The first difficult decision

directly continued from previous  post…

 

It didn’t seem like an unusual cry – just a normal “I’m here, can you let me in now” sound; but there was still an urgency to answer the door. Perhaps because Nando had been gone for so long, or maybe it was intuition.

My partner, Calvin, jumped up and opened the door. And there was Nando. She slowly limped her way inside. It was so surreal. We were all just watching her. She had made it across the room and into her bed before anyone reacted. I think nobody knew what to do. Then she started squirming, unable to get comfortable, and crying. That’s when it really hit us that something bad had happened and it was time to act.

I can’t remember who said what. It was stated that Nando was hurt. What should we do? How bad do you think it is?

After numerous unsuccessful attempts to get comfortable, Nando got up again. We watched her try to walk. “Calvin we need to call the vet.”

I looked up the number of our usual vet on my phone and called it. Closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. An automated voice directed us to a local emergency clinic. Calvin called them and told the lady on the other end of the line what had happened. She agreed that we should bring Nando in and told us it would be a jaw-dropping £300 to see Nando out of hours. Excluding any further treatment Nando may need.

Calvin and I looked at each other. At that moment I felt so lost, I had no idea what to do – what was best for Nando? Were we overreacting? Is this an emergency? Can it wait till the morning when the prices may be more reasonable?

I heard Calvin call his mum, asking for her advice. She said to leave it till the morning. If Nando still isn’t putting any weight on it then go to the vet.

There was a thumping on the stairs and I looked to see Nando jumping up them, not putting any weight on her left back leg. When she finally got to the top, she let out a little cry and collapsed in a tiny heap. She looked so small and fragile. It reminded me of the day we brought her home from the shelter. Since then she had grown in health and personality, but today she was once again a small, precious little creature that needed rescuing.

“Call the vets back, we need to go.”

Calvin rushed to where I was, cradling and comforting Nanna. One look at her and he was back on the phone to the vet – yes the price is fine, yes we will be there before 11 pm. The first of many difficult decisions had been made.

This picture was taken before I met Nando. It was the one used on the Rescue website to advertise she was available to be rehomed. This was the first picture we ever saw of Nando, that made us fall in love with her.

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