# 10 Kelly Green - "Axel"
Featured with Kelly with his new family, from the left, Kyle, Samantha, and Kim of Madison, CT. Not present in the photo is big sister, Venus, a 3 year old black Great Dane, and Paul (dad/husband). Axel weighed 51.1 lbs today at 15 weeks of age March 29, 2010.
Axel earned his Angel's Wings August 3, 2020 RIP #10 Kelly Green ribbon
Axel's family had numerous nicknames for him: Axel Rose, Axel Rose, Axel Rod, Rod Pod and just POD!
Sad, sad, news!
We learned Tues that Axel, #10, Kelly Green ribbon, earned his Angel Wings Aug 3rd, 2020.
The Schaefer family is obviously very crushed. Axel was a handful right from the beginning with all his major ailments Persistent Right Aortic Arch requiring open heart surgery. He was their $10,000 rescue dog right out of the racing shoot! He had Internal bleeding after his neuter gastropexy, a spinal stroke causing whole body temporary paralysis for which Kim, his mom performed physical therapy to help him regain the use of his legs. The death of his sister Venus (2015) caused deep depression so the family adopted another dominant Black Dane, Pepper, to boss Axel around.
Five months ago the family moved one town over to a home on the water. Axel had less stairs to deal with which was a major bonus for him. He could enjoy basking in the sun on the deck.
When Axel suffered his spinal stroke so many years ago leaving him temporarily paralyzed it would eventually just effect his back legs with weakness. His mom Kim did physical therapy with him and had to lift his hind end to help him get around until he regained use of his rear legs. As Axel aged this weakness would return. Along with the weakness would be instability and falling.
In his life Axel overcame many obstacles. He was a strong boy- definitely determined to live a LONG happy life. From the beginning when Axel was with the rest of the litter at the Sickles Homestead, he had to eat his Multiple meals in an inclined position standing on a step stool. His food was either soaked, mush or blended in a blender. When he was adopted by the Schaefer family as he grew and his condition worsened, surgery was required to alleviate his Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA). He survived his open heart surgery. When he was neutered and had his Gastropexy complications arose and he had to be rushed to the ER. He barely survived this ordeal but he fought to return to his family. Where his family lives, after hour veterinary care is not so easy to find. So for Kim to locate and drive Axel to vets (45 min away)in the middle of the night while her husband was on call at the hospital which shows her rock steady dedication to this boy!
Axel adored his sister Venus. He needed Venus to be his leader. When Venus passed away Axel became so distraught and stopped eating. Kim and Paul searched for another Black female Dane to boss Axel around. They adopted 2 year old Pepper. She is the-bossy-in-charge-leader! It took Axel a little bit of getting used to but once he adjusted to his new sister he loved her.
The Schaefer family is truly hurting. Axel has been with them for 10.5 years. He has helped their children grow up (one a recent college graduate and one a new college freshman).
Our hearts are with the Schaefer family. We share the ache and our hearts are broken as we all know the pain and loss of a beloved pet, especially a Great Dane! A Giant tugs harder at our hearts. We know Axel is now resting in peace with his big sister Venus, his momma Bella, and all his Bella’s Baker’s Dozen siblings who have gone to Heaven before him. Our condolences to the Schaefer family.
We have some pictures Kim shared, we will share some from our visits with the Schaefer family through the years as well as from when Axel was a baby living with us. .
We learned Tues that Axel, #10, Kelly Green ribbon, earned his Angel Wings Aug 3rd, 2020.
The Schaefer family is obviously very crushed. Axel was a handful right from the beginning with all his major ailments Persistent Right Aortic Arch requiring open heart surgery. He was their $10,000 rescue dog right out of the racing shoot! He had Internal bleeding after his neuter gastropexy, a spinal stroke causing whole body temporary paralysis for which Kim, his mom performed physical therapy to help him regain the use of his legs. The death of his sister Venus (2015) caused deep depression so the family adopted another dominant Black Dane, Pepper, to boss Axel around.
Five months ago the family moved one town over to a home on the water. Axel had less stairs to deal with which was a major bonus for him. He could enjoy basking in the sun on the deck.
When Axel suffered his spinal stroke so many years ago leaving him temporarily paralyzed it would eventually just effect his back legs with weakness. His mom Kim did physical therapy with him and had to lift his hind end to help him get around until he regained use of his rear legs. As Axel aged this weakness would return. Along with the weakness would be instability and falling.
In his life Axel overcame many obstacles. He was a strong boy- definitely determined to live a LONG happy life. From the beginning when Axel was with the rest of the litter at the Sickles Homestead, he had to eat his Multiple meals in an inclined position standing on a step stool. His food was either soaked, mush or blended in a blender. When he was adopted by the Schaefer family as he grew and his condition worsened, surgery was required to alleviate his Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA). He survived his open heart surgery. When he was neutered and had his Gastropexy complications arose and he had to be rushed to the ER. He barely survived this ordeal but he fought to return to his family. Where his family lives, after hour veterinary care is not so easy to find. So for Kim to locate and drive Axel to vets (45 min away)in the middle of the night while her husband was on call at the hospital which shows her rock steady dedication to this boy!
Axel adored his sister Venus. He needed Venus to be his leader. When Venus passed away Axel became so distraught and stopped eating. Kim and Paul searched for another Black female Dane to boss Axel around. They adopted 2 year old Pepper. She is the-bossy-in-charge-leader! It took Axel a little bit of getting used to but once he adjusted to his new sister he loved her.
The Schaefer family is truly hurting. Axel has been with them for 10.5 years. He has helped their children grow up (one a recent college graduate and one a new college freshman).
Our hearts are with the Schaefer family. We share the ache and our hearts are broken as we all know the pain and loss of a beloved pet, especially a Great Dane! A Giant tugs harder at our hearts. We know Axel is now resting in peace with his big sister Venus, his momma Bella, and all his Bella’s Baker’s Dozen siblings who have gone to Heaven before him. Our condolences to the Schaefer family.
We have some pictures Kim shared, we will share some from our visits with the Schaefer family through the years as well as from when Axel was a baby living with us. .