The first time I saw Socrates, it left a deep impression on me. His life had been full of hardships, living in a place with disease, dirt, and confinement. He looked extremely skinny, almost like a mere shadow of life, covered in scabs and suffering from dehydration. His body was marked with scars from numerous battles. Despite my other responsibilities, I couldn’t bear to watch this elderly person endure another day of agony.
On the following day, I went to visit Socrates who was suffering from various illnesses that had weakened his fragile body. His physical condition was distressing, evident in his swollen face and sunken eyes. Despite my attempts to communicate with him, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to hear me even at maximum volume. However, I remained optimistic about his recovery when I noticed that he still had an appetite. This gave me a glimmer of hope for his well-being.
We made sure we were fully prepared to take Socrates to the vet. It was a unique situation for me, and I felt a heavy responsibility weighing on my shoulders. My hope was that this resilient soul would have a positive outcome. Unfortunately, the medical tests revealed devastating news – Socrates had been diagnosed with bone cancer, something that we never could have predicted. Due to his severely malformed hind leg, amputation was necessary.
In the face of Socrates’ cancer diagnosis, I never gave up hope that he could be treated and overcome it. I took him to the vet for treatment to restore his weight and boost his immune system. I found myself offering words of encouragement to him as I prepared him for the challenging days ahead. As time went on, Socrates showed signs of improvement; he gained weight, grew stronger, and his coat regained its shine. He exuded a sense of optimism for a brighter future.
I formed a close bond with Socrates, visiting him twice a day at the hospital – once in the morning and again at night. I carefully prepared and served him gourmet meals that catered to his unique needs, far from the typical dog food. Socrates was given the chance to venture outdoors, enjoying the sights and invigorating breaths of fresh air. It was clear that he cherished these moments of respite. His battle with his ailments felt like an endless marathon, and for two harrowing days, Socrates struggled with a fever and recurring bouts of diarrhea.
I was worried that he might have contracted another viral infection, but we decided to move him to Los Angeles for quicker treatment of his bone cancer. He would be surrounded by a caring family for the rest of his time there.
Given his advanced age, medical professionals opted not to proceed with the amputation of his hind leg and instead prioritized his safety for the remainder of his life. Although it posed some difficulties, Socrates found pleasure in the basic activity of walking, which served as a testament to his unwavering spirit.
