Life-saving information - please read!!!

Tonight I almost lost my best friend.

I did a transport from Tennessee to Chicago last fall. At the fist stop, a shelter that we've been working with for some time, I saw the most adorable long haired chihuahua in a cage. Unlike others that were afraid to approach people, she came right to the front, her tail wagging and a smile on her face. My first thought was anyone would be thrilled to bring her home. I knew I could find her a home easily.

I asked the Director about her and she said she came in as a stray. Someone had taken an application home but it hadn't come back yet. If I was interested I could take her home. As much as I wanted to, I said no, if there was a chance of her getting a home I wanted that for her. But all the way to and from Chicago, she was all I could think of.

On my way back I called the Director and asked about her. She said the application for her had been denied and asked if I wanted her. Ha! Uh, heck yeh!! I was so happy to stop that night on the way and pick her up. My first thought was she'd be adopted before I got home, but in the back of my mind I knew she was mine and never leaving.

I named her Munchkin, and call her Munchi. I've had so many dogs in my life that I just adored. Every time I've lost one I've cried. But Munchi is special. Munchi is my baby.

A couple months ago a litter of kittens came home with us that had to be bottle fed after their mother died. Munchi took over within days, cleaning them and warming them and protecting them and allowing them to nurse. Eventually she began producing milk. Her story got out and the news came and did a story on her.

Since then her babies have been vaccinated and placed for adoption. Munchi went back to just being my baby. Then a few nights ago I brought home another litter in need. Munchi again took right over.

This morning I had to run an errand. Little did I know that while I was gone, my baby's life nearly came to an end.

One of the foster parents that also helps us with grooming, walking and cleaning came by. She brought Bonaroo, one of the puppies we have for adoption. Munchi and Roo are best buddies and wrestle all the time. While Debbie was in the other room, she heard a huge commotion coming from the living room. She walked in to find Roo thrashing around, flipping Munchi all over the room. She found Munchi's collar wrapped around Roo's bottom jaw, and as he flipped and turned it tightened more and more around Munchi's throat.

As hard as she tried she couldn't get it undone and Munchi had lost consciousness. She ran outside to get John. John said the collar was so tight he couldn't even get a knife between her and the collar to cut it off. By this time Munchi's tongue was hanging out, and her eyes had glazed over. There was blood all over from Munchi's eye and mouth and Roo's chest from the struggle as they each battled to free themselves.

John realized by spinning Roo he could loosen Munchi's collar enough to get it off. When he did he realized she wasn't breathing and had no heartbeat. Thank God his career as a paramedic all came back. He was able to do canine CPR on her. He said for a while he thought it was too late, as her eyes had no life at all in them. And then after one breath for her, he went to do a chest compression and saw a flicker of life in her eyes.

He continued the CPR until she was breathing on her own. He called the vet who thankfully called him back. We'd not used this vet in over a year after severing ties with them. With no hesitation at all John was told to rush her over ASAP. He did a thourough exam and said she had a concussion, a broken tooth, a laceration over one eye, that eye also was very swollen, as was her throat. He gave her an injection of steroids to help with the swelling in her throat.

Tomorrow will be rough for her. She'll be sore for a day or two. But other than that, she's fine. John's knowledge of CPR and the quick reaction of him and Debbie saved her life.

Needless to say, every single collar on every single dog in this house has been removed. We will be spending a pretty penny this week on harnesses for everyone. Never, ever, ever again in my life will I ever place a collar on any animal again.

Please, think about what happened to us. I wasn't here. But when I walked through the door and John handed me Munchi and said to sit down and prefaced it all with 'Munchi is fine, but I need to tell you what happened', I can't even begin to tell you how much of a wreck I was. I felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I can't imagine if I'd been here.

Collars can be so dangerous. Please switch any pet you have in a collar to a harness and don't risk what we went through. We are so blessed that we've been given another chance. I can't imagine my life without my little Munchi and I'd never want anyone to go through what I did.