Entrant's Name
Orri

Animal Bio
Huxley arrived at the Kamloops BC SPCA from a litter of 13 sick and wormy puppies. Radiographs that the pups were suffering from a congenital condition called megaesophagus. The tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach didn't function properly, causing them to regurgitate their food and receive inadequate nutrients. It also puts them at risk of aspiration pneumonia because food can sit in the esophagus and potentially be aspirated into the lungs, which can easily become fatal. The average life expectancy of a dog with megaesophagus is two years, and unfortunately, only four of the littermates survived puppyhood despite the courageous efforts of foster families and staff.

Huxley was one of the lucky four to survive and was adopted by her foster mom, a staff member at the BC SPCA who fell in love with her goofy and stubborn personality. I immediately joined The Upright Canine Brigade (UCB), an amazing non-profit group dedicated to raising money for canine megaesophagus research and providing information and support to megaesophagus pet parents. With the help of the UCB, our veterinarian Dr. Ken Gummeson, and other megaesophagus pet parents, Huxley was able to thrive. After plenty of trial and error to determine the best way to feed her, Hux ate blended kibble while sitting upright in a special chair made just for her. Wag Tail Farms donated a neck hug for Huxley, which looks like a big stuffed donut and is designed to go around her neck and keep her head up while she rested to prevent saliva pooling in her throat. My friend Jon made the many iterations of Huxley’s feeding chairs, as her intelligence proved a match for us both when trying to engineer something to keep her in the chair for more than 5 minutes. I was very lucky for so much support raising my special girl.

Huxley would have bouts of regurgitation but it didn't stop her from living life to the fullest. She loved going for hikes, rock climbing, mountain biking, and sunbathing on the beach. Huxley was always ready for adventure, but she also helped her human mom through very tough times with depression. She was always there to cheer me up, whining at me to get up and feed her or take her for a walk. Seeing her big goofy grin at the top of a mountain made everything right in the world. Huxley also helped me woo a very handsome mountain biker, who eventually took on the role of her human dad. He introduced her to biking, an activity she loved so dearly she would scream in anticipation as soon as she sensed we were going. Huxley’s tenacity in spite of her illness inspired me to become a Registered Veterinary Technologist so I could gain knowledge and skills to help her and other animals even more.

This year, Huxley’s megaesophagus seemed to be getting worse. She fell ill in June, and blood work revealed she was in end stage kidney failure. Her parents had to make the decision to give her a peaceful passing. Huxley was just shy of 8 years old, and in the end, she beat megaesophagus. Every year with her was a gift with Huxley, and we grew together in such a way that her soul was intertwined with mine. It’s lonely without my little lady, but the memories we made together are worth the pain of grieving her loss. Thanks for everything, angel.