Raffle

Hi! My name is Raffle, I'm a black German Shepherd. My family got me in April of 1996. I was always a loving, VERY PROTECTIVE puppy dog. I loved my humans and would protect them with my life. When other people looked at me, they thought I was a mean dog 'cause I'd bark and run at them if they spoke to my "boys"(my mom and dad's three sons). But I was really a whimp--I was afraid of thunder and the vacuum cleaner. I'd try to sneak into mom and dad's bed when it thundered but they wouldn't let me 'cause my rapid panting on a water bed kept them awake! I'd cop a 'tude with mom and would start barking if she tried to tease me with the vacuum cleaner. When I lost one of my "boys", Matt, to cancer when he was 14 (I was only 3 at the time), I became very nervous 'cause I couldn't figure out why he didn't come home. When one of my other "boys", Clint, went into the Air Force, I became VERY nervous when he was gone for months and I broke the cartilage in both of my ears from nervous scratching. My once proud ears drooped after that. I would get very upset when left at home alone 'cause I was never sure if all of my family would disappear like my two "boys" did. One night this last April my dad noticed I was acting funny and my tummy looked distended. When he pointed this out to my mom, she went online and looked up "bloat". I had every symptom so they rushed me to the emergency vet in the next town. They got me there in time and the vet explained the surgery to them. It cost a lot of money but my mom said since I was a very active, healthy 10 year old (only had a hint of arthritis!) that they should do the surgery. The vet led me out of the exam room and I didn't even look over my shoulder at mom and dad. My mom started to cry 'cause she was afraid it was an omen--I would NEVER walk away from mom and dad with a stranger. I'd whine and cry when they left me at the Groomer's and I KNEW her! So mom was afraid it was a sign I wouldn't be coming home. She was relieved when the vet called to say I made it through the surgery. Three hours later though, the vet called back to say I simply stopped breathing. Mom, Dad, Clint and Amber (my sister-in-law)and Nick all miss me but know I'm not alone, I'm playing at the bridge with Matt.

Elizabeth Caprio