[fasteddie]

Life wasn't easy, but things were humming along for Gail Young, 52, who recently returned to school to start a second career after a divorce.

Her Chihuahua Max, her No. 1 fellow, would be lonely while she was studying at the University of Akron, she fretted. So the Springfield Township grandmother found him a look-alike companion named Blue.

Max and Blue provided her creature comfort after the divorce and the three of them were like peas and carrots swimming in butter. The bookend Chihuahuas guarded the house. Young didn't have to worry about her independent fancy cat, Squishy, so named because of his Himalayan flat face, since cats have their own ideas.

But on Tuesday night, a faulty space heater started a fire that swallowed up everything, killed Max, severely injured Blue and left Young homeless. Not only did she lose her No. 1 dog, but gone were her clothes, prescriptions and family heirlooms, too.

It shouldn't have happened, because the space heater she was using was the super-safe type, firefighters assured her. It was just one of those terrible things.

''My daughter and I went shopping and then I went off to school and at 9:30, Akron U police came and told me my house was on fire,'' she said, struggling
for control of her voice through the tears.

''When I got there they told me Max died and my neighbors kicked in the door to find Blue. That's probably when the cat ran out the door.''

Firefighters said they found Max stretched out on top of Blue as though to shield her from the flames. His little body was lifeless.

''Max was my heart dog,'' she said. ''I've had a lot of animals and loved them all, but he was my best friend. He slept by my face every night. . . . I can't sleep because he's not with me.''

William Howe of the Springfield Fire Department coaxed Blue back to life using a special oxygen mask for dogs.

''The fire department worked on Blue for half an hour and used a whole tank of oxygen,'' Young said. ''If it wasn't for Bill Howe, she wouldn't be alive.''

But the pet is far from well. Though she wasn't burn, the smoke caused neurological damage and the 6-month-old dog can barely raise her head, vets quickly discovered after she arrived at Green Animal Medical Center. A tiny red tube, stapled to her head, runs oxygen from a big machine into one of her nostrils. She quivers and still smells like the fire. Her prognosis is a question mark.

Vets discovered something else. In a whirlwind courtship, Max apparently caught the 6-month-old just as she went into her first heat and vets found the fruits of their dalliance bumping around in her belly. The lives of the three puppies hang in the balance along with their mom and Young prays they make it.

The puppies need 42 days in the womb to be viable. They were at 31 the day of the fire. ''Blue and them little puppies are the best thing that could happen out of this,'' Young said, the weak and woozy pooch clutched to her chest at the pet hospital. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

If Blue ends up disabled, Young will take it. ''All my children will help me take care of her and I have some of the best friends in the world,'' she said. ''I'll do whatever we need to do for her.

''My grandkids said I lost everything but we still have each other.''

Meanwhile, vet bills approaching $3,000 have Young worried. Turkeyfoot Animal Hospital, Young's regular vet, has been donating medicine and services, a surprise and blessing that is cutting costs, she said.

But she's been living on a shoestring since the divorce.

She had no renter's insurance, having cobbled together every dime she could to return to school.

''I can't afford to drop out because I spent every penny on tuition,'' she said.

For now, she is living with one of her daughters, who is also tending to Squishy, who seems to be fine.

''Max had a lot of personality,'' she said. ''I'd love to have a little Max around the house.''

Readers can send cards and letters to Young c/o: 1410 Peony St., Hartville, OH 44632 or call 330-459-7051.

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories...l?page=all&c=y

[ChihuahuaMommi]

That is so sad...but at the same time gives hope.

[roosterbob]

What a sad story. I hope everything works out for her.

[Unioceect]

Ah i loved my cat but i had to get him put to sleep last summer. And now I have another dog anyway, my cat thought he was a dog. he used to give paw haha that nearly sounded rude he was the best cat ever. i miss him

/off-topicness

Also Kikky, your Dan gif in your sig is identical to one somebody else had, but it said "look what dan can do" haha. Wish i could remember who that was.....

[veguroev]

Heart breaking .