Editor�s Note

When my dog Spike started acting strange last Sunday, I knew it was going to be a rough week at my house.

Normally happy and full of energy, Spike was spending a lot of time wandering listlessly around the house and sleeping more than usual. I�ll spare you the details of her unfortunate new toilet habits. I really knew things were bad when the always-ravenous Spike wouldn�t eat. It was time to go to the vet.

The drive to the doctor�s office was harrowing. I really hate driving in Bangkok and usually avoid it at all costs � but my baby was sick, so I sucked it up.

The vet poked and prodded my poor dog and eventually gave Spike a couple of injections and sent us on our way with a fistful of huge pills for me to administer for a few days. After a gut-wrenching drive back home, I took the rest of the day off. We both needed some quality time together.

As the week went on, I nursed Spike as she slowly improved. Whenever I was home, I made a point of pulling her next to me while I was sitting on the couch, hoping that the extra love would make her feel better. Eventually, her appetite began to return, and with the exception of the two times a day when I had to shove a fistful of huge pills down her throat, she didn�t seem to be too uncomfortable.

By the time Friday rolled around, Spike was back in top form. Unfortunately, the same couldn�t be said for me. I went to bed the night before feeling a bit strange, and by the time morning rolled around, I knew that there was no way I was going anywhere. After calling in sick and shoving a fistful of pills down my throat, I retreated to my bed.

When I woke up a few hours later, sweaty and wondering exactly where I was, the first thing I noticed was Spike sleeping right by my side.

For the next few days, every time I was in bed or on the couch, Spike made a point of being right there next to me. I�m pretty sure that she was hoping the extra love would make me feel better, and with the exception of the times when I had to shove a fistful of huge pills down my throat, I wasn�t too uncomfortable.

Sean Vale
Editor
[email protected]