When Anna, who lives alone,
called an ambulance to come take her to the hospital, she wasn’t thinking about Maxwell, her 16-month-old soft-coated wheaten terrier. All she knew is that her new chemo meds were making her seriously sick, weak, and likely dehydrated.
Anna (pictured on the left) was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer in 2017 after a lifetime of good health. With a double mastectomy and seven rounds of chemo, her cancer went into remission. Then a surgeon found a lump in her left armpit and the journey began again.
The first type of chemo didn’t shrink the cancer, so doctors switched Anna to a different chemo, which soon made her sick and eventually call 911.
When the paramedics arrived that day, Anna had a moment of panic. Who would take care of her dog, the pet who had been her lone roommate since he was a puppy and who she calls “my heart”? One of the paramedics promised to call a police officer to make sure Max was taken care of.
That officer took Maxwell to Anderson Humane, just a stone’s throw from Anna’s home. There, staff quickly mobilized to find a foster family for the displaced pup. Enter Barb.
Barb (pictured on the right) had just begun fostering for Anderson Humane but came with 25 foster animals to her credit. When she heard about our STAR (Short-Term Animal Refuge) program, she thought it was a wonderful idea. “People don’t realize how expensive it is to kennel an animal,” Barb said. Especially in a crisis situation, she added. When she learned that Maxwell’s person was recovering from chemo, she told the Anderson Humane staff members she’d keep the dog as long as needed.
At Barb’s house, Max met Jasper, a 13-year-old, 160-pound Newfoundland; Hazel, a 4-year-old, 54-pound Pitbull; Gabby, a 3-year-old, 75-pound lab mix; Blueberry, a 1-year-old black cat; and Levi, a 7-pound Lionhead bunny – all of them rescues. According to Barb, “Levi runs the household.”
Maxwell was soon playing with his new housemates, meeting other dogs and kids in the neighborhood, attending community barbeques, and being introduced to puppaccinos. “He was the sweetest little boy. A kind soul,” Barb said of Max. “All he wants is attention.” Barb and her menagerie were happy to give it – and to send Anna updates on Max – while he waited to return home.
During that time Anna discovered she had a blood clot in her head. Doctors gave her blood thinners and sent her to a long-term care facility for a few weeks, then home with a walker to recover. For a while, “I couldn’t take care of myself, let alone Maxwell,” Barb said. “But not a day went by that I didn’t think of Max. Getting him was the best thing that happened to me in a long time.”
After five weeks of medical care, various medications, and physical therapy, Anna was finally strong enough for Maxwell to come home. Barb brought Max to Anderson Humane’s South Elgin shelter, where Anna was waiting on a bench.
“I thought I’d cry when I saw him and his foster mom walking up to me,” Anna said. “I felt like I was in another world. I was so grateful it all worked out.” Barb told Anna about all of Max’s adventures, and sent the dog she’d come to call “Little Lamb” off with a goodie bag of treats and toys. “He was lovely. I love this program.”
Anna couldn’t agree more. “I’m so happy he had a wonderful foster mom. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me,” she said. For now, she and Maxwell are happy to be home and have fallen back into their routine. “He’s just wonderful. I know having him back home is making me better.”