely hold still and was very kissy and excited. It was good to be home but I miss Em and the family. I loved getting to hold Kylynn and have that yummy tummy to kiss and the sweet baby breath on my face again. I was in the OR when Kylynn was born and I got to hold her for the first hour of her life while mama was in recovery. Daddy was being rushed home from his duty station so Auntie Cathie got to kiss on and spoil our sweet little girl first. I feel soooo blessed to have had the chance to be a part of my family lives. To get to be there for Tristen and Kylynn births and to get to meet and love our sweet baby Samuel. I miss him very much. Sorry….. Here I go with the rambling again lol. Toby and Zila are both doing very well and are happy to have their heated bed again. Zila’s birthday is this week and we are going to do a nice dinner and he LOVES his birthday carrot cake. I can hardly believe that he will be 15 years old. My how time has flown. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is my little snuggle baby. I love having him to hold and snuggle. Especially right now while I have pneumonia he is very huggy and baby like. He knows just what his mama needs and he is more than happy to be pampered and babied. Well…..that is our updates for now. Thank you all for your prayers for my family. Pray is the most important thing in our lives. God bless you dear friends. Thank you for sharing your love, prayer and support for my family and the boys over these years. I cherish your kindness and your love. Hugs Catherine, Zila and Toby The boys enjoying the sun shine! Zila and Toby exploring the yard together. :o) Thank you for all the encouraging e-mail's and letters that we receive each day. I want you to know that receiving your letters and e-mail's is a huge blessing that I look forward to each and every day! This is an emotionally draining thing to deal with and there have been many times when your letters have been my life line. Zila is having so many ups and downs right now and I am cherishing every moment I have with him. I pray that we have many years ahead of us together and that he will regain his strength and health to live out the remainder of his life pain free and happy. I will never give up on him and Zila will be loved and cherished for the rest of his life! Zila and Toby have just gotten their completion of service training certificates!! Both boys are now official service dogs! I am such a proud mama! Thank you all for you prayers for the boys to have an easy time and that they would learn quickly. God is faithful and both boys passed with flying colors! Hugs Catherine, Zila and Toby Zila loves his blankets (given to him by Gina and her mom..Thank You!) and drags them out of the bed with him when he gets up. He even barked when Toby tried to sneak his new toys out of the bed where he was snuggling them. Zila spends his nights in bed with me and Toby, snuggled warm and cozy. If he gets fussy and restless at night I sing to him and hold him close...he falls right back to sleep...what a love bug! The updates page goes all the way back to when Zila first came to me! If anyone has questions about Zila please feel free to e-mail. If you have always wanted to be part of something great and change a life then please consider PuppyMillRescue (see the link below) or your local shelter. How we treat the little creatures in our world says much of who we are. If you have never been able to rescue an animal due to space in your home or time please consider helping financially. Zila has endured so much and still loves people.... its truly remarkable to see his capacity for forgiveness and love after what he has been through! Thank you for taking the time to read about Zila and for everyone who helped him and kept him in their prayers. God bless you! These are tests that have also been done and paid for with your help and kind donations! $23.59 L/D (Paid in full 4/12) $20.00 Exam (Paid in full 4/12) $28.00 Urinalysis (Paid in full 4/12) $14.59 Clavamox Drops (Paid in full 4/12) $40.00 Digoxin (Paid in full 4/12) $84.00 X-Ray (Paid in full 4/12) $20.00 Exam (Paid in full 4/12) $16.83 Lasix 12.5 mg (Paid in full 3/22) $13.00 Lasix 12.5 mg (Paid in full 3/22) $16.00 Enalapril 2.5 mg (Paid in full 3/22) $31.05 Exam (Paid in full 3/22) $13.00 Lasix 12.5 mg (Paid in full 3/22) $16.20 Lasix (Paid in full 3/22) $15.90 Enalapril (Paid in full 3/22) $31.35 Electrolyte 8 (Paid in full 3/22) $21.98 Adenosyl(Paid in full 3/22) $23.00 L\D Canine prescription diet 10lb (Paid in full 3/22) $13.00 Lasix (Paid in full 3/22) $10.26 L\D Canine prescription diet 6count (Paid in full 3/22) $48.15 General Health Test (Paid in full 3/05) $16.00 Enalapril (Paid in full 3/05) $68.00 Neutering (Paid in full 3/05) $31.35 Catheterization - IV (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full!) $16.80 Pain treatment (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full!) $25.00 - 100.00 Extract deciduous teeth (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full!) $61.00 Dental Canine (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full!) $15.00 Buprenex (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full!) $67.20 Cytology - Fluid (Done 11\5\04 and Paid in Full! X ray @ $84.00 (Done 11\01\04 Paid in Full) Bile Acid (pre/post) @ $62.70 (Done 10\27\04 Pain in Full) ACTH response test @ $100.80 (Done 11\01\04 Paid in Full) T4 test @ $28.00 (Done 10\27\04 Paid in Full) CBC @ $32.50 (Done 10\27\04 Paid in Full) Urinalysis @ $ 35.85 (Done 10\27\04 Paid in Full) Any donation to help with Zila's last bill and cremation may be dropped off, called in or mailed to: Prairie Animal Hospital (208) 772-3214 920 W Prairie Ave Coeur D Alene, Idaho 83815 Thank you for visiting! Email Zila! Visit Toby's page. Visit Truman's page (Stolen Chihuahua Alert!). Visit Zila's favorite web sites! StarrLoop Graphics™ & Templates Copyright 2003-2008 B.B. CO. LTD Resale License (Limited) # 5497-CFS-657-3 Expires 04/24/10 Avatar E/T2OAZ. Inc. Resale License (Unlimited) # AUJ87 No expiration date Hiko, Mariale Chan, NE. Corp. 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