Janine Guido with Speranza Animal Rescue is set for protect and restore the extremely ignored and mishandled creatures that meander the avenues. So when an understudy discovered Watson in a recreation center around Philadelphia, he knew exactly where to bring him.
Watson was a dying dog who was abandoned. But it was too late for him. Even though he was taken in to an emergency vet who provided around-the-clock care for the emaciated dog, it was too late. Watson had sores all over his body and they were infected. But beyond that, there was a large, cancerous tumor on one of his back legs.
When the vet told Guido that Watson only had days to live, Watson transferred him from the clinic to her rescue. She determined to stay by his side until the end.
The only thing she could do was to make him comfortable and feel loved during the time he had left. At night, she made a pallet for her and the dog in the laundry room. She wasn’t even going to let him sleep alone, for fear that it would be his last moments on earth.
“I had a gut feeling that things weren’t going to be good the next day,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave him alone. Not when he needed me the most.” All through the night Guido kept watch over Watson. “He slept like a rock all night, cuddled up to me so tight,” Guido said. “I cried myself to sleep, and woke up in tears as well.” In the morning, it was obvious he was losing ground. He passed away that day.
“I’m just so thankful I was able to hold him tight for his last night,” Guido said. “I was telling him how much he was loved — and that his life mattered. My heart is breaking, but I would not change a thing.” It takes a very special person to willingly take on the care of an animal who is dying rather than euthanizing him.