Smokey, 12, of Columbus, Ohio passed away peacefully about 4 p.m. Thursday, July 26 at MedVet Medical & Cancer Center for Pets. He was surrounded by his loving family, friends, and veterinary staff.
Smokey arrived in the world about 1 January, 2000. As a pup, he was incredibly abused by his first owner in the Linden area who fastened him with a 5 ft chain to a fence 24/7. As a result he developed severe skin infections and a severe PTSD. Fortunately, he was rescued just before Thanksgiving of that year by the Citizens for Humane Action, Inc. In turn they placed him in the canine rehabilitation program on unit D-3 at the Correctional Reception Center. An inmate in that program kenneled him in his cell and gave him loving care 24/7, as he retrained him to mitigate much of his PTSD. However, Smokey continued to avoid all humans but his trainer until about 1 April when he suddenly "adopted" Dr. Lindner. So Dr. Lindner and his wife took him into their home and family.
His new parents spoiled him unconscionably for more than ten years. He lived in their house 24/7 and slept with them. He loved to travel everywhere with them in their Airstream - Eau Claire every July, Copper Harbor every August, Greenville Michigan, Lutz Florida or Brenham Texas for another two months each year. Once he took in the Smokies, and once he crossed the Great Plains to the Olympic Peninsula. He took all of it in stride and impressed everyone he met with his sweet and gentle manner. He was generous and loving to a fault and blended in perfectly with whatever other animals might come into the house.
His misfortune was that he was medically vulnerable. He had to have orthopedic surgery to both knees, and the skin infections that he developed as a pup continued to plague him all of his life. He had degenerative disk disease which finally required neurosurgery in April of this year. He never did recover use of his rear legs after that surgery; instead he became weaker and weaker. Because both of his parents had injured backs and could not lift his rear quarters, it was necessary to hire veterinary students in order to toilet him. Finally his veterinarians discovered that he had an acute leukemia. He developed progressive respiratory distress and it became obvious to all that further treatment was only torturing him; so he was euthanized. Through it all his gentle nature won the hearts even of the veterinary professionals who cared for him. His loss is and will continue to be overwhelming to all who knew him.
He is survived by his parents, a canine sister Saphire, brothers Scott (Su Mills), Robert, and Paul; nephews George and Brian; students Nari, Allie Corey, Narry Tiao, Lauren Wagner, and Caityln Newton; Ann Bancroft DVM, Traci Adams, and Joanna Parsons DVM.
Apologies to all friends or relatives omitted. His ashes may be visited at any time by arrangement with his parents. Funeral Services have not yet been scheduled. Memorial donations are asked to be made to the MedVet Medical and Cancer Center for Pets, 300 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington OH, 43085. Online condolences may be left at bwlindner@yahoo.com.
