Teva The Diva and Her Yellow Friend

Teva has many things she loves in her canine life. I would say food is numero uno but not far behind that, judging from the contemplative state I see in her eyes when having to decide between the two, is her yellow ball.

The yellow ball came into her life when she was a puppy and I was trying to find something to replace tennis balls. Tennis balls can often cause dental damage if they constantly chew the balls as Teva is known to do.  I came across these chewy, rubbery finds at a boutique pet store/veterinary office in Pasco, WA. They became such an obsession for Teva primarily because of  the loud squeakers inside them and squishy sounds they made when she chewed them that eventually we had no choice but to take them away.

At the recommendation of her trainer, Lisa Lucas, we tried to end this obsession going as far as purchasing over a dozen of them and giving her 24 hour access to all things yellow and round. The trial didn’t work in our favor at all, in fact we both lost much sleep from all the squeaking and squishing we heard throughout the night. The next attempt was to store them in the garage and only get them out for a game on rare occasions and them putting them ‘night night’ in the garage (a slightly embarrassing ritual when guests were over).  With this came the unfortunate turnout of every time we made a motion towards the garage she scrambled and slid across the newly laid hard wood floors to beat us out the door and the land of yellow balls. To save the floors we had to secretly sneak out to the garage when she was sleeping or avoid it all together.

Thumbs would be helpful

When Cancer came knocking at our door I decided that not only is some “people food” okay yellow balls are back and they are back as long as Teva wants them.  Those yellow balls are no longer annoying to us and we now make time every day to play catch in the yard or place them by her while she sleeps. Ironically, she has calmed down and can sleep with her ball in the other room or outside. She is quite content to know they are close by continually giving her great joy when she is just too tired from the chemo to do anything but lay in the grass and squish them between her rubbery black lips.

Teva’s ball travels with her wherever we go, including her chemo trips down to WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.  As a regular patient, and the yellow ball her signature, I’m thankful that the veterinary students and oncologists make sure it’s with her at all times.

On our visit to WSU last week, yellow ball in Teva’s mouth, we were delivered news that made me wish I too had a yellow ball to squeeze and squish.  Teva is not responding to the chemo protocol as we had hoped. She was placed “out of remission”  which means we must now scramble to start  alternative treatment in hopes that we will find the right cocktail of drugs to put her right back where she belongs: In remission.

Teva Jo, as always, made friends in the waiting room of the hospital with her yellow ball by her side. No matter how she feels Teva is always grateful for the little things- like the cold concrete floors of the hospital that offered a great reprieve on a hot summer day in Washington and the greetings of strangers passing by.

The Wizards of Indian Trail Animal Clinic gave her "Courage"

I met some wonderful people who shared stories with me about their young and old dogs who were also at the hospital for chemo. Many of the people who stopped to say hello to Teva and ask why we were there would bend down and rub her head as we chatted. The large purple tag that hangs from her collar, next to her name tag, always grabbed their attention.  I would watch their faces as they read the tag and mouthed “For Courage”, the engraving on the tag.  They would look up at me and smile and give Teva another heart warming pat. This shiny tag was a  gift from two very dear people who selflessly act as animal guardians and veterinary technicians in a small animal practice in Spokane. Colette and Jill presented it to me on my most recent visit to their practice. So fitting was this gift from them as their clinic is filled with such big hearted people.

We needed that gentle reminder last week and will carry it with us.  With courage, love and amazing veterinary care Teva still has a chance.

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