Sysko

We met him as Alister. The first photo of him was from a shelter and it was heartbreaking. During his first days under the care of an amazing NBRF foster (who later became his forever Mom), Alister overcame kennel cough, had a dental in which 7 teeth were removed, a neuter that involved a burst scrotal sac and much work done to his thick, severely matted coat. It took a LOT for NBRF to get this boy. He was worth every effort…
“Sysko (Alister,) was picked up as a stray in Prince George County, MD. We think he was around 8 years old but he could have been older. When he left the shelter he had severe matting on his chest, feathers, underside, and tail. And kennel cough. I have a spare garage with a separate yard that I could use to keep him isolated from my other dogs and would work on the matts every time I went out there to see him. He was always so sweet and let me work on him. The shelter had listed him as a tri color but he was actually a white and black with staining around his mouth. After he recovered from the kennel cough he got to meet the girls, Troi and Kess. They quickly accepted him and they became a pack. I changed his name from Alister to Sysko to go along with my Star Trek theme.
He loved riding in a car but he was very afraid of new surroundings, almost going into a panic attack trying to get back into his crate in the van. I don't think that he had ever been anywhere outside of his home before. I was very patient with him and let him progress at his own pace. He was much better if the girls were with him. I had noticed when I first got him that he would cough a lot whenever he had a drink. I had an idea that he had LarPar (laryngeal paralysis). The doctors confirmed that when he was under anesthesia for a dental.
I was able to bring him to two different Nationals - one in Virginia and last year in Washington State. Last January I had taken all three dogs out for a hike when I noticed that he wasn't out in front with the girls as he normally was. I felt a pull on the leash and when I turned around he was laying on the ground having what I thought was a seizure. I knelt down next to him and just kept petting him until he came out of it and then called my vet’s office and said that I was coming in. They said that his heart was racing and the pulses in both of his legs were different. He was diagnosed with arrhythmia and put on medication to regulate his heart beat. Life went on he was doing great; eating well and loving being wherever I was.
I noticed in June at the Nationals that his back legs were getting weaker as happens with LarPar. Also because of that he would come down with aspiration pneumonia. A few weeks ago he came down with it again. Then on a Friday he didn't want to eat- he never does not want to eat! I took him in to get chest X-rays done. They showed that his lungs were in horrible shape. Sunday and Monday were better but his blood work on Monday showed elevated kidney values. So the Dr wanted me to bring him back in on Tuesday to redo bloodwork to see if things were improving. By this time I had a harness around his chest and another around his back legs to help him walk. Unfortunately I was alone and he did not want to walk at all. I finally managed to get him into my van and had them bring out a stretcher to get him inside. After 1/2 hour his gums were white.
Using an ultrasound machine they found masses in his stomach, kidneys and on some lymph nodes. I made the decision that it was time for him to rest and join my pack on the other side.
He was a very special boy that I feel privileged to have known. Even though I only got to have him for 2 short years he taught me a lot about overcoming fears, leaving the past behind and moving on with your life. Rest In Peace sweet Sysko.”
We share your sorrow, Lori. Thank you for giving that big, handsome boy the best years of his life. Run with the angels Sysko!! You will be remembered well �� Lori Miller