My Darling Brody - A Pitty/Boxer Rescue

by Liz Osborn
(Delaware, OH, USA)

My dog Madison and I drove to Cleveland to check out a potential rescue. The dog we originally went to see, Marisela, was adopted before the day was out. We saw a few other dogs, including a sable/white boxer/pitt mix named Nunzio. He had a perpetually sad look on his face.

Madison and he got along, so later when I got home, when I found out Nunzio was on the next day's euthanasia list, I decided to rescue him with the intention of fostering until a home could be found for him.

The Cleveland Animal Clinic Volunteers delivered him to my house in Columbus. They're great people. I had decided to rename him Brody James Osborn. He and Madison began playing together minutes after Brody entered the house.

For the next five months we enjoyed a happy time. Brody was in my lap every morning, or leaning against me as I had my coffee. You could tell he knew he'd been rescued.

Yesterday afternoon Brody got into a bottle of prescription meds that I thought were well out of his reach. He consumed half of the bottle. I rushed him to Medvet where they found him with a temperature of 109 degrees and a heartbeat of 300 beats per minute.

He had permanent brain damage, did not know me, was thrashing around and biting himself. I made a decision, a terrible decision, but I was looking out for Brody's goodwill. He was put to sleep last night with me holding his paw.

I am heartbroken at this loss. He was under one year old and had everything to live for. I am forced to accept what I can, that he was greatly loved and cared for while he was with me.