Paw Prints

Sometimes it’s the small things that mean the most when a pet dies. The simple, yet thoughtful, gesture of making a lasting paw print is how one client of the Small Animal Teaching Hospital has chosen to help others remember their pets.

Cyndi Ward’s pet dog Rage, an American Staffordshire Terrier, was a regular patient for 18 months before succumbing to degenerative nerve and joint disease at the age of 17. When he arrived at Auburn in July 1998, one of his hind legs had to be amputated for an osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. He then began a series of chemotherapy treatments, meaning visits to the College of Veterinary Medicine every three weeks.

“His cancer was controlled during that time period,” said Dr. Annette Smith of the Oncology Service. “His other problems were just too much for him to overcome.”

In Rage’s memory and as a way to help others deal with the loss of a pet, Ward, of Woodstock, Ga., has donated funds so the faculty can make memorial clay paw prints of animals that die of cancer.

“I know that sick feeling you get when someone says the ‘c’ word,” Ward said. “I lost my father to cancer and my brother won his battle, so when I found out Rage had cancer I was floored. But because of the Auburn veterinarians and students, I was given hope for more time with my closest friend in the world, and then I was blessed with 18 more months with my boy. A few weeks after his surgery he was like a new dog.”

Ward says she wanted to do something for the veterinary college because of the care Rage received from Drs. Ralph Henderson, Alexandra Chisholm-Chait, and Smith, as well as the interns and students, especially Nancy Haugland who was assigned Rage’s case.

“Before Rage died, I had made two clay paw prints, one for myself and one for Auburn,” Ward added. “Then they called and asked if my donation could be used for similar clay paws for other patients. My hope for the Clay Paws program is that everyone is blessed with more time with their special friends.”

At the veterinary college, prints are made when an animal is considered terminally ill or immediately after it dies. Each print is molded by briefly pressing a paw into clay material, which is then baked in a regular cooking oven.

“Many times the pet owner will paint it and place in a display along with photographs of the animal,” Dr. Smith said. “In addition to dogs and cats, we have made prints for animals ranging in size from a ferret to a horse.”

One of the first recipients of the Clay Paws memento was Evelyn Jordan, widow of longtime AU football coach Shug Jordan. Her cat Felicia died five months ago from intestinal lymphoma.
“I got her not too long after Shug died,” Jordan said. “She lived about 15 years and she was my constant companion. The veterinary college was wonderful in their treatment of her cancer, and the paw print means a lot to me. I keep it on the mantle as a reminder of her.”

University oncologists say that cancer treatment does not adversely affect animals as it does humans and that treatment extends the lives of pets and makes them more comfortable. “Most people outlive their pets, so hopefully this program will help provide comfort when a time of sorrow does come,” Dr. Smith added.

A Final Good-Bye

“He tore at those presents as if he was still a pup and his eyes just glowed with happiness. He was having such a good day, he was even able to get up on his own and walk a couple of steps.  The next day we went to Chick-fil-A and got his favorite nuggets, and then my vet came to our house and we all said our good-byes.”