December

I have once again been slacking on posts.  Although this is the slow time of year for us at work, I find myself very busy during this final month of 2012. 

December arrived with no relief from the warm weather.  We highly considered turning the AC back on after only a few weeks of not using it.  Finally, about a week ago, a cold front came in but it was short lived, as today was 70 again.  I just can't get into the holiday spirit with this ridiculous weather.

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the first annual "Rescuers Unite" dinner party.  The point was for all of us in the local animal rescue community to actually put faces to the names we see every day.  We all network and communicate with one another constantly but very few of us have ever met in person.  Facebook has done wonders for animal rescue!  I think there were about 70 or 80 people there.  Most were from AR, but we had a few people from the neighboring states too!   It was nice to be surrounded by people who share the same passion in life.  It was a diverse group.  Young and old, married and single, wealthy and poor, but there was never a lack of things to talk about.   The only people who truly understand the crazy lifestyle that we choose to live are the others that have chosen it too.  I can't wait for the next gathering which will surely be even bigger and better!  One woman's husband joked, "So what goes on at one of these things?  Do ya'll just go around sniffin each other's butts or what?"  For the record, no.;-)

The other day, I got a box full of goodies delivered for the rescue dogs.  Toys, treats, leashes and collars, even a thundershirt!  Rheagan's mom sent them all the way from Virginia!  She also sent a collage of photos of Rheagan who looks amazingly happy.  I will always remember Rheagan as my first out-of-state transport adoption.  So hard to go through, but SO worth it!  I would be thrilled if every one of my dogs got a home like Rheagan's!  Thanks Tangela!

Since he is still here, you have probably guessed that I chose to keep Winston with us and not transfer him to the rescue out east.  He will be too much for many people to handle and I am more comfortable knowing that if he doesn't work out somewhere, I will get him back.  I am committed to him and fully aware that he may be here for a long time.  I just love him so much.

We have had several short term house guests lately too.  Little Pearl, the deaf puppy, stayed with us before her trip out to Atlanta.  Her new family is also deaf.  Mom, dad, dog sister and cat sister all deaf.  How cool is that for her?  It took a village to get that little girl to such a wonderful new home! 

I'm a spoiled brat...wink. wink.

 

 

We got Phoenix the boxer from the shelter, bathed and de-fleaed him, and gave him a place to rest his head before he went on his transport to NH.   He was an awesome dog.  Fit in perfectly here.

 



 

Because one Winston just isn't enough!

 

 

We currently have Patch. He was kicked out of his home by his "family" just in time for Christmas.   He wouldn't have done well in a shelter. Poor guy is only four years old and about 20lbs overweight. His breathing suffers and it's hard for him to get around. He can't even scratch his own ears. It will take a long time to get him back to a normal weight, but once he gets there, he'll be a whole new dog! He will go into a foster home next week.

 

Our fat boy!

 



 

 

We have also been on a few hikes, despite the warm weather.

 

Buffalo National River

Winston and me in Indian Rock House cave.

We hiked through Rush Mountain, a ghost town that was a mining town over 100 years ago.  It was really neat.   I'm sitting in an old mine cart.

 

 



We will be loading up the dogs and the camper and heading to the Ouachita Mountains over Christmas this year to attempt a 28 mile hike!  Not sure how many days it will take us, but it's going to be a challenge I'm sure.  If I don't get around to another post before we leave, Merry Christmas to all of you from me and my pack! 

To Santa, From Winston

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, could you please bring me a family of my own?  If it isn't too much to ask for, I would like a child to play with, maybe two.  Kids are my very favorite!  Could I also have a big yard to run around in with my kids and some tennis balls for them to throw for me?  I have been a good boy Santa.  My foster mommy tells me that all the time.  She kisses me and tells me that I am sweet and beautiful.  I love her.  Even though she wishes that I could stay with her forever, there are other dogs in shelters that need her.  I remember that. I was sad and scared when I was in the shelter.  I want to help those other dogs, just like somebody helped me.  Santa, if you bring me a family, I will love them forever.  I will make them happy when they are sad.  I will do my best to always do the right thing.  I have been trying hard to learn that.  With my family, Santa, please bring patience and commitment.  I don't know what those things are, but Mommy says that nobody has given them to me before.  She says that I need them most of all.

That's all I want for myself Santa, but I have another favor.  Could you also please bring some blankets for the dogs that will spend Christmas alone in the shelters?  It's cold there and sleeping on the cement is the worst.  It's also boring and lonely so please bring them some toys too.  If you could, send some volunteers to pet them and hug them and take them outside.  That would be the best.  The days that the volunteers took me out of my cage, even for a few minutes, were the only good ones I had there. 

