Hailstone Mastiffs

Jenny Zinn-Boyce
Lakewood, CA 90712
ph: 562-425-8354
fax: 562-429-8213
jzinnboyce@aol.com

Rainbow Bridge

Hailstone's Highland Brooke

2/22/1998 ~ 10/30/2004

Brooke was pure goodness in a 238 lb. body. She was a huge girl, with a heart just as big. Brooke was who we would take when we needed an ambassador for the breed at various rescue events. She could always be depended on to be calm, sweet and steady. In August 2004, Brooke started limping. Six weeks after Libby was diagnosed. My heart sank as we looked at her x-rays and saw a tumor in her left distal radius. The same place a Libby's. I sent Brooke's x-rays to CSU for a consultation and hoped that we could have limb-spare surgery for Brooke. We also took x-rays of her lungs to make sure nothing had spread. There was a vague spot in one lung, but suspicious enough to rule her out as a candidate for surgery. We went ahead and started the palliative radiation, IV bisphosphonate and the metronomic protocol for Brooke since Libby had responded so well to it. Unfortunately the next chest x-ray for Brooke showed that the tumors in her lungs had spread. Nothing we did would slow her cancer down. She only survived for 2.5 months past diagnosis. With our hearts shattering into a million pieces we helped Brooke to the bridge on 10/30/2004. There has never been a more pure soul than Brookie. We love you baby girl and we'll meet again someday, I promise.

Hailstone's Sweet Liberty

2/22/1998 ~ 4/26/2005

Libby developed osteosarcoma in June of 2004. We took her to Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a limb-spare surgery and unfortunately she was not a candidate because a suspicious area was seen in her other leg. Instead of the curative intent that we had hoped for we had to pursue a palliative therapy. That consisted of palliative radiation, IV bisphosphonate, and metronomic protocol. Libby did fantastic for 5 months, no evidence of pain, she was her happy, spirited self. The tumor seemed to just stop growing, then it suddenly became active again and she started limping. We went back to CSU for more therapy and a second opinion on the limb-spare surgery, but still Dr. Steven Withrow felt that the surgery would fail and offered more radiation. During that stay at the hospital, her tumor collapsed and was considered a pathologic fracture. Thank God, it happened at CSU which is the premier center in the world for bone cancer. The only option at that point was to either amputate or surgically stabilize the fracture. The latter had never been attempted and I was afraid to put her through too much considering the grim prognosis that osteosarcoma carried under the best circumstances. After much soul searching we decided to go ahead and do the surgery to bridge the fracture. She was up and walking on her own within 24 hours of the surgery and the doctors were ecstatic. It had been a success! For the next five months she did well and I will be forever grateful for that extra time. One thing that cancer does is teach you how to live every day and appreciate the gift of time. I made sure to spend as much time as possible with Libby and we became even closer.

Libby was the bravest, most determined dog I have ever known and she gave me a clear message that she was full of life and didn't want to give up. She loved her vets, loved going to the hospital and receiving treats and love from everyone. The tumor continued to grow, but the palliative radiation combined with the IV bisphosphonates kept her relatively pain free. As the tumor progressed, the screws holding the plate started to loosen until there was nothing left to attach to. We faced the threat of complete collapse and fracture of the leg. We were at another crossroads, how to proceed. Do we amputate or release Libby from this world.? She felt fine and loved life, had a hearty appetite, loved going bye-bye. We decided to amputate her leg. It was a heart wrenching decision, but with the help of my dear friends at bonecancerdogs@yahoogroups and their words of wisdom, we proceeded.

Libby true to form was taking steps within 24 hours of surgery. When she came home two days later. She walked as a tripod on her own and into our house. We were amazed and relieved. Thrilled to have our girl still with us and with her spirit and vitality intact! For the next six weeks, she continued to get better. What we didn't know, and no one could predict is that the cancer was quietly going about it's business of spreading and trying to defeat our girl. It had invaded her kidneys and caused them to fail. Over the course of one weekend, she went from heartily enjoying her food to increased sleeping and finally not wanting to eat. When we did blood work and an ultrasound we found out why. Her blood work was sky high and the tumors involved both kidneys. Libby let us know that the time was here for her to leave us and on one of the worst days of my life, April 26, 2005, eleven months after her diagnosis we sent Libby on to the bridge where she'll wait for us. I truly believe that I will see my girl again, I have to belive that.

