November 2, 2015

White Dog pressed against my leg and all of the White Dogs crowded into the office. Steve wrapped his arms around a softly crynig Candace and I held the soft blanket which held the lifeless body of Bugsy Lou, the Bearded Dragon. We were all in shock.

Bugsy Lou, or officially Armonia (Harmony), was a very sick little Beardie Candace encountered at our local pet store. She had been surrendered to them and the staff had tried their best but had given up hope. All were waiting for her to die.

Candace brought her home about a month ago. The little one was suffering from Vitamin A toxicity, had metabolic bone disease, and had coccidia numbers through the roof. One eye was obviously beyond saving and the lizard was so very thin.

She was gently nursed and held and loved as Candace fought to recover her health. Her vet provided medications and advice. But it was Candace who syringe fed her both foods and medicine, who used forceps to try to entice interest in self feeding, who bathed the girl in iodine baths to combat a fungal infection.

After three weeks tremendous progress had been made. The vet was amazed at the little lizard's spunk and her will to live; it was encouraged in no small part by Candace's love and attention. Bugsy saw the vet the end of last week and plans were underway to finally schedule the surgery to remove the destroyed eye. Things were looking up.

Just as we prepared for pre-bed walks last night I got a message from Candace, who was out in the Studio. She was in shock. "BugsyLou just took her last breath while I was holding her before doing meds and bath tonight. Was not expecting this at all. She just took a huge breath in and then expelled it and was gone."

Steve immediately went to the other building and returned with Candace, her sad bundle, Skye and Daisy. Tears flowed as each of the White Dogs came up and sniffed to better understand what was happening. Then they each took a moment to pay their respects to Candace. We all sat for a long time just being together before words could come.

"I really needed to win this one," Candace said. I held Bugsy in my arms and softly said to her. "But you did. You took a beautiful girl abandoned and given up for dead and showed her compassion, eased her pain, gave her a sense of belonging. Maybe she needed you to heal her spirit; the body was not so important."

"And when she felt that completeness and peace, Bugsy Lou had all she needed to earn her Dragon Wings," Nilla added.

We found a suitable box to hold the remains. "She is not here anymore, remember that she is now a part of all the Universe," White Dog reminded. Candace tucked her little girl into her shroud and allowed all of the White Dog Army to send off the Dragon Girl with love and peace.

Today, Candace took Bugsy to the Vet where they will perform a necropsy in the hope of determining what caused such a sudden total catastrophic collapse. It is Candace's desire not only to have closure but to perhaps advance the medical knowledge surrounding the diseases; veterinary science is not rich in information about the illnesses of lizards.

The White Dog Army understands and feels the pain of this loss. We all were convinced that Bugsy Lou had turned the corner and was heading toward a happily ever after miracle ending.