And Santa, there is just one more thing.  You must know a lot of people.  Could you please spread the word to everyone on your list about all the homeless dogs that will be forgotten this year.  Let them know that even if they can't give one a new home, there are other things that can make a difference.  Maybe they have some old blankets or toys that they could give. Tell them that a couple hours of their time this year could make the holiday a whole lot brighter for a dog who isn't as lucky as I am.  

Thanks Santa!

Your friend,

Winston

Puppy Up!

On Saturday Jonathon and I represented our rescue at Arkanas' second annual Puppy Up! cancer walk.  A rescue friend of mine hosted this event and I am so glad that she invited us to participate.     2 Million Dogs Foundation is the organization. (2milliondogs.org)  It's mission is discovering the common links between canine and human cancers through comparative oncology research.  This entire program was founded by one man, Luke Robinson, who walked with his two dogs, 2000 miles, from Austin to Boston.  There are now Puppy Up! walks hosted all over the country. 

Dogs get cancer the same as humans do.  They get breast, bone, lung, skin and other cancers.  It makes sense since they live along side us, exposed to all of the same environmental factors that we are.  The difference is that it develops much more quickly in dogs than it does in humans.  Think how much more quickly a dog ages...years vs. decades.  Therefore, treatment research results are known much more quickly.  Obviously, all research is done on pets with pre-existing cancers and this is by no means animal testing.  In fact, many dogs who would not otherwise have access to any kind of treatments, like shelter dogs or dogs with families unable to take on the expense, are part of the studies.  This foundation is partnered with medical research teams from Harvard, MIT, and other big time medical facilities.  They have recently funded a large study on breast cancer.  It will be done on mammary tumors removed from shelter dogs during their spay surgeries.  Those dogs will be free of their tumors and the medical research team will have unlimited cancer specimens to work with.   It's a win, win. 

Ironically, I received the email from our director asking if I would run the booth for our rescue the day after Jax was diagnosed with his cancer.  But cancer had touched my life long before that.  Several people in my life have battled cancer, some a long time ago, and some are still fighting today.  I don't think a person exists that has not been affected in some way or another by this terrible disease.  Unfortunately, it doesn't discriminate, not even by species.  I think it's amazing that Mr. Robinson has created this awesome foundation out of his two passions in life, his dogs, and finding a cure.

The reason for the event was serious, but it was really a great and uplifting time!  My only complaint was that it could have been 20 degrees cooler.  85 in November...no thank you.  There were many cancer survivors, both human and canine, participating in the walk.  Some walked in teams and some walked in memory of loved ones passed.  There was a silent auction (a weakness of mine) and lots of vendors and other rescue organizations.  We got some good exposure for a couple of our rescue dogs and got our name out there in the community.  Most importantly, the event raised almost $8000 for cancer research!  It was a good day. 

I assumed that Winston would have fun at the event, but I also assumed that he would be a little crazy and overly excited.  I was wrong.  I didn't even pull out the thunder shirt.  He was perfect.  He was very friendly, yet polite, and a total ham.  He wanted to meet every person and play with every dog, big or small.  I was extremely proud of him.  He was also the only one of us that actually walked in the walk.  Two little girls that were there with their mom asked me if they could walk him.  It was so sweet and they had a great time.  They took a million pictures of him.  Sadly they were not in the market to adopt! 

This is baby Pearl, a foster in our rescue who spent the day with us.  She is 12 weeks old and Deaf. Could she be any cuter?

The crew!

This is how Winston and Pearl spent most of the day!  He was SO good with her.

Must have been toward the end of the day.  They look tired!

 

"Earl" from the Pug rescue next to us. 

Jax, chillin as usual. 

 

Winston with his biggest fans before they started the walk.

 

 

Jax and I with 2 Million Dogs founder, Luke Robinson and his dog, Murphy. 

Conflicted.

