Laurent and I just got back from seeing Reesie; he is much better than this morning but still not out of the woods. It appears he had a massive infection that was poisoning his whole system - it may have started with the teeth problem and because it was not fully under control spread through his body.
The Clinica Veterinaria Etiopa is for emergency services only , expensive and busy. This morning when we brought our little buddy in, they were tending to three animals and two guys (clan members??) came in just after us with a beautiful but very ill white Persian cat with incredible blue eyes. They're open 24 hours a day and so far from what we've seen give exceptional service and care.
Evening visiting hours are from 7 to 8:30 and tonight it was crowded - three or four families, two gay couples and a few singles - all coming to collect their dogs or see and walk pets in for the long term. Dog lovers are a strange breed! There was much exchange of information about breeds, age, aliments and prognosis and our limited command of Italian didn't exclude us from the chatter. Reese was cooed and petted over and we were assured that he was "carino" and that everything would be okay. The few pets without visitors weren't excluded from the concern and general confusion - including one poor pup, of an indefinite breed, who had lost most of his nose. He was fussed over when the Assistant - who himself was worth fussing over - brought him out for his walk.
The picture isn't Reese, of course, but "Bubba." Back in 1986 Laurent was posted to Mexico City and he was constantly bugging me to get him a dog for Christmas. In a very un-NÖEL-like spirit I decided he couldn't handle a live one and he woke up Christmas morning to find a stuffed Dachshund under the tree. Bubba has been with us ever since and over the past few years people have commented how much he looks like Reesie. That same puppy like expression. Sadly tonight - for the first time that either of us can remember - Reese didn't look like a puppy - he looked very tired and like an old dog. Dinner was very quiet.
14 Ottobre - San Callisto I Papa
