AMBROSE - Tailends 10.11.03 – 03.06.04

Ambrose came into our care following a telephone call from Karen at the Dogs Trust. She told me about this old collie who had arrived at their rescue from a dog pound in south Wales. He was very old – probably at least 15 yrs old but maybe more. He was very wobbly on his legs and desperately needed some TLC for his remaining days.

When we first saw this dear old man, he wagged his tail in greeting and struggled to his feet to follow us. We were very keen to get him home as soon as possible and give him some of the special home comforts, which had been sadly lacking in his life. We also felt anger at a society which treats old dogs so badly that a sweet old man like Ambrose should end up in a dog pound at his age – unwanted and unloved. If it had not been for the compassion of the Dogs Trust he would have been put to sleep at the end of his statutory seven days in the dogpound.

We were allowed to take Ambrose home on 10th November and the next day we took him to the vet for a check. He had suffered a back injury at some time in his life and this probably accounted for his swaying gait, as his legs did not always do what was required of them. He may have been hit by a car while living as a stray – nobody can ever know the truth of his sad life. He also had a protracted penis and on examination the vet found that the prostate gland was very swollen and painful. On the 12th November Ambrose had a scan to ascertain whether there was any sign of cancer or problems which should be addressed. Happily there was no sign of any tumour and so he was put on antibiotics and injections to help the prostate reduce in size and stop the infection. Ambrose’s teeth were very bad and in need of a dental but we decided to wait for a few weeks to settle him in, as he was not in obvious pain. We were very worried about such an old man having an anaesthetic but the vet reassured us that his chances were very good and the drug used is usually quite safe on these old dogs. He had 7 teeth removed on 10th December and his mouth was cleaned up and made comfortable for him. The two canine teeth were quite badly diseased and the roots had to be drilled out.

Ambrose continued to have injections and examinations of the prostate and we were happy to hear that it was reducing considerably every time we went until eventually we were told that the prostate was completely back to its normal size and his penis was retracted into the sheath as normal. This must have made him feel so much more comfortable.

Ambrose was always a happy little soldier despite his rather sad expression. He went out twice a day for a little stroll on the footpath and field at the back of the garden. He decided how far he wanted to go and when he was ready to return home. He became quite well known to locals and visitors who frequented the path. Many people fell for his charms and saw what a sweet natured character he was. He had been totally deaf since we knew him but this did not affect him in any way. He used to sleep very deeply in the cosy padded bed that he chose for himself. We also put a duvet in his room so that he could stretch out if he preferred. He gradually became incontinent during the night (very easily dealt with using plastic sheets and towels under his blankets) though he was always very clean during the day and pottered out into the garden when he needed to go. He needed a helping hand, as his back legs were very unruly and used to cross over each other sometimes making him nearly lose his balance.

The months passed and gradually Ambrose’s appetite diminished. It became more difficult to tempt him to eat. He would enjoy some chicken or fish one day and then not seem to want anything the next. We tried all sorts of things to whet his appetite but the old man was coming to the end of his days. May passed into June and I knew that soon I must make that terrible decision to help him slip away peacefully and not linger to slowly die the cruel death which nature often decrees. Ambrose had been sleeping for longer and longer and seemed reluctant to get up or eat. I am sure he was not suffering or in pain but had just reached the end of his life here with us. I phoned the vet on the morning of June 3rd and Simon arrived within the hour. I held his sweet head in my arms as Ambrose slipped peacefully out of his old worn-out body. There was barely a flicker to tell us that he had gone. He was comfortable on his duvet and knew nothing but sweet dreams at the end. We miss him dreadfully. In those few short months since he arrived Ambrose had carved a permanent memory into out hearts. He was so grateful for the home we were only too happy to give to him. He trusted us implicitly and we tried to live up to that trust. He lived with all our other dogs quite happily but was content in his own little world. Our elderly little Jack Russell – Sugarlump would curl up in his bed with him and he never seemed to mind.

We often wondered how Ambrose got the nasty scar that ran down his face. Maybe a result of human abuse or maybe a battle scar from defending his territory as he lived rough on the streets. It is a shameful disgrace against humanity that dogs such as Ambrose are abandoned and left to starve or scavenge for survival. His sad life could so easily have ended in a cold bleak comfortless dog pound. I know if he could he would be so grateful to the person from the Dogs’ Trust who decided to give him the chance of a home and unconditional love at the end of his days.

This year has been a cruel one as we have lost six of our dear children already and it is only August. I can only hope that somewhere they are all together again – free of pain and worn-out bodies – running in green fields of buttercups with the wind blowing softly along their backs... till we all meet again – Wendy, Billy, Barbara, Kenny, Ambrose and just last week poor dear Lloyd who suffered so much at the hands of evil heartless men. Look after each other until I get there.