That is how I am feeling about what to do with Winston.  We have a rescue in New Hampshire that is willing to take Winston.  It's a great rescue, absolutely.  It's the one that took Buster, the dog that nobody would foster so he remained in boarding here for two months.  They had a foster-to-adopt family already waiting for him at transport pick up!  Transferring to a rescue out east was definitely best for Buster, but he was living in a cage.  I'm not sure that is the best thing for Winnie.  We are his fifth home in seven months!  I understand that the rescue's mission is to save as many dogs as we can and seven months is a long time.  However, as his foster mom, I feel that my personal priority is my obligation is to Winnie.  He has improved dramatically in the month that he has been in our home. I really want him to know stability.  I would certainly be open to him going to an approved forever home out there, pending me spending plenty of time talking with them first, but moving to yet another temporary home just doesn't seem fair to him.  At the same time, I think about the three dogs of mine that went to homes in DC and they are some of my best adoptions.  His chance of adoption would very likely be better out there.  And then I think maybe I am making the wrong decision keeping him here.  Am I being unintentionally selfish because I don't want to give up control of where Winston ends up?  Or arrogant, like we are the only home that could possibly meet Winston's needs?  Because although that has proven true thus far in his life, I know there are plenty of people out there as good as I, or even better, for him.  But how will I know if he finds them if I let him go? 

Any words of advice would surely be appreciated. 

Winston Progress Report

Winston is making steady progress with his excitement issues and his anxiety is much less present.  He has learned that we don't always have to be doing something and is willing to relax on the couch most nights.  I make sure that he either comes to work with me, goes on a long walk, or plays ball at the dog park every day.  If ever a day of adequate exercise is missed, it's very evident in his energy level that evening. We have cut way back on the Composure (natural calming supplement) and some days he doesn't take any at all.  He had a milestone this weekend.  After a very active Saturday, we decided that it would be the perfect time to give him the chance to sleep out of his crate.  He never made a peep all night long.  He has since earned his night time freedom! 

I have come to the realization that Winston, although spastic, probably isn't actually as bad as we think he is. As our dogs mature, we are starting to forget how rotten they used to be when they were closer to his age. I guess we have been spoiled with very well behaved fosters lately too. Sweet Bella was a dream (behaviorally) and the temps have also been pretty easy.

Dixie is surprisingly more tolerant of Winston's exuberance than Jax, who has been more subdued lately and just isn't quite himself yet.  Both of them will discipline Winnie when needed.  I try not to interfere when Dixie is involved.  She knows better than I do when enough is enough yet she never loses her temper. Firm but kind.  Sometimes I step in with Jax.  He tends to let himself get picked on and picked on until he gets upset.  Jonathon says he is a wuss.  I prefer "over sensitive."  What I would do without my two canine helpers, I can't imagine.  They have really made a difference in this dog's life.

Besides the issues we are working on, Winston is an awesome dog.  He has one of the best temperaments of any dog we have ever had.  He is just joyful all of the time.  He has no fears (now that we have cleared things up with the food processor) and he is incredibly outgoing and friendly with all strangers.  He knows "sit," "down," and "leave it."  He will play fetch forever.  We are working on walking nicely on a leash.  Our biggest challenge there is the abundance of squirrels that share our neighborhood.  He is perfectly behaved in the car and at the office.  He almost never barks and hasn't had a single accident in the house since he got here. 

He loves kids, so he will fit well into an active family that will spend plenty of time with him, take him places, and fulfill his exercise needs.  They will need patience and the ability to understand his energy level and that it is not "misbehaving."  I would feel awful if anyone tried to "punish" him for simply being his happy-go-lucky self. 

Overall, Winnie just needed some stability in his life.  Now that he is getting into the routine that dogs count on, he has really come around.  His whole life people have given up on him.  That was his biggest problem. 

Winston Pictures!

With everything going on with Jax, I never got around to posting any pictures of Winston! 

Isn't he lovely?

 

 

ATTENTION!

 

Dixie always likes to one up the boxers.

 

Winston helping me at work.

 

 

 

 

This is Jax's surgery site for those of you that were asking how big and where it is.  Not too bad.  The scar will surely be visible, but we couldn't care less!

 

Oncology Report

Jax's surgery went well on Monday but the poor guy was very sick that night.  The anesthesia combined with the treatment medications (high dose antihistamines along with steroids) really got to him.  He was dizzy and nauseated and throwing up all night.  He looked incredibly pathetic.  I felt awful for him and stayed up trying to comfort him and cleaning up vomit all night.  By morning, he was perking up a bit and by the next day, if not for the suture site in the middle of his back, you'd have never known he'd had the surgery at all. 

We got the oncology report back and for a cancer diagnosis, the results are as good as we could hope for!  The tumor was a grade 1 mast cell tumor.  Grade 1 means that it is well differentiated and is the least likely to spread into other organs.  Even better, the margins on the tumor were completely clean which means there should be no cancer cells left behind.  My awesome vet got every bit out!  That means no chemo or other follow up treatment needed!  It also makes it much less likely for a new tumor to develop there (Statistically, 50% of mast cell tumors that are surgically removed come back in the same area.).

