March Real–Life Claim Story

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Growing up with family dogs, Robert Litavec has always been a "pet person."" So when it came time to strike out on his own for the first time as an adult, he couldn't wait to have a dog of his own. And as he started to take the steps to get his first dog, the idea of a dachshund stole his heart—and he decided that was the breed for him.

"I always wanted dachshunds—I thought they were cute," Robert says, and so he began to learn as much as he could about the breed. "As I researched, I discovered they had the biggest personality… And that's one thing I was looking for… I wanted to have a relationship with them."

From one brother to another: love at first sight

When Robert finally took the plunge and went to choose his dachshund from a litter, he initially just came home with one: he first saw the rambunctious, playful Olivier but ended up leaving with his mellowed-out brother Benoit, who fell asleep on his lap during the visit.

"Olivier was an adorable little puppy but I thought maybe I'd take the one who seemed more of a chill dog," he laughs. But that didn't last long: he found out their birthdays were on Valentine's Day, which seemed like a sign, and couldn't stop thinking of Olivier.

"So I took Benoit home and I felt really guilty. I wasn't even planning on getting a dog that day. I mean maybe it was in the back of my head. I had him for a week before I went back and got his brother. Luckily his brother was still there; I couldn't understand it because I thought for sure that he would be gone. I tried not to sleep with them and that lasted about two nights. Benoit was so tiny he would just sleep on my neck like a little scarf, and I would go to Starbucks and they’re not allowed in there, so I'd just zip my hoodie and put them inside… it was pretty cute."

Back to reality

As Robert got to know "his boys" he began to appreciate how different they were: "It's strange how different their personalities are. One loves baths, one hates baths, one is needier, the other one is more independent. And just look at their little legs—I mean, they're just so adorable," he smiles. But as the bond grew between them and as time passed living with them, Robert began to notice something troubling.

"I noticed Benoit started not using his back legs so much. He's kind of a baby so I just thought he was being lazy. It was right before his third birthday."" But as Benoit continued to show these signs, Robert grew increasingly worried. Like any good parent, he began diligently researching online and then took him to the vet, who confirmed that Benoit had intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. These discs then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.

Super Bowl Sunday's sudden turn

The vet had cautioned that if Benoit suddenly stopped using his back legs completely to take him immediately to the ER.