10/15/2020
My response to a reporter question about "what happened?"
I'm not even sure how to put so much into an email about Lucas.
To say dog is a mans best friend is such an unjust cliche for our story. Lucas was genuinely a beacon of light, hope and above all else, unconditional love.
Lucas came into my life in May 2019 as a puppy. A stunning blue eyed, blue brindle Cane Corso which such stature and personality he turned heads everywhere he went. My life then was in such a deep, dark state of depression. My anxiety and agoraphobia were peaking after the loss of a job that changed my life, some medical issues, and grieving many losses.
I had studied the breed for a couple years and when a breeder was found locally, I had to check out the litter. And there he was. For the first time in over three months, I felt my heart again. A month later he came home and our journey together began. He kept me going outside of my house; he brought a sense of curiosity and adventure back into my world, and he taught me how to love again without hesitation.
He was a guardian, protective of me and our home any those we let in. He became a healer, not just for me, but for so many of my fellow Recoverees. He comforted anyone facing struggles and he made people laugh on down days.
He was fur brother to my two (adult) children and filled our home with a feeling of pure magic.
In Sept of this year, on a Saturday, I got home from an overnight shift at work and wasn't feeling well, we spent the morning snuggled in bed. We had lunch together and then I took a nap and he was with me.
A half hour later I woke up to the sound of him yelping and I ran. I ran outside and there were cars, and people, and my sweet Lucas laying in the road. A series of circumstances led him to do what he was meant to do; work. Work for him meant herd the cats, guard the house. Protect. And he did.
I ran to him screaming at everyone to call all the vets and see where we can get him fast. I sat in the road, his head in my lap, trying to sooth him. No one could find a local vet. Every single answer was Concord. Deerfield. Worcester. Too far. He wouldn't make it that far.
Every. Single. Option. 45mins or more away. He would not make it.
He needed help and he needed it fast. To have a chance to survive, he needed it fast. No one local. Nothing. So, we loaded him into the back of my neighbors keep, I crawled in and laid with him, and we were ready to go to Concord. I prayed he would hang on. It had already been what felt like forever. And we started to go.
And then. He went. He was gone. Before we got to the end of our street.
I can't guarantee any vet could have saved him. His injuries were internal in some way. Punctured lung from best I could tell. But , because we lack any Emergency Vet Services in Cheshire County il never know if he could have been saved. Or, if not, at least not have to suffer as long as he did and die in my arms in my neighbors car.
Years ago Keene and surrounding town vets rotated for 24/7 emergency services. That stopped for whatever reasons. I can't get a straight answer as to why. Amd to be honest, I don't care why.
What I do care about, and what I expected, is to find out what they need so we can have it again.
Animals are family. They have rights. And of the dozens of vets in this county, I can't believe it is acceptable that we don't have the means to help our pets when crisis happens.
I'm not saying 2am calls for a running cat nose or midnight procedure to stitch a slight cut. But when a massive trauma happens, vets should be required to answer the call for services. And to expect in a trauma situation, a 45+ mins drive to wherever, while animal is suffering and human is emotional, is insanity. That is the definition of inhumane. No animal should ever have to suffer in pain like my Lucas did. No human should have to lay in the street with their pet feeling helpless as they watch their best friend die.
As I said....vets have their reasons why this rotation ever stopped. That's fine. I don't care.
I want to unite animal lovers and caregivers together to find the solutions so this can start again on some capacity. I want a bill written and sent to the State demanding their be emergency services in a smaller radius than 50 miles. I want to help pet owners acquire pet insurance to reduce their out of pocket and offset the expense to the vets in the rotation so they get compensated.
I've heard from over 60 people on The Lucas Odin Foundation fb page sharing their stories of when emergency services were needed. There's hundreds more to be heard.
None of this will bring my Lukey back. But, he wouldn't want me to stay inside and cry much longer. He taught me so much and kept me focused on looking forward. He forged a path in his short 20 months of life and I have every intention of staying on course in his honor.
