The small, the mean, and the ugly

The first time I met Mr. Athey, he was explaining the bite marks that freckled across his left cheek. It seemed Max, one of his middle-aged Shih Tzus, took chunks out of his owner's face from time to time. Mr. Athey seemed to think this was normal dog behavior and held no ill feelings toward Max. I, on the other hand, immediately muzzled him for the duration of the exam.

Mr. Athey went on to say that mere dog food was not good enough for his three little dogs. Steaks, hot-dogs, and pork chops were a routine part of their diet—which explained why Max was a little over his ideal weight. Looking at Mr. Athey, it was obvious he didn't partake of these meals. He was painfully thin, which he cheerfully attributed to his preference for extended cocktail hours instead of meals.

I came to realize that despite the apparent neglect to his own health, Mr. Athey gave conscientious and meticulous care to his dogs. Brandy, another Shih Tzu, and Tramp, a Shih-Tzu cross, rounded out his trio of small, homely, feisty dogs.

And these dogs had their fair share of needs. Max was predisposed to glaucoma, corneal ulcers, and excessive corneal pigmentation. Mr. Athey diligently treated him for years, both topically and orally, until Max eventually went blind. With the loss of his sight, the dog mellowed and was easily handled. An added advantage was his inability to inflict facial bites upon his owner.

The second dog to be placed with Mr. Athey was Prince, a young Lhaso apso. Here, Prince rough houses with Sammy, a larger and much more docile playmate.

A man so willing to shoulder the demands—and pains—of pet ownership seemed like an ideal caretaker for other downtrodden animals. The first dog I placed with Mr. Athey was Sebastian, another Shih-Tzu cross. When his previous owner had presented him for boarding, he was unable to bear weight on his front left leg. Sebastian would growl and snap at anyone who attempted to touch the swollen leg, which had a large open sore over the metacarpal area. The owners, unwilling to pay for any diagnostics or treatments, turned him over to us to dispose of as we saw fit. Who would possibly want a mean, ugly little dog with a bad leg? I immediately thought of Mr. Athey.

When I called Mr. Athey and explained the situation, he was ready at once to claim his new dog. After radiographs and therapy, I discovered Sebastian had a case of osteomyelitis, caused by a deep cut that went untreated. After debriding, interminable bandage changes, and antibiotic therapy, he still had a crippled leg due to nerve damage.

One follow-up call later, Mr. Athey reported that Sebastian had bitten him several times, but he was convinced the dog was warming up to him. With the passage of several years, Mr. Athey proudly proclaimed that Sebastian had stopped biting him altogether.

The second dog I placed with Mr. Athey was Prince. He wasn't ugly, except for the condition of his skin. His body was essentially hairless with sores on all four feet, around the eyes, and over the neck. He was a 2-year-old Lhaso apso, a fairly cheerful fellow, but capable of biting when in an irritable mood. He was previously diagnosed with recurring Demodex, which was kept in remission by dipping him every six weeks. Unable to afford the ongoing treatments, the owners had opted for euthanasia. Instead, I obtained the owner's permission to give Mr. Athey a call.

Mr. Athey told me he'd been battling his own health problems and was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. I explained the long-term care required for Prince, saying I understood if he was reluctant to take it on at this time. Mr. Athey responded that he was on his way to pick up his new dog. Three years later, Mr. Athey is in remission, and so is Prince—as long as he comes in every few months for his dips.

In the end, Max died in his sleep at age 12, Brandy lost out to a bad heart, and Tramp eventually succumbed to diabetes. With each loss, Mr. Athey requested a replacement. I assured him that his name was on the short list of candidates ready to provide unconditional love to the small, the mean, and the ugly dogs needing new homes. In fact, his was the only name on the list.

Laura Bougie, DVM

Editor's note: Sadly, Mr. Athey passed away in 2004 after years of caring for the most challenging of pets. Thankfully, several of Dr. Bougie's clients opened their homes to his beloved dogs.

Dr. Laura Bougie works at the Pleasant Valley Veterinary Hospital S.C. in West Bend, Wis.