Hilde

Hildegard and Wes

She was dying. The tiny, one pound, eight week old Pomeranian was barely moving. A panicked breeder presented her to students at the Oregon Veterinary School.  Wes, one of the students, gently lifted her from the breeder’s mound of blankets and towels. Together with two other students, they reviewed the pup’s vitals. The petite puppy had congestive heart failure. Her heart was severely enlarged and her tiny frame could not support it. One option was euthanasia. The correct answer was emergency surgery.

Tiny Hilde

The procedure was a success and (soon to be doctor) Wes nurtured her every second of the way, as she gained strength. He changed her bandages. He held her. He stroked her. He talked to her. When no one could hear him, he sang to her. And in the loving hands of Wes, she survived. And then she thrived. As she grew stronger, it was clear that Wes had developed a special connection to this little joy. Finally she was ready to go to her forever home, with her forever human: Wes.

He had loved another Pomeranian named Klaus. So this little sweetheart would also have a German name - Hildegard. Or, Hilde, for short. Today she is a healthy 9 Pounds and none of her piblings (animal siblings) know about her early health challenges and no one cares as long as she can run and play. That is the code in this home: you may have a boo-boo, but we’ll fix it and you will be fine.

It was at veterinary school where Wes met his future wife who was also studying to be a vet. Soon they decided to move to Minnesota, near family. Today, they have two small children and five animals, including Hilde. It’s a downsize from the four dogs and four cats they once loved. Dr. Wes is beloved at the Carver Lake Veterinary Center where he continues to save animals of every breed, size, and shape.

And Hilde was there for all of it. Wes’ wife claims that in his entire dog loving life, Hilde was his true love. He saved her life. And she loved him right back. Now and forever.

Good Girl Gwen

Their family has grown and changed. Today, Wes and Lindsey are proud human parents of Becket and Ainsley. Their animal family includes Hilde, of course, as well as felines Martina, Guinness, and Catsup. Recently, beautiful Gwen joined the family, too.

The tail will Thwap!

Perhaps 11years old, this Nova Scotia mix breed keeps the household beat. Literally. Whether she’s on her back or her tummy, whether she’s sitting up or reaching high, her tail thwaps. And thwaps. And thwaps.

As the rest of the household goes about their business, Gwen is sending a type of Doggy Morris Code. A gentle thwap means she is content and if any one wants to join her, that would be swell. A medium thwap means she can hear someone talking about her. A rapid thwap is a signal that she is all yours. She’s in her own doggy heaven. Ultimately, Gwen would appreciate it if you noticed her, but if not, that’s okay, too. Simply, she’s the most mellow, get along dog this family could ask for. She never barks, she never begs. She doesn’t need anything but a swath of floor where she can stretch and wag her tail. Thwap.

Thwap!

Thankfully, Gwen and Hilde like and sometimes even enjoy their feline family members. These cats, too, had a rough start.

Catsup (not to be confused with ketchup), was in big kitty trouble. He was barely six weeks old at the animal shelter when they realized he was showing some abnormal neurologic signs. He couldn’t breathe. His face was paralyzed. He couldn’t eat. Tests revealed that a parasite called Toxoplasmosis was the culprit. In the healing hands of Dr. Wes, he tolerated a tiny tube that went in his mouth and down to his stomach; they were able to get the nutrition he needed to grow and heel. The medications destroyed the parasite and allowed him to find the strength he needed to get well. And he did. It ignited the crazy in him. And that’s a good thing.

Martina and Catsup

Now about two years old, Catsup holds his own with the other two felines in the family: Guinness and Martina.

Guinness is named after the great black Irish beer. He was a stray (as opposed to a shelter animal, a stray is found on the street) and had a huge wound on his neck when he was brought in to the vet where Wes does what he does and saved his little life. Guinness was a good healer and as continued to grow, Wes knew that this beautiful black cat would go home with him. From the first days of their life together (Wes estimates Guinness is about 12 years old), Guinness finds his happy spot when he’s curled up, on top of, next to, or in someway touching his human dad. He’s called The Snuggler.

Guinness and Martina on guard

Then there’s sweet Martina who is very friendly but can be aloof (to which she would retort “I’m a cat, remember?” ). Martina, like Catsup  was found outside - a stray. As a kitten, she had been exposed to fire and developed an upper respiratory condition which included a polyp on the back of her throat. She could barely breathe but was too lathargic to eat.

Guess who saved her and brought her home to live happily ever after?

While eating and sleeping are paramount in their lives, doggies like to “recreate.”

Gwen jumps in the car, hoping this is the day they are going to the dog park and the lake. Any lake.  When she dives in to the cool water, her legs churn fast to keep her moving forward and afloat. Humans think her white “boots” are cute but Gwen knows the power they have: under the water, her paws have a superpower for swimming - and Dad can see her! Gwen is tickled that her human Wes loves the dog park and lake as much as she does. Standing at the edge of the water, Wes calls to her “Good girl, Gwen!” Although he cannot see it, Gwen beams with pride.

Hilde, on the other hand, is happy to go along for the ride, maybe not so much a dip in the lake. However, sometimes she and Gwen get to stick their noses out the windows of the car so they can consume the glorious odors of “out there.”

While Gwen is frolicking in the water, Hilde’s nose has identified something else. It smells. She tugs on Wes’ leash and he lets her have her way.

What? You don’t like fish?

Suddenly she falls to the ground, twisting and turning. If she’s on her back, she can smash the smell into her long, thick coat. She squirms and turns in great delight when Wes realizes she found a fish.

“No, Hilde, not the fish,” exclaims Wes.

Shaking his head, he bends down to collect Hilde and remove her from the temptation of further stinky engagement. She obliges and as they all walk to the car, Hilde’s nose finds another intriguing aroma and down she goes. This time, Gwen is there to observe. Although she is tempted to also roll in the “smell,” she was satisfied with her own aroma, having spent the last 30 minutes  in the glorious utopia of the lake. She didn’t care about Hilde’s new smell. She had her own. Thwap. Thwap.Thwap.

Adventures for the cats include Martina and Guiness perusing the back yard. Often, Guinness’ wild cat nature takes over and he roams all night long. Martina has her way with the night, but knows where the food is in the morning.

The cats will of course do as they please. And for Catsup, that means staying close to home - you know what they say “Stranger Danger”!  He could be the original Scaredy Cat.

Martina and Guinness on the other hand are the night prowlers. They start out in the back yard and realize that the night is theirs to have. Off they go. And eventually, back they will come.

For these five, life is good

And Hilde is living proof.