Where do I start! Millie, our Jack Russell Terrier, now 12 years of age, came into our lives in 2005. We bought her for E250 from a guy in Clontarf and I fell in love with her the minute I saw her.

Millie Before Her Incident

She is a fantastic little dog, very lovable but can be cranky at times but we love her all the same. She is house trained also but has the odd accident!

In 2013 we nearly lost her as she was in a fight at a kennels in co Wicklow. Due to human error she was kenneled with a big dog who nearly tore her to pieces. When I got to the kennels I got a shock to see Millie’s condition. I got her into the car and put her on the front seat. There was Blood everywhere inside. She then stopped breathing due to, I found out later, she had a collapsed and Severed Larynx and a Fractured neck. She stopped breathing 3 times, one can imagine my terror.

I was alone in the car and I had to put her under my arm and drive 50 miles to UCD Vetinary Hospital with all the windows down to get more air into the Car. It was nerve racking and enduring. I tore up the road in the car. I knew Millie’s life was on the line and I didn’t realise at the time but I was putting my own life in Danger too!

I eventually got to UCD and I ran into the hall with Mille and said into the Intercom “come quickly! My Dog is going to Die!”. The Nurse rushed out and took Millie from me into the Emergency Room and all the Nurses and Vets rushed in, it was like a scene from ER.

The nurse came into the waiting room and told me I was in shock. There was blood soaked into my Tee Shirt. Then the Vet came in and said we lost her she stopped breathing but we got her back. It was panic and relief at the same time. (I am in tears writing this).

I was told to go home. The next week was the most enduring time of my life. Between being told Millie had a slim chance of survival because of the swelling she had and having to transfer her every morning and night. This was because UCD Emergency hospital closed early in the morning and opened at 6pm in the evening meaning Mille had to go to my own Veterinary Practice during the Day.

Millie after Her Emergency Tracheotomy Surgery

Receiving Some TLC After Surgery

I have met some fantastic very dedicated People including the vets Michael and Paul and the Nurses at Animal Hospital in Tallaght and UCD.

Millie was referred to the main UCD Hospital. When the Vet called me with the news that I had the option of putting Millie to sleep which I said no immediately to but she said there was 1 option of doing a tracheotomy on Millie. I was told it would cost E3’000.00. It was never about money, so I gave the go ahead.

The next day they operated and that day I could not breathe due to anxiety and worry. Then I got the call and I was dreading it but it was Brilliant News, Mille had survived and she was recovering well. She was discharged approx 2 weeks later from intensive care.

It is now 3 Years on (Anniversary in August 2016) and Millie is doing extremely well considering her initial injuries. She needs her Trachy to be cleaned about twice daily, sometimes more. I did have 1 frightening incident with her when her Trachy stuck and closed over but thank God I was there to release it. The only other contraindication is she is a bit prone to chest infections.

In May 2016 Mille came second in the Dog show in Harold’s Cross see photo, Hopefully we will have more great years to come, So a big thanks to all the Vets and Nurses for Our little Mad MILLIE, she’s  one in a Million!

A New Lease on Life