October
16, 2014 in retrospect:
PRWR
employees Corey Allison & Kristin Cain; Intern Chellas Fillingim, 1
volunteer, Rich Hazelwood and I started our workday for PRWR at
5:30 a.m. With an early feeding of all cats except Jake the lion who
was scheduled for a CT (cat scan) at 9 a.m. at Animal Imaging clinic in
Irving Texas. Kristin, Chellis & Rich prepared food & fed while Cory
& I prepared the transport trailer & roll cage for the trip.
After
all the cats were fed we attempted to load Jake into the roll cage but we're
not successful because he was not interested in food, or anything else for that
matter. Jake had gone off food and was not feeling well so last week our
veterinarian, Dr. New, drew blood for testing and did a physical examination,
detecting a mass in the liver/spleen area & the bloodwork came back with
several irregularities, thus the necessity for the CT. Failing to have Jake
walk in the roll cage it was necessary for us to tranquilize him and load him
by hand. So a 500 lb lion turned into a thousand lb lion even with the 5 of us
lifting.
The
trip to Animal Imaging took an hour & 15 minutes and took us through
downtown Dallas at rush time. It was interesting to say the least.
Arriving
at Animal imaging about 1 hour late, we immediately went to work unloading
Jake, who was by now sitting up wondering where he was. The employees, intern and
volunteer wheeled Jake into the Radiology lab while I filled out paperwork
promising to pay and such.
Once
in Radiology, Jake was taken over by the great staff at Animal Imaging, well
almost, Corey did have to administer an additional tranquilizer injection, and
after it took effect, we helped remove Jake from the roll cage and carried/drug
him up an incline (obviously designed for horses) to the CT tube & helped
take him from floor to table where the professional staff did take control.
From a distance we watched as he was prepared for the ride into the CT
tube.
Then
after a couple of grueling hours which seemed an eternity, the CT and
ultrasound were completed and it was time to revive him, load him & return
him to his home which he thanked us for many times, as he immediately went to
his favorite sleeping spot & slept like a baby.
We
were all exhausted from the work and stress of what had turned into a more than
12 hour work day. One we will not soon forget.
Many
thanks to my great crew & the great professionals at Animal Imaging in
Irving, TX !!!
Gary Holliman
