A Day to Remember

This post from Gary on his trip to get Jake his CT Scan....

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