CITY OF ABILENE ANIMAL SERVICES, ABILENE, TX

A HUGE TAIL WAG TO ALL PAWS SUPPORTERS! WE REACHED OUR $200,000 CAMPAIGN GOAL We missed seeing you this year at our Annual Gala, but we thank everyone who participated in our NON-EVENT CAMPAIGN and made it such a huge success!

Business Sponsors:

Individual Sponsors:

Lori Bantekas Dick & Val Beck Bowen Family Foundation Michael & Donna Coles Charles Engelhard Foundation Reece Jenkins Rachel & Chris Keller Amy & Paul Mower Ann Lurie & Mark Muheim Nichols Family Foundation

And a huge PAWS Up to all the individuals who donated to complete the $100,000 Matching Funds! COVID-19 has had a huge impact on our community and has resulted in record high demand for our financial assistance programs. All proceeds from this campaign will go to direct use helping pets and their people in our communities.

COVID PET FUND

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choose the car ride

I worked as a veterinary technician at Countryside Animal Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a few years before moving to Jackson. You see all sorts of things in a vet clinic and experience a range of emotions with clients: excitement when an owner adopts a new puppy, laughter over something goofy an animal does in the exam room, grief when the doctor has to deliver a bad diagnosis.

I got used to it as a tech. I’m still not used to it as an owner.

It’s different when you hear “cancer” and it applies to the animal that sleeps in your bed, rides in your car, licks your face when you’ve had a rough day. It’s different when you realize the last time you went hiking in the Tetons, camping in the Winds, kayaking at Slide Lake was the last time.

Bentley is my first dog. My family had dogs as I was growing up, but Bentley is the first one I picked out, the one I named, the one I raised from puppyhood into doghood. I taught him to shake on command. I failed to teach him to not bark at strangers. The dog he became is a journey we took together. He’s been my shadow the past eight years, my adventure companion, my travel buddy, my roommate.

Still, the most important part of pet ownership is also the worst. When we bring these amazing fur creatures into our lives, we accept responsibility for both how they live their life and, in most cases, how they exit it. As gray hairs have been sneaking into Bentley’s muzzle I’ve been easing into what I expected would be many years of senior dog living. Recent test results jolted me into a new reality.

At first, tests suggested lymphoma (not a great diagnosis) and most recently, leukemia (even worse). I don’t know

when it will be time to say goodbye, but the time is fast approaching. Medication and chemotherapy may prolong his life and keep him comfortable, but they are no cure. He likely won’t live another year. He likely won’t live through this one.

After several days of sobbing — and having Bentley show great concern for my sadness, which of course, made me cry harder — I steeled my heart. I’m still sad, and I still cry. But I only have the time I have, and I don’t want to spend it crying. At least, not all of it.

Instead, I choose to spend it appreciating the little moments: A car ride with the windows rolled down, a short walk in the grass, a snuggle on the couch. I put my phone down more and spend more time trying to memorize his exact color markings.

There are parts of this journey that still provoke a laugh, like when his new diet makes him gassy and he sits on the cat and farts. He has the energy to try to break into his treat jar, and he still takes the time to inspect and pull out all his toys, what I call “doing inventory.”

The reality is there too: dulling eyes, paling gums. He has less energy. He sleeps more. He wags less.

I suppose that’s one of the many things animals remind us: Life is short, and we don’t know how short. When it comes to how we spend our time, we have choices. Work longer or play a game of fetch. Finish one more email or go outside. Take another phone call or sit in the grass.

More than ever, Bentley has reminded me to choose the latter. Maybe his story will remind you, too.

We exist to improve lives and help people feel better!

Teton County Pet Partners does this by registering and matching animal therapy teams to individual and community needs

We miss providing animal therapy to Teton County! Please stay safe! We’ll be back soon!

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