Dodging a bullet. . .

Sweetie is the Grand Dame of the Tree House pooches. The vets figure she is aroudn 16 years old now. She was rescued off of the beach at Playa Bejuco by the owners four-plus years ago and has spent her time here at Tree Houses and down at the beach since.

Recently, Sweetie was starting to lag a bit and her stomach area was a bit on the turgid side. The vet suspected cancer, and recommended that she be taken to the university hospital in San Jose. There, it was found that she had cancerous growths throughout her belly. A friend called and was told that Sweetie had two to three months to live.

A pall settled over everyone here at the hotel as Sweetie is a favorite of everyone, including the guests. Plans were made for Sweetie to be taken care of at the beach and here, and one of the owners asked Lucy to follow up with the vet here, just to see how much pain Sweetie was in.

The vet hospital in San Jose must be a busy place, as it took several days for anyone to pick up the phone. Luckily, it was when Lucy was at the vet's office in Quesada, so she handed the phone over to Carlos.

The vet found out that Sweetie did not have three or four months to live. She had more (unless something strange happens); as the vet tech at the San Jose hospital told our friend that Sweetie needed to be brought in in two or three months; NOT that Sweetie had that amount of time to live.

Much celebration ensued and we're looking forward to more time with Sweetie.