As if stepping right out of a fairy tale, this handsome white siberian husky entered our lives as a majestic Prince Charming.  With impeccable manners in the animal shelter, with all creatures he encountered, and the transition into rescue, it seemed as if we had saved "the perfect dog".  We dared to dwell in this dream, and knew that one day, we would discover why an obedience & therapy trained animal was abandoned in a county facility with no attempt at placement prior to his destination of death row.  After 3 weeks of spooning with Sabre in the morning hours before the day began, long walks on the beach, and general canine bliss, the puzzle of the state of Sabre's fate began to unravel.
 
During an early morning, pawing was heard from beside the bed where this beauty slept when not on his master's feet.  After peering down, and calling to him, it was evident that something was horribly wrong.  Within one minute, he began to seize one of the most severe tonic clonic seizures we have ever witnessed.  Rushing this spasming & scared baby to the emergency vet at 6:30AM, we were panicked.  After an hour of violent convulsions, the emergency vets were finally able to sedate our striking siberian enough that he became still.  Since no prior medical history was known, we assumed this may or may not be a new event for Sabre.  After numerous blood panels & a few nights at the ER Vet, Sabre returned home on the beginning dosage of Phenobarbital. 
 
The Phenobarbital had side effects that did not dissipate with the passing weeks, so after a trip to the regular veterinarian, it was decided that we would add Potassium Bromide to his Phenobarbital doses, and try to wean him off of the heavily sedating drug.  During this time, we also had to coordinate two dental extractions due to molars that were worn to the pulp & causing respiratory distress.  After X-rays & symptoms revealed that Sabre had a possible enlarged heart, as well as asthma, and a hernia, we began to wonder what else would surface. 
 
The weeks passed quickly, and Sabre slyly wormed his way into the hearts of his foster family.  His drowsiness and feebleness dissolved, and once again the radiant siberian returned.  Sabre learned tricks and completed commands faster than they could be created.  It seemed that despite the grand mal seizure, he had suffered no visible neurological damage.  Prayers, blessings, and kind thoughts poured from each person that Sabre enthralled.  After approximately one month of 24 hour seizure duty, we began to feel that perhaps this love was in the clear.
 
Last Tuesday, 12 September 2006, at 1:20AM, funny noises were heard from where Sabre was flaked out on the linoleum in his suite downstairs.  I called to him, and after he didn't answer with his usual woo, or run to me with an expectant kiss, I raced out of bed.  Sabe's legs were twitching, and he looked me directly in the eyes with a panicked look that tacitly expressed "It's coming, HELP ME!".  I ran to get the cell phone, my mother's assistance, and the rescue valium.  We rectally inserted all of the syringes of tranquilizer that we were given to us, but the seizure did not halt or lessen.  After a frantic call to the Emergency Vet again, we put Sabre in the car in full blown seizure mode.  We carried him into the clinic with the assistance of a tech, and directly back into the emergency room where the veterinarian was performing surgery.  Seeing the severity of the situation, she immediately dropped her scalpel and began administering intravenous valium in huge quantities.  I stood over Sabre with tears in my eyes watching his twitching form on the floor, while trying to read the seizure journal and give what little history I had to the veterinarian.  The seizure had a duration again of over an hour and was severely violent despite our efforts.  After 20 minutes of the veterinarian and several techs working on this white wonder, he finally stilled and was stable.  
 
Sabre spent the entire week at the Emergency Vet while they continued to draw blood several times a day, and loaded him with various medications.  It is suspected that Sabre has idiopathic epilepsy, and that in his case, the seizures are extremely severe (Status Epilepticus... which can be life-threatening).  We visited Sabre multiple times, taking him something special from home for comfort.  His first reminder was his favorite stuffed animal.  He was so happy to see this security blanket, and covered us with kisses.  When visitation time was up, Sabre grabbed his monkey in his mouth that was still sore from the two teeth that were extracted and bounded through the door to the emergency quarters.  He glanced back only once, with his mesmerizing ice blue eyes locking with ours in a silent ray of hope, seeking what he needed to hear before the door eased shut past his plume of a tail.  We nodded with the familiar whisper of truth, promise, and comfort that "Yes, we will return to take you home, you are safe with us".
 
Finally, Sabre was released to come home.  This fellow who gives so much and expects so little is exerting every ounce of effort he has to recover.  The medical bills from the extensive veterinary work have mounted higher than the sun that Sabre watches rise over the Chesapeake Bay each morning.  He seems uneasy and worrisome each time a new problem is discovered, or another event takes place.... S.H.I.N.E. and his foster family assure him that his job is to stay strong, get better, and that we, as humans, would worry about everything else.
 
While S.H.I.N.E. in fact rescued Sabre, he also saved his foster family & volunteers of the organization.  This mighty man has renewed our faith in believing in positive thinking, as well as enjoying the gifts that we are given each and every day.  Sabre has taught us to live in the moment, for we are uncertain of what tomorrow will hold.  This glorious gentleman is still on his road to recovery, but we, with your continued prayers, assistance, and well wishes, will ensure that his ending will in fact befit his fairy tale essence.... it will be happy ever after.
 
For more information on S.H.I.N.E., Sabre, or how you can assist, please visit our website @ www.shinerescue.org .
  
Alexis Rabon
S.H.I.N.E. Volunteer & APDT Member
www.shinerescue.org