Furever Foster: Chewie, a Lesson in Love

By Chelsea Fournier, Chewie’s Foster Mom

Chelsea and Chewie

On Mother’s Day, 2009, I was told that a new foster was to arrive at my house later in the day. I had been fostering Miniature Schnauzers for just five months before Chewie ended up at my door. When he first arrived, he was weary of a new environment, but quickly adjusted. Chewbacca’s previous owners became sick and could no longer care for him. I was informed that he was ten years old, with his eleventh birthday coming up the following October. I was ecstatic to foster a “senior” dog, as I have a soft spot for the older dogs. Chewie sure didn’t act ten; he played about the house and ran the yard as if it were all his own. Although Chewie took a liking to pottying in my parent’s closet, I had his back and cleaned the messes before they noticed (usually).

In February of 2010, I received Chewbacca’s very first application for adoption! I was thrilled; what bittersweet news. After doing the home visit for the new family and approving them for your adoption, he went off to his furever home.

Just two months later, Chewie’s owners got ahold of the Schnauzer rescue and informed us that he had developed bone cancer in his front left paw. I was shocked; I prayed for his recovery nearly every day. After an exceptional amount of treatment, Chewbacca’s owners came to the rescue with a problem: they could no longer afford to properly care for him. I was devastated; he had been through so much and this was terrible news.

Thankfully, I was between fosters at the time, and I was able to take Chewie back into my home to foster and help him through further treatment. Early July, 2010, his veterinarian advised me that he would have to remove Chewbacca’s toe where the cancer was most prevalent. After the big surgery, Chewie came home to recover comfortably. Later in the month, after a recheck by the vet, we learned that his cancer was GONE, but there was a terrible infection resulting from the removal of his toe. The doctor decided that the best route to take was to remove Chewie’s front left leg.

Shortly after this surgery, Chewbacca was out running in the yard, playing with other dogs, and loving life, cancer and pain free! This past October, Chewie turned thirteen, and yet he’s just as spunky as the day I met him nearly three years ago.

Chewie (left) attended Barkaritaville shortly after his surgery

About one month ago, Chewbacca began coughing. I took him to our vet, where they took X-rays. The X-rays showed a mass in Chewie’s lungs. I was recommended to a specialist and took Chewie there as soon as I could. The X-rays were looked at by an internal medicine specialist; they were nearly positive the mass was a tumor. The specialist then took a biopsy of the tumor; he said that Chewie was such a great dog that they didn’t even need to use sedation during the simple biopsy.

Just two days ago, I received a phone call from the specialist: Chewbacca’s tumor is carcinoma; a type of cancer that may spread within his body. I was told that there wasn’t a specific amount of time that Chewie has, but that a few months was likely. Chewbacca shows no signs of pain just yet. I know he’ll tell me when he does.

Chewbacca has taught me so much about persistence, strength, and optimism. He’s shown me that no matter what life hands you, to hold your head high and keep fighting. I’m so grateful to have Chewie as a foster and for the love he’s shown to me through his darkest times.

Chewie is one determined little man