I always hate to report about our wonderful dogs who have now gone to the Rainbow Bridge....but Kaylene has now joined that group. Those of you that were around Husky Haven many years ago will remember her. I was going to write something but decided that the story her Dad, Randy, wrote was better than anything I could say. We will miss you sweet girl........
Alone and scared with blood streaming down her muzzle, the nameless
six
month old Siberian
husky lay on the side of the road with a bullet lodged in her
face. Some cruel and
heartless person shot her and left her there to die. The
young dog’s story
could have easily ended tragically there on the side of the
road, yet another
casualty of animal cruelty. No one would tell her story or
remember her as a
faithful companion.
As luck would have
it, this dog’s tale would have a different ending. The Houston
SPCA ambulance
picked up the petite black and white Siberian husky and
rushed her back to
their facility to stabilize and evaluate her. A call was made to
Pat Snyder with
Husky Haven, Inc. to see if she would take the girl into her
rescue program. Pat
listened to the voice on the other end of the phone tell of the
callous shooting and
the little Siberian’s need for medical care and a second
chance at life.
Husky Haven has given over a thousand second chances to
abandoned and abused
dogs. As soon as Pat heard of the young dog’s plight,
she knew that she
had to help. This anonymous dog would receive a name and
an opportunity to
have a future. Pat decided to call the unnamed Siberian husky
Kaylene.
Pat rushed to the
Houston SPCA to pick up the dog and drove directly to the
Canfel Care Animal
Hospital where Dr. David Wainwright was awaiting their
arrival. X-rays
revealed that there was a bullet lodged in her nasal cavity. As he
assessed the extent
of the injuries, Dr. Wainwright determined that in order to
remove the bullet,
the Siberian would have to undergo invasive surgery and lose
an eye. The
veterinarian decided that leaving the bullet was the best course of
action. He performed
surgery removing bone from the right top side of her jaw
and had to extract
all of the upper teeth on the right side of her mouth. A hole the
size of a quarter
remained starting from her nasal cavity leading through to the
roof of her mouth.
As a result of her injuries, drool drained out of her nose and
she required a
special diet. Her sinuses were easily irritated and she had
frequent sneezing
spells.
During her recovery
time as a rescue in the Husky Haven, Inc. program, Kaylene
learned that people
can be kind and helpful. Her gunshot wound began to heal
and eventually,
after several months, the hole in her face closed up completely.
The scar remains as
a reminder of a malicious and cowardly act perpetrated on a
helpless animal.
It was also during
her recovery that Kaylene met her best friend. Tango is a
large, beautiful
black and white Siberian husky. Pat was caring for him on a
temporary basis
while his owner was overseas for work. Tango met numerous
rescued Husky Haven
dogs, but Kaylene was the only one that ever really
interested him. The
two became fast friends. They played together and took naps
together; they were
inseparable.
Tango’s owner
returned to Houston and came to pick him up and take him home.
He saw the strong
bond that had developed between Tango and Kaylene and
decided that he had
room in his heart and his home for one more. Kaylene finally
has a forever home
with a loving and compassionate man and her best friend.
“Within the heart
of every stray lies the singular desire to be loved” - author
unknown. It seems
fitting that the author of this quote is unknown as are so many
stray animals that
never get a chance to know love and safety, but are forced to
run the streets and
fend for themselves. The “Happily Ever Afters” are what make
the rescue effort
worthwhile. Knowing that a dog is alive and becomes a member
of a real family as
a result of your efforts is a great feeling.
Tango passed away in
April of 2014, he was a wonder friend to both Mango
and I. After he
passed Mango was so depressed that Husky Haven came to
the rescue again by
providing a new best friend for her, his name is Arizona
and we are all
bonded together for life.
September 27, 2020
Arizona crossed the Rainbow bridge. He was a best
friend and the
happiest, anyone could have ever had. He is missed by all.
Mango is now 12.5
years and doing well. She misses Tango and Arizona, but
still has her human
love on at her forever home.
After Arizona
ascended Miss Mango was Queen of the house even though
she had aways been.
Mango and the cats Mimi and Ashly had a truce but did
give chase and
torment each other from time to time.
I was home most of
the following years with Mango. We enjoy our walk
routine every day
either going down to the creek or along Champions Drive
picking up golf
ball. Over time Mango as we all do was slowing down.
Occasionally, she
had the zoomies and did her Happy-happy dance, she was
always ready to
go-go on a walk The spring and summer of 2022 were not
kind to her she had
surgery to remove a cyst on her eye lid and again to
remove a broken
tooth from when she was shot. She recovered but
continued to slow
down over the following months. I knew the time was
getting close, but
she continued to be happy and excited. On November 10 th
I departed for a
work trip to Africa. during that time her organs began to
shut down. Upon my
return on December 15, she was in pain and swollen.
She was happy that I
was home but there was no happy dance or even a lick.
All she wanted was
to go for walks even though she was in pain and would
stumble. We walked
that evening, and I was up at 3am Saturday morning,
she was sitting
outside in the rain and cold. When she saw me, she just
walked to the gate
to go for a walk. We had several shorter walks before
10am and she laid in
the front yard grass has her, Tango and Arizona all
enjoyed, she was at
peace. She was with me from September 2009 until
December 16, 2022. I
was with her when she passed and at that time, I felt
a deep happiness and
very bright light from her as she reached out and told
me she was fine and
love me deeply as I love her. I was at peace knowing she
had ascended to be
Tango and Arizona. Saki, Ike, Siber, Ruskie, Sasha, Mike,
Cookie, Sut, and all
the other’s animals that have touch my heart.
It the “Story of
Kaylene” the last sentence “Kaylene finally has a forever
home with a loving
and compassionate man and her best friend.” Mango gave
me 13+years of
happiness and love for a forever home. Love you Mango, don’t
be shy come visit me
anytime!
December 16, 2022
Randolph Conrad.
