7 Days… 7 Fosters… 7 Angels…

by John Flores

Dear Portland,

I’m writing this letter to you to give you something to read as you cross over that rainbow bridge and to read this to your brothers and sisters. I’m picking you because you undoubtedly were the strongest of your litter.

Maybe you’re too young to know exactly what was going on but you haven’t left this Earth for not even 3 hours and the pain in my heart is something I have never felt before. Exactly one week ago today, I picked you and your siblings up to stay at my house to fatten up and get you ready for your big adoption day. If Elvis wasn’t neutered I would have sworn you all were his kids. You all had that signature Elvis “pouty face” to top it all off.  We had already lost your brother, AK, and your sister, Flora, was not feeling well so she stayed behind. But you and the rest of your siblings made the trip to “Foster Farms”. Though I had not been fostering for long, I had a pretty good track record for having sick dogs get better here. Plus, I was sure that Flora would be joining the rest of you over here in a few days.

However, things don’t always go as planned. You guys stopped eating and got very sick, very fast. Your brother, AK, had tested negative for Parvo so we were pretty positive that wasn’t it. None of you were eating so we had spent the next 48 hours hand feeding you. Our attempts were not successful. Flora was now at the vet and our worst nightmare became our reality. She had tested positive for Parvo. We rushed the rest of you to the vet. We split you guys up into two groups so you would get more attention individually. This was my first time dealing with this virus so the severity had not hit me yet. And even though you had a seizure at the house I fully expected all of you to be back at my house by the end of the week.

But days later, your brother, Smith, did not have the strength to go on anymore and he passed. You have no idea how heartbroken I was. It was then when it hit me just how sick all of you were. I was assured that your brother died peacefully. These were the same doctors that saved Kurtis so I know they did all they could to save your brother. And there were still 5 of you left that we needed to focus on getting better…

Then Remington passed…and then your sister, Alba, and hours later, Wesson followed. It was just you and Flora left. And you two were at two different hospitals. We were afraid of transporting Flora as we did not want to lose her but she had been doing so well that we thought the best thing was to have the two of you together. By the time I got Flora to you, she barely had enough strength to do much else. It was her turn to cross the rainbow bridge.

By the time we lost Flora, I was just about completely broken and brought to my knees. And you, Portland, were doing so well. We just knew you would be the one to make it. All we had to do was get you to eat and you could come home with me.

I walked in the vet office yesterday morning full of hope and determined to get you to eat. I just knew you were coming home with me. But the look I saw in your eyes said otherwise. I knew that look. I had seen it 3 other times earlier that week from Alba, Wesson and Flora. I refused to give up. Lisa, Ashlee and I never put you down the whole day. We took turns trying to get you to eat, holding you in our arms, talking to you and I even showed you pictures of Elvis trying to convince you that he was your Dad. Ashlee did everything she could to pep you up and thanks to Lisa, we found out you liked country music!

But as much as you were trying to hold on and fight, I could tell you just wanted to be with the rest of your siblings. I knew your time on this Earth was coming to an end. I held you as tight as I could and put my head next to yours. As you took your last breath I closed my eyes and inhaled. And as I inhaled I could feel all the pain leaving your body and entering mine. In an instant, I felt not only the pain you and your siblings had endured but I also gained your strength and will to keep fighting. You were finally free. No more pain. No more fighting. You were on your way to see the rest of your brothers and sisters who were patiently waiting for you. Your body went limp and the tears would not stop flowing.

And from this day forward, the “Guns n Roses” litter will forever live in our hearts. We will tell your story to help educate people. We will continue to help those in need and we will push forward with our mission to “save one by one until there are none” with even more conviction.

During a span of 7 days I took on 7 fosters and gained 7 guardian angels.  My heart is extra heavy but I know the only way I can honor your lives is to keep rescuing. And that’s exactly what I will do. Please tell your siblings that we love you guys and we miss you like crazy. And though your story did not go how I planned, I will never stop telling it. This pain in my heart will ultimately be my strength to keep going.

Rest in paradise, Portland. Tell your siblings we’re sorry for keeping you but we just wanted you with us a little bit longer…

John Flores

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