" Riggs "

Born: June 1997

Died:  March 12, 2007
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Buried:  March 2007
Garden of the Pines Pet Cemetery
Virginia Beach, Virginia

My sister had started working at a vet clinic. The vets were a married couple that were partial to Boston Terriers. They helped out with the Northern VA rescue group by getting B.T.’s in need from this area, giving any necessary vet care, and getting them to N. VA. Not long after Kelley started working at the clinic my family switched from our vets to the ones where she was working. After a few visits with my cats and Guinea Pig I got a call from my sister saying the doctors thought I would make a good “parent” for a dog they were rehabilitating. I was living in an apartment and thought it wasn’t a great idea. She started to tell me how they ended up with Patrick. Patrick was a Boston Terrier that had been seized by Animal Control. He had been burned and had been in an outdoor pen with another dog for four years. The doctors were unable to figure out if Patrick was set on fire or chemically burned. Apparently the owner was able to avoid or lessen criminal animal abuse charges by giving Patrick up. The other dog that was in the pen with Patrick didn’t make it.

I told Kelley that Patrick probably wouldn’t work at my apartment because he hadn’t been inside before, wasn’t familiar with cats, wasn’t housebroken, had medical issues, and so on. I agreed to come meet Patrick anyway. I met her at the vet clinic and we went to the boarding room. She went to a cage and opened the door. Out came an adorable face with huge eyes. Despite being bandaged from surgery and various other procedures he came out not only wagging his little nub of a tail but was so carried away that his whole back end was wagging. He was making the cutest snorting noises. Kelley and I played with him for a little while and then we left. I couldn’t get Patrick out of my mind and decided to take him, and all of his medicine and care instructions, home for the weekend on a trial basis. It took about two to three hours to figure out that Patrick was staying.

It didn’t take long for me to know that it was time to buy a house with a back yard. In 2001 it was looking like I had a complete family and was settled into my life and career. That’s when I got another call. The vets had taken in another rescue named Dino and had struggled for months without success in finding him a home. Patrick was always dog aggressive, I assume from his first four years’ life experience, and I said it was a bad idea. Dino was already eight years old and had cancer. I said I would bring Patrick to the clinic to meet him but feared for what would happen when they met. When Dino came snorting his way into the exam room I was shocked to see the two of them hit it off as if they had known each other for years and were just reunited. Although it was a huge emotional leap of faith after hearing Dino was only expected to live another year or so we all went home. By this point I had three cats, two dogs, and a guinea pig. Despite the full house, responsibilities, and financial issues this brought I had never been as happy. Piglet, the guinea pig, passed away in 2003 at eight years old. It was devastating. I was able to focus on my other “babies” and cope. My whole world was rocked in September 2006 when Dino lost his battle with cancer at age 12. I was blessed to have him for four years instead of the estimated 1 or 2. Patrick and I had lost our best friend after. In a moment of weakness and depression I ended up adopting a cat named Harley and then a playmate for Patrick- a 10 month old rescued Boston Terrier named Diesel. I thought were on the mend until February when Patrick woke me up having a seizure. He had several more that day and was put on epilepsy medicine. The vet said epilepsy normally started at a younger age and said the other main thing it could be caused from is a brain tumor. He said that if he responded well to the medicine it was probably late onset epilepsy but if not he had a brain tumor and there were no treatment options and he would have to be put to sleep within a month. Patrick went over two weeks without a seizure and then they came back and it was a steady decline for over a week. There was no other decision to make other than to have Patrick put to sleep. Holding him as life left his body was emotionally breaking. In a way it was a relief to see his pain and struggling leave as well. It’s tough to know that you provided the best life possible yet in the end you were the one to have to end that life. Patrick was buried at the Garden of the Pines beside Dino and Piglet. In some ways I know Patrick missed Dino so much that he couldn’t stand being without him. I take comfort knowing they are together. I’m also blessed to be embraced by the love of my four cats, Diesel, my family, friends, co-workers, and other compassionate people that have stepped up to help me move forward.

There are so many things about Patrick that made him a joy. I want to share a few. Patrick’s favorite thing to do was to go for a walk. As much as I hate to burn calories it was always the best part of the day to see his reaction when you went to put his harness and leash on. He could barely stay still. He’d also allow me to put sweaters and costumes on him despite his embarrassment. Patrick had a way of making everyone feel like they were his favorite person in the world when they would come over. I never told anyone that he was that way with everyone until now! (Sorry!) Patrick had one blue eye and one brown eye and people would always comment on how they loved his blue eye. I was partial to both! He had a way of curling up next to me and getting comfortable just about the time he would have to pass gas non-stop for half an hour! He loved to ride in the car and took trips with me to Rochester, Baltimore, the mountains of VA, and New York City.

Some of my favorite nicknames for Patrick are…

Patrick J. Boston, Pat. R. Riggs, Mr. Riggs, Padderpig, Fadderig, Riggsy, Little Red Boston Hood (picture him in a red blanket worn like a cape), Bully, Big Mister, P. J. B., Big Riggs, Handsome Devil, Catfish Mouth, Mr. Wiskers, and the list goes on.

Hopefully if you weren’t lucky enough to know him you now have an idea of how great he was. He will be loved and missed forever!