Vet School Memorial Page
In memory of Merlin, Amber, Plato & Caspar
By Sarah Domingos
Summer 2010
Merlin, Amber, Plato, & Caspar
Merlin, Amber, Plato and Caspar - good old Georgia mixes – just like my sister Buff and I. Caspar and Amber came to us the same day in 1997 – straight from the jaws of a high kill Georgia shelter. I took a very shy Amber for a walk, and she trustingly turned over for me to tickle tummy. Moments later they said it was her turn for the doggie gas chamber and reached for her leash. Thus began 12 wonderful years with our Amber girl.
I also came home with an “extra” – Baby Caspar. I visited each dog at the shelter, going from run to run, smiling and petting. One pup – a black lab mix with a white patch on his chest – stood at the front, all four paws sturdily planted in a pair of water bowls as he grinned and wiggled. Short minutes later a warm bundle climbed into my lap – he had wormed his way out of his run and tracked me down the aisle. An attendant placed him firmly back in his run. A minute later he was back at my feet, pawing and yipping. I picked Caspar up, and I was won over. January of 2001 Buff sent me to Milledgeville to check out an awkward, playful bundle of fur with big ears and paws and an endearing personality. As I petted and fussed over Plato, I knew that Buff had struck gold. I’ll never forget her first glimpse of the “teenage” dog - very different from the online puppy. Her jaw dropped as she exclaimed, “No wonder he’s still available - he’s the homeliest dog I’ve ever seen!” Plato became a loving and loyal family member, one of the handsomest dogs I have known, and the closest dog to my sister’s heart. Less than 9 years later, he walked into the vet school under his own steam for the last time; he walked out only in our hearts. |
The next fall I ventured into a wooded pen at an Athens shelter to meet a scrawny gray merle Aussie who ran circles around me. Minutes later I called Buff to say I really didn’t think he was big enough to be a suitable companion for her energetic 130 pound Plato. I also said he had a pitiful tail - I knew Buff loved a magnificent plume.
Later my sister was crying - she had already named the little imp “Merlin”; he was destined for the doggie gas chamber the following day. I returned to Athens the next morning, rescuing Merlin from the jaws of death. He and Plato became fast friends, and Merlin continued to run circles around all of us, more than holding his own. As for his tail, it stayed short but by no means scrawny. Even on his sickbed, Merlin could produce a proud propeller tail on command, long silky hair flying as his stub of a tail twirled around and around. Many happy years after entering our lives, our 4 babies left us within these walls. In 2008 Merlin became the first of our dogs helped over the rainbow bridge by the compassionate and professional staff of the vet school. He, Amber and Plato developed hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the lining of the blood vessels, believed genetic rather than environmental in origin. Very different mixes, environment their only commonality, they all succumbed to cancer within 18 short months, Merlin and Plato mere weeks after diagnosis. Stubborn Amber smiled to the very end – 11 precious months later. We cherish a favorite picture of her happy face on the day she died. Amber kissed Dr. Musulin as she departed this world. The year before he died my brave, resilient Caspar spent 3 weeks hospitalized with septic shock. Because of his infection, he had his own special cart marked “Caspar Domingos” on which he travelled around the vet school. He won many hearts with his good temper and stubborn will to live. Plato was diagnosed with cancer the same week Caspar fell ill. Soon afterwards Buff was hospitalized with heart trouble. Each day of her hospital stay, I told Plato to hold on just one more day. Each day he soldiered on. Four days after Buff came home, we made the sad trip to the vet school to have Plato euthanized. Ten months later we made the same hard decision for Caspar. |
Memorial brick at the NC Veterinary School
Take a look at Dog Tails for more stories about our beloved dogs! To see how Sarah and Buff first became involved in dog rescue read "Commitment to Dog Rescue"
under "About Us". You may also want to check out dog rescue resources on our links page.
under "About Us". You may also want to check out dog rescue resources on our links page.