Ch. Pendragon Hailstone Highlander

9/21/1996 ~ 11/1/2005

Stone was a once in a lifetime dog. He was the most serious, dignified and magnificent mastiff I've ever known. The kindness and love for his family that emanated from his eyes was enough to melt your heart every time you looked at him. He believed that his purpose on this earth was to make sure that I was protected and happy, nothing else mattered to him but his mama. I enjoyed showing him to his championship, but most loved him as my devoted boy. All through his life he had various health problems, but all were managed and I would have done anything for him to keep him healthy. When he was six years old he started becoming wobbly in the rear and just seemed not to be able to control his back legs well. We took him to a neurologist who found that he had severe cervical stenosis and two herniated cervical discs. I was always afraid of back surgery for my dogs, but was faced with the decision of either proceeding with surgery or letting him go. We decided to try and I am so grateful to Dr. Wayne Berry who performed surgery and had Stone up and about the next day.

For the next two and a half years he did pretty well, sometimes we'd have to use a sling to help him get up, but he was content. As long as he could be by our side then he was happy. We'd already had Libby and Brooke diagnosed with osteosarcoma and then lost them, when Stone started limping and being painful in September of 2005. Scared of what we would find, we had him x-rayed and our worst fears were confirmed. Stone had osteosarcoma as well. He'd already been through so much in his life and he was 9.5 years old so we decided just to keep him comfortable. That wasn't long though, his pain became too great and he couldn't get up at all, so having our hearts ripped out again, we released Stone to wait for us at the bridge on November 1, 2005. Having mastiffs has taught me to just accept that they will one day break your heart, so love them with everything you've got until that day comes and just believe that you will be together again someday....

Ch. Hailstone's Spirit of Grandeur

March 1996 ~ April 2002

Hailey was my second mastiff and the reason spirit was in her name was because she had more spirit and tenacity than any other mastiff I've had the privilege to own. Hailey was a very dominant bitch and ruled the roost in no uncertain terms. Hailey was the dam to Brooke, Libby and Red and I am grateful to her for giving us these wonderful dogs to love and share my life with. Hailey was always in good health until one day while staying with her handler, she bloated. She was at the vet within 20 minutes of the first symptoms and while I was on my way the 2 hours it took to drive there, they vet did nothing. Started fluids, but didn't rush my girl into surgery. I will always believe that it was this delay that caused her demise. The surgery was done and she lived for over 48 hours after surgery, but then suffered a cardiac arrest and was lost. Rest well my sweet girl, mommy will see you again.

Cluny's Sampson of Hailstone

July 1992 ~ May 1994

Sam was our first mastiff and I was so proud of him. He was a very dominant boy and I had a lot to learn in handling a mastiff, but we loved him and all learned together. Sam was shown in conformation and he was gorgeous boy. Just before his second birthday, Sam needed sedation to stitch a cut on his lip and went into malignant hyperthermia and died the next day. I will never forget the shock we felt in having our healthy, handsome boy one day and gone the next. For all their formidable characteristics and size, mastifffs are somewhat fragile. We'll never know why this happened to him, but it has taught me to fear putting any mastiff under anesthesia. We didn't get to have you in our lives long Sammy, but you were the one that started this love affair we have with this breed. Wait for us at the bridge sweetie...

Please scroll down to see all my wonderful dogs that wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of it's many colors. Just this side of the bridge there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food, water, and warm spring weather. The old and frail are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth, so each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches, the ears are up. The eyes are staring! This one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen! When you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again. You look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never to be separated again.

Until we meet again, my darlings.