6 years old, rainbow bridge
June 25, 2024: Rest in Peace, Clyde
It breaks our hearts to share the news that the SECR family has lost a legend. After a sudden and sadly insurmountable battle with liver failure our one and only Clyde left us the way he lived – with the two people he loved the most, his foster parents, at his side telling him how very much he was loved.
Our hearts will forever have a special place for Clyde and all the important lessons he taught us about life and what it really means to love unconditionally. We’ll also be forever thankful to his foster parents, who embraced rescue in every step of their long journey with Clyde to give him the wonderful life he deserved. Below is their tribute to their boy.
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Ode to Clyde the Low Ride
In our lives, certain souls pass through and leave permanent marks on our hearts. Clyde, a spirited and loving (to us) foster Corgi, was one such soul. With his one-of-kind disposition, boundless energy and loud voice, he brought challenges and joy to Four Feet Retreat.
Clyde’s journey began with a diagnosis of untreated autoimmune disease, dermatomyositis, when he came into rescue 5 years ago. From the beginning, it was clear that Clyde was not like other pups. His unique personality was a blend of OCD, ADHD, and what we are certain would be a spot on the doggie autism scale. He only liked one person, deciding one day that Suzanne was pretty cool. Clyde only ever liked three other pups even though he watched many come through: Always Mia, most of the time Watson, and a short-term foster sheepadoodle, Grace.
He loved the mountains and running the golf course in the cool air, which we think was his absolute favorite place to be. He loved to chase a tennis ball and his crinkle rabbit. He loved to randomly howl with Watson and get all the other pups going. Clyde’s joy was totally visible when he was with us, his foster parents. His corgi butt would shake with excitement as he soaked up every ounce of attention. We did everything possible to make his life happy and healthy. We installed gates inside the house, separated the front yard, built ramps just for him, and kept all his medications in check. He enjoyed the best foods and had a dedicated team of rescuers, doctors, and staff taking care of him.
Special thanks to Lakeview Veterinary Hospital, Animal Ear and Allergy Clinic, and All About Eyes Veterinary Ophthalmology Clinic for their unwavering support and care for Clyde. A very special Thank You to the Southeast Corgi Rescue Team for always being there for this special boy and all of needs.
On Monday, we said an unexpected goodbye to our dear Clyde, whose time with us was far too short but precious. Though he is no longer with us, his memory lives on in the hearts of those who loved him. Clyde’s legacy is one of resilience, patience, education and unwavering bond between humans and their four-legged friends.
Rest in peace, sweet, dear Clyde.
June 11, 2023: Clyde looks amazing!
We love sharing updates on this boy all the time, but this one is extra special because we wanted to share just how GOOD Clyde looks! After a lot of diligence, Clyde’s fosters and our vets found the treatment regimen that seems to work best for him and his skin has never looked better. His scabs have cleared up, his nose is a healthy pink, his respiratory system is stronger, and we can even see a little new hair growth coming through!
Clyde has a lifelong immune condition so there is always a chance that his treatment may lose its effectiveness and we’ll need to go back to the drawing board to find something new and better. But, we have our paws crossed that the regimen he’s on now will keep doing the trick and he’ll be as happy and healthy as can be.
You go, Clyde!
UPDATE JUNE 1, 2020:
The calendar may say it’s Monday, but Clyde’s head says Sunday. Definitely Sunday.
UPDATE APRIL 21, 2020:
Need a little dose of Clyde to brighten your day? Of COURSE you do — who doesn’t?!
Like all our other fosters, Clyde is loving all the attention he and his foster siblings are getting from Mom and Dad while in quarantine. He’s also been able to experience the benefits of telemedicine! Clyde’s foster Mom reports that he had a scab on his nose that just didn’t seem to want to heal, but she was able to send a picture to his veterinary specialist and get advice from a distance on how to adjust Clyde’s medicine. It worked, and as you can see, Clyde is looking as handsome as ever!
This is an unprecedented time for our pets just as much as it is for humans, and we’re lucky that the vets we rely on are still doing everything they can to help keep our Corgis happy and healthy – successfully – even when they can’t see them in person.
UPDATE MARCH 19, 2020:
Geeze, Clyde. I know we’re all stuck at home in close quarters for a while, but that doesn’t mean you get the WHOLE blanket, ok? It’s mine!”
– Mia, Clyde’s perfect side-eye-showing foster sister
PREVIOUS UPDATES:
Update 9/20: All but 2 scabs have dried up and fallen off leaving one big one in his ear and one on his neck. Eating voraciously and getting a figure back. Started using the stairs yesterday and jumping up and down for attention so assuming back end feels stronger. We are still waiting on the results of his biopsy to determine if he might have dermatomyositis and not pemphigus.
UPDATE 9/9: Also ‘sprung’ from the vet this evening, we are amazed by this boy’s resilience. Close examination by his foster indicates that the inflammation has improved after three days of antibiotics and we’re hoping that the trend continues. Paws crossed for you, Clyde!!
UPDATE 9/7: Our vet has seen Clyde and believes he is suffering from pemphigus, an autoimmune condition. He has begun an antibiotic course. If improvement isn’t seen after 4 days, he will need to have a skin biopsy to pinpoint the infectious agent. It has extended to the mucosa of his eyes and nose so he is also on a eye med as well as a pain killer. Clyde is experiencing discomfort and pain so the fact that he has still tolerated change and movement is a true testament to the sweet temperament of this boy.
Welcome Clyde: No, it’s not mange, or flea bites or any of the other things our minds might jump to. We are constantly learning in rescue and one of the things we know for sure is that it’s best to wait for an official diagnosis. Unfortunately, we do not have any vet records for Clyde but based on his appearance, his symptoms and what his previous owners have told us, we believe he suffers from pemphigus, an autoimmune skin disease. Clyde has been on a steroid treatment in the past but not for the last 8 months or so. He was surrendered because his owners simply did not have the resources to care for him. We will be getting Clyde completely evaluated by our vet and determining the best course of treatment for this poor boy. The discomfort of his condition has had an impact on his personality and behavior but we hope to see more of that corgi joy come shining through when he gets to a place where he’s feeling better!
Southeast Corgi Rescue 