A little about Fireball:
We had to put down our 1st JRT MAX in Nov 2006 at the age of 14 years. We had him from 7 weeks
of age and he was our first child.
4 months later while looking on Craigslist I came across Fireball who needed a home and was with a
rescue group called Needful Souls. I learned that Fireball was taken to Cobb County animal shelter by
his original owner because she was ill. I could tell he was well taken care of since he had been
microchipped and neutered. He had also had some training. Fireball was at the shelter not even 1
week and Robin was there to rescue some other dogs. Fireball was in the back since he was scared
of all the loud noises. Robin told the staff she would be back for him in a few hours. Fireball was with
Needfuls Souls only 1 week before becoming part of our family.
Robin and I spoke for a week and she and her husband brought Fireball to our home to meet our
family. I was in love with him instantly, even before I met him.There was a special look in his eyes that I
knew he was for me and would be a great part of our family.
We rescued Fireball in March 2007 at the age of 15 months. I took him in for a checkup 2 days after
he came into our family. He was heartworm negative and started preventive meds. 1 year later at his
annual visit....Fireball was heartworm positive and we are heartbroken.
Now our sad story..........
I am shedding so many tears as I write this. Fireball passed away 3 weeks ago.
We found out on April 4th 2008, that he was heartworm positive. He had been on preventive monthly
meds since we got him. Fireball tested negative for heartworms in March of 2007 when we took him
for a checkup. He has been doing great. We took him in for his annual where he tested positive, stage
1 "mild"
We started the treatment on Monday & Tuesday and he did very well. They gave me acepromazine to
help keep him calm.
Well, on Monday April 14th 2008, 1 week after his first HW treatment, he had more energy than he has
had in the last week. But that nite, after we put the kids to bed, he took a turn for the worse. He was
lying on the sofa as normal, on his favorite blanket and made a strange loud noise and vomited a large
amount at one time. He would not get up. I rushed him to the emergency clinic and prayed and told
Fireball that he would be ok and that he just needed to hold on a few more minutes. When we got
there, they said that he was just about in a coma and was very critical. We authorized any care that
was needed and gave permission to perform CPR if needed. Well, he went under arrest 3 times and
they came out to tell us that he would not make it. Fireball passed away.
My heart is broken as I loved him from the moment I saw his photo on Craigslist. Fireball was my
sidekick. He followed me everywhere and could trust me.
I am having a difficult time talking to anyone without breaking into tears. I have to deal with the
emotions of my children ages 4 and 7 as well as my own. To see my child in bed at night crying
because they miss their family member and friend is very difficult to handle. To have Fireball slip into a
coma, struggling to breathe and in pain while he is in my lap on the way to the emergency hospital. To
have the vision of him still very fresh in my head of him lying on the table not breathing with a tube down
his throat after they tried to revive him 3 times. To have saved his life and to have him nearly die in my
arms. That's alot to deal with. My heart is broken, the heart of my husband & our children are broken
too.
One thing that I have learned from reading about heartworms is that a dog can have the very
beginnings of it and still test negative. Dogs should be tested again 6 months after being
rescued/adopted. I wish my vet would have told me that because Fireball might have had a better
chance of surviving. Unfortunately, we did not see our regular vet on his first visit.
Thank-You for reading my story!
Liz Waldroop
We had to put down our 1st JRT MAX in Nov 2006 at the age of 14 years. We had him from 7 weeks
of age and he was our first child.
4 months later while looking on Craigslist I came across Fireball who needed a home and was with a
rescue group called Needful Souls. I learned that Fireball was taken to Cobb County animal shelter by
his original owner because she was ill. I could tell he was well taken care of since he had been
microchipped and neutered. He had also had some training. Fireball was at the shelter not even 1
week and Robin was there to rescue some other dogs. Fireball was in the back since he was scared
of all the loud noises. Robin told the staff she would be back for him in a few hours. Fireball was with
Needfuls Souls only 1 week before becoming part of our family.
Robin and I spoke for a week and she and her husband brought Fireball to our home to meet our
family. I was in love with him instantly, even before I met him.There was a special look in his eyes that I
knew he was for me and would be a great part of our family.
We rescued Fireball in March 2007 at the age of 15 months. I took him in for a checkup 2 days after
he came into our family. He was heartworm negative and started preventive meds. 1 year later at his
annual visit....Fireball was heartworm positive and we are heartbroken.
Now our sad story..........
I am shedding so many tears as I write this. Fireball passed away 3 weeks ago.
We found out on April 4th 2008, that he was heartworm positive. He had been on preventive monthly
meds since we got him. Fireball tested negative for heartworms in March of 2007 when we took him
for a checkup. He has been doing great. We took him in for his annual where he tested positive, stage
1 "mild"
We started the treatment on Monday & Tuesday and he did very well. They gave me acepromazine to
help keep him calm.
Well, on Monday April 14th 2008, 1 week after his first HW treatment, he had more energy than he has
had in the last week. But that nite, after we put the kids to bed, he took a turn for the worse. He was
lying on the sofa as normal, on his favorite blanket and made a strange loud noise and vomited a large
amount at one time. He would not get up. I rushed him to the emergency clinic and prayed and told
Fireball that he would be ok and that he just needed to hold on a few more minutes. When we got
there, they said that he was just about in a coma and was very critical. We authorized any care that
was needed and gave permission to perform CPR if needed. Well, he went under arrest 3 times and
they came out to tell us that he would not make it. Fireball passed away.
My heart is broken as I loved him from the moment I saw his photo on Craigslist. Fireball was my
sidekick. He followed me everywhere and could trust me.
I am having a difficult time talking to anyone without breaking into tears. I have to deal with the
emotions of my children ages 4 and 7 as well as my own. To see my child in bed at night crying
because they miss their family member and friend is very difficult to handle. To have Fireball slip into a
coma, struggling to breathe and in pain while he is in my lap on the way to the emergency hospital. To
have the vision of him still very fresh in my head of him lying on the table not breathing with a tube down
his throat after they tried to revive him 3 times. To have saved his life and to have him nearly die in my
arms. That's alot to deal with. My heart is broken, the heart of my husband & our children are broken
too.
One thing that I have learned from reading about heartworms is that a dog can have the very
beginnings of it and still test negative. Dogs should be tested again 6 months after being
rescued/adopted. I wish my vet would have told me that because Fireball might have had a better
chance of surviving. Unfortunately, we did not see our regular vet on his first visit.
Thank-You for reading my story!
Liz Waldroop
