Sophie's Story My regular listeners have heard me talk about Sophie. In fact, one last talk about Sophie is archived on the website. I've been asked by many of you to make Sophie's story available on the website, since my newspaper feature stories don't appear in Chicago. . . this piece about Sophie has, however, appeared all over America.
Karen, Sophie's owner blamed one of our two dogs, Lucy. She claimed Sophie didn't have much to say until she began hanging out with her best friend, our miniature Australian shepherd (North American shepherd). Like many of her breed, Lucy is a little chatter box. She talks and talks. Karen lives two floors below us in a five story vintage building just east of Wrigley Field on Chicago's near north side. "I'd say, 'Lucy go see your best friend.' And that's just what she'd do. She'd fly down those two floors, with our other dog - a Brittany named Chaser running to keep up - and stop in front of Sophie and Karen's door. Lucy didn't exactly knock. She didn't have too. Instead, she sing, "Ahoo…whoo…awhoooo…." On the other side of the door, "Grrr…rrrr…rrrrah…." Lucy can no longer see her best friend. On Monday June 25, Karen and I took Sophie, a 12-year old German shepherd mix to the veterinarian for the last time. Karen said, "The yard here is so beautiful," pointing to the rows of flowers. "It'll be nicer out here." On that day, Sophie lost her battle to cancer. But won freedom from the pain she had been feeling. To know me and my wife Robin is to know our cat, Ricky; perhaps our blue-tongue skink (a kind of Lizard) named Cosette, but definitely to know our dogs, Lucy, Chaser, and Sophie too. Karen works as school social worker during the day and in her own private practice several evenings each week. Since, I work so often from my home, Sophie spent her weekdays with us, and some weeknights too. When Karen went out of town, Sophie was also with us. Since Karen traveled to visit her parents at around Christmas, Sophie was a fixture in our holiday photos. My mother-in-law has a picture on the fridge labeled Robin and Steve's Family: Sophie is center stage. Sophie was with us so often, at least a few neighbors just assumed she was our dog. After all, Sophie even made a few TV appearances with Lucy and Chaser, and has been seen on several programs on Animal Planet, even "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Here's a real Sophie snapshot: For several days, whenever Sophie went into our front yard, she'd run to a certain corner behind a bush and lie there. Karen finally figured out what Sophie was doing. She was caring the best she could for a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. In our neighborhood most dogs are friendly, but even here there are a few antisocial canines. Sophie would walk up to those dogs, tail wagging, total enthusiasm, starting to tell her, "Grrr…rrrr…rrrah…" stories, even as the other dog began to growl and snarl, with the owner tugging at the leash. Sophie's very being was to lavish unconditional love to anyone, be it dog, cat, bird, person - whether they wanted to receive all that love or not. She wasn't choosy about who she loved. Karen did far more than most might do to fight for Sophie. After cancer was diagnosed, and initial surgery was performed by her vet, Dr. Donna Solomon in Chicago, she was referred to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Champaign- Urbana. Karen made a few trips down state, and ultimately Sophie underwent surgery there too, and was a patient of renown veterinary oncologist Dr. Barbara Kitchell. She bounced back from surgery rather well. But tougher than her fight against cancer was her year-long battle with a urinary tract infection. Antibiotic after antibiotic proved ineffective. You may have heard that some people have quickly built resistance to antibiotics, well the same thing is happening to some of our pets. A raging urinary tract infection causes at least some distress, but moreover if it continued to go on uncontrolled in Sophie's already weakened immune resistant state, it would have killed her. The antibiotics suggested became more and more rare, and expensive. These were given by injection. Karen's search for more than one of these antibiotics led her to human physicians - including her sister-in-law - who had difficulty tracking them down. Finally, Sophie seemed to get over her urinary tract infection, which made it possible to treat the cancer with chemotherapy. The chemo didn't have much effect on Sophie, but likely it was the heavy duty antibiotics than blew away her urinary tract problem that also blew away her kidneys. Heroically, Karen administered Intravenous fluids several times daily to bring Sophie back from the brink of complete kidney failure. She did it. And Sophie had several great months. In mid-April, Sophie again began to fail. On her way home from a veterinary conference, Kitchell even made a house call to visit Sophie. Solomon always made time to see Sophie. And other vets I spoke to in detail about her cancer and various other medical problems concurred, Solomon's talents kept Sophie alive. But at this point cancer was getting the best of her, and pain relief was Karen's new priority. Wouldn't you know it, about ten days before her death, the elevator in our building broke down. Either Karen or myself had to carry Sophie up the stairs. My mother said, "Why don't you complain about carrying this 55 lb. dog?" My answer I learned from Sophie. I don't know if she knew she was dying, but I know it hurt her to be carried; through her entire ordeal - through her entire life - she never complained. She just went on the best she could. The night before Sophie was to be euthanized Robin and I invited neighbors to our place, including all the dogs in our building. The people had chips and salsa. The dogs had steak. No matter what happens to me in life, I will also go on the best I can, and try not to complain too much. I do believe our pets have so much to teach us. Thank you Sophie. Now, I have a question for you: What have you learned from your pet(s)? I'll print some answers in an upcoming column. Answer via email (PetWorld@aol.com, or SteveDale@wgnradio.com), or write Steve Dale c/o Chicago Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300. Post Script: I now think I should have brought Lucy and Chaser with me when Sophie was euthanized. I know this sounds crazy, after Sophie was euthanized I explained to Lucy and Chaser that they wouldn't be seeing their friend again. Chaser for sure knew Sophie was sick. Chaser is a fixture at the side of my desk while I'm working, but for the past few weeks of Sophie's life, she'd lay next to Sophie several rooms away. This was totally out of character for Chaser, my Velcro dog. After Sophie was euthanized, Karen left town to attend an art class. I took in her mail, and right before she was due back, I went inside her place and deposited the mail. Lucy was with me, and just as were about to leave she suddenly cried - just for a moment. I wonder what our dogs know, and what they're feeling. They certainly don't seem to be mourning Sophie's loss. Maybe instead of knowing less than I think, they actually know more. Think about it. I will always remember Sophie. By Steve Dale Listen to Steve talk about Sophie
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Sophie
was the most amazing gossip. Too bad I never understood a word. Meeting
people or other dogs on the street, Sophie, a 12-year old German shepherd
dog, launched into long stories, "Grrr…rrrr…rrrrrah…rroo…grrr…" 