Olga's story: Olga came to us as an owner surrender on 2-26-08. Earlier that day, we received an e-mail from her desperate owner who was contemplating euthansia becuase she could no longer keep her. Fortunately, Olga found her way to Adopt-A-Bull Rescue that very night and now she's safe in our custody! Olga was born in Poland, but has lived in NY for all her life. Just last month, her family moved to S. FL and Olga is having a tough time transitioning from the move.Olga is a very sweet girl that has grown up around young children, she is okay with other dogs, but doesn't pay them too much attention. Olga suffers from epilepsy and has occasional seizures - for this, she is on daily medication. Olga has had long-standing ear infections that have left her with irreversible damage to both her ear canals. She may need ear canal ablation surgery to fix her ears. Today, Olga went to the vet for a complete exam, blood work, and she is now current on all her vaccinations. She has never been given a heartworm pill in her life, thankfully she tested negative for heartworms today and has begun her monthly preventative.

3-6-08 Update: Please keep our rescue girl, Olga, in your prayers. She has had 11 major gran mal seizures since 12:00am last night and she is currently staying overnight in a 24-hour animal care hospital staffed with specialsts. Her prognosis at this time is very uncertain.... we are taking this hour by hour. Doctors have loaded her up on meds and have induced a coma-like state temporarily. The last two seizures Olga had were very bad, they keep getting increasingly worse, more severe, and closer together in time. I guess in a way it was good that Olga seized in the doctors presence, Olga gets really stiff, falls over with limbs extended while her whole body vibrates and then she turns blue, her tongue hangs out and with her mouth wide open foam and mucus come out of her mouth. The doctor is scared she might aspirate or catch a pneumonia from breathing back in the mucus. Olga will again have a complete blood panel done with x-rays and the whole bit. At this time the financial aspect is the least of my worries. The next 12 hours are critical for our baby girl, in the near future, Adopt-A-Bull may have a very hard decision to make.... if Olga doesn't make it for us herself :(

3-7-08 Update: Olga hasn't had a seizure since yesterday! She is in stable condition at the hospital, very drugged up and lethargic, but the vet said the good news is she's eating like a piggy! Olga will remain in the hospital for a couple more nights for further observation/treatment.

3-9-08 Update: Olga was released from the hospital this afternoon and she has been seizure free since her admission!

3-11-08 Update: Good news is that she has had no grand mal seizures. Bad news is Morda is not happy, in fact - she is very UNHAPPY. She paces constantly from one room to the next, always panting. She is very anxious and not able to relax or act like a "normal" dog. She is pretty much unresponsive to humans and does not interact with my dogs. She seems to be "in a world of her own", and that is not a happy world. She cries a lot, baying -almost like a basset hound. She will pace to the end of the room, then stand and cry for a minute... pace to the other end of the room, cry for a minute, and so on. We called the vet this morning about her behavior, and she said that she is "very concerned"; that she should not be acting that way - especially with all the depressive medication she is on. She said that there is very possibly permanent brain damage from prior seizures. I also mentioned that Morda seems to "twitch" often. The ER vet said that this could be more small seizures. She recommended a neurologist; but said they would want to do $2000 worth of tests, and she knows that is not possible. The office consultation alone is a small fortune and could be set up on Wednesday. But, I'm not sure that will tell us more than we already know. We feel that unless her behavior changes drastically, she will not be adoptable.

3-12-08 Update: We have consulted 5 separate people, our vet, a specialist, a university vet professor, neurologist, a vet tech w/experience in this issue, besides the ER vet that treated Olga in the hospital the whole weekend.
Based upon ALL factors considered:
- the way Olga acted the day we got her, previous indications of brain damage
- her history
- the way she is currently acting
- the mini seizures she is having daily, multiple times a day
- her lack of 'awareness' and constantly 'in her own world'
- her pacing back and forth, never seems to be at rest, always crying out
- her depression (howling), constantly barking and crying staring off into space
- her confusion when you go to act like you are picking her up and she snaps back
- her current quality of life
- future prognosis
All parties agree that based on everything Olga has irreversible brain damage - already pre-exsisting prior to her surrender to rescue, but perhaps even further since her recent episodes. There are a lot of details and little examples of things that would take forever to explain and write out, but it's more than just what we've shared via the internet.
Our board has decided to let Olga rest in peace.... We can't keep going back and forth on this..... it's seems we are trying to justify in our own heads why we should do this when we know the decision is obvious and clearly apparent. We are torn, tired, and stressed - we don't want Olga to suffer in this life anymore than she already has. It's really not as simple as kissing her on the head and letting her go to Jesus..... this is so hard... I feel like she's my child. I don''t know her that well, but I love her. Goodnight my sweet angel.... we are so sorry.

A MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN - From Olga: Don't worry about me everybody.... I'm with Jesus up in heaven! This is the life I'm tellin' ya.... there are so many awesome bullies up here with me and I have so many new friends! I've never been happier in my life and for once I can actually see, hear, and think properly. I'm not in any pain, I'm not scared, and I'm finally at peace. I just have one message to all my rescuers and friends back on earth: please hug your bullies tight and show them you love them every day and night.... don't take anything for granted and remember my rescue mommy's favorite saying: "Not all bulles are as fortunate as the ones we call our own."
Please take care of my friends back at Adopt-A-Bull, they need help the most right now - as for me I'm finally happy and content, don't worry (and stop crying mommy.)I lub yew! - Olga

A poem sent to us by Cyndi, our vets assistant and #1 vet tech in the world, a wonderful, beautiful person (in and out). Thanks Cyndi for all you do, Olga sends you kisses from heaven:

Here in this house...... I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'. I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed. I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat. I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat. I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness, and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose. My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted. Here in this house... There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level. I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand, I can enjoy the warmth of the words. I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many. My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it! Here in this hous e... I will never be a substitute for anything I am not. I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves. I will be loved because I am who I am, not someones idea of who I should be. I will never suffer for someones anger, impatience, or stupidity. I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame. Here in this house... I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch... knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me. If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be cheered. No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and known to be of value. I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough. My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought. I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs. Here in this house... I will belong. I will be home. (author unknown)

Olga (Morda) 4-20-03 - 3-12-08

Pics from her younger days:

IF IT SHOULD BE....

If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this, the last battle can't be won.

You will be sad - I understand,

Don't let your grief stay your hand,

For this day, more than all the rest,

Your love and friendship stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,

What is to come can hold no fears,

You'd not want to suffer so,

When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,

Only please, stay with me until the end.

Hold me very firm and speak to me,

Until my eyes can no longer see,

I know in time you too will see,

It is a kindness that you do to me,

Although my tail its last has moved,

Form pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve that it should be you

Who has to decide this thing to do,

We've been so close- we two these years,

Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Anonymous