He does have to go back in a couple of weeks, once all treatment drugs are out of his system, and get his blood work rechecked.  There was an abnormality in his liver function test.  We are hoping it was due to the medications or even technical error (like not getting a clean stick when drawing blood) but we have to make sure there is nothing more serious going on.   

We will have to monitor Jaxy closely for the rest of his life for lumps and bumps and have anything that shows up removed immediately.  It does scare me that the disease struck so early in his life.  Mast cell cancer usually presents in dogs at least eight years old.  He will be just four in November.  I understand the nature of the disease and that it may likely return.  But we won this battle!  So, like the dogs do, I am going to live in the present.  And presently, we are Cancer free! 

The bad news.

My heart is pounding as I type.  I just returned from the vet.  My Jax, my sweet, always happy, amazing boy, has cancer.  Cancer.  I just can't believe it.  The awful feeling in my stomach started when the doctor was in the back room way to long to be looking at a "normal" cell biopsy.  Her face as she slowly re-entered the exam room said it all before she even spoke.  She nodded and I knew. 

It's in the form of a small lump on his back that started out looking like a hive but then shrunk.  Turns out, it's a malignant tumor.  Doc thinks it's a mast cell tumor, one of the most common cancers in this heart break boxer breed that is so prone.  He goes in for surgery first thing on Monday morning.  I wanted the weekend to let this soak in and to let Jax enjoy himself before we begin the fight of his life.  They will remove the mass and the surrounding tissue and send it to the lab for the oncology report so we can get a definite diagnosis.  They will also do a complete blood chemistry profile and cbc pre-surgery to gather more information and be sure that there is no sign of cancer anywhere else inside of him before they put him under.  I'm so scared. 

If it's mast cell cancer, it's something that we will likely battle with forever.  New masses will develop, maybe in years, maybe in weeks.   It's not a death sentence, as long as the tumors develop in places that they can be completely removed and it doesn't progress into his lymph nodes. 

Although I haven't even begun to process it myself, I needed to post this gut wrenching news right away.  This blog and all of you who follow it have become a support system for me and I ask for your prayers and positive energy.  It worked on Bella.  I really believe that.  Please send them our way again.  I can't imagine losing my best Buddy.  He means the world to me.

Welcome Winston!

Winston is a two-three year old dark brindle male boxer.  He is cute, sweet, and about as friendly as they come.  He already went through heartworm treatment in the spring and is now physically healthy.  Sadly, we are Winston's fourth foster home since he was rescued from a shelter in Louisiana almost seven months ago.  He was also in boarding for several weeks in between foster homes when nobody would take him.  

The reason that Winston has had no success in his various homes is because people have had a hard time dealing with him, saying that he is out of control.  He has anxiety issues which unfortunately most people don't understand.  He isn't fearful at all and the anxiety doesn't seem to be related to separation.  It's unusual behavior and I haven't encountered a case quite like him.  I don't know where it stems from, but I'm sure being passed around from place to place to place has only made it worse. 

He has endless energy but you don't even notice the anxiety until it's time to settle down.  Even when he is exhausted, he doesn't know how to relax and you can see that he is stressed trying to figure out what to do.  He is completely restless.  He pants heavily, he licks constantly, and he paces around the house.  

This anxious behavior needs special attention.  In the past, he has been sentenced to a crate. He is very good in a crate, surely because he has spent so much time in one, and locking him up would certainly be easier for us, but he will never overcome the behavior unless we help him to by facing it head on.  Avoiding these types of issues for our convenience isn't being fair to our dogs.   Although this type of behavior is unwanted by us, it isn't an intentional behavior and therefore should not be punished.  It's misuse of the wonderful training tool that is the crate.  It's comparable to something I was just talking about with my neighbor the other day- a bark collar.  Not a fan!  Sure, it may stop a dog from barking but it certainly isn't addressing the issue. The barking itself isn't the problem, it's a symptom of a problem.  A dog that barks for no reason is usually a dog that is bored and/or frustrated.  Punishing a dog for releasing energy in the only way it knows is just not fair.  Continuing to keep Winston locked up so he is calm and doesn't bother us will only make him worse in the long run. 

We have started the rehabilitation by only crating when we leave and at bedtime.  No matter how frustrating, Winston stays out of the crate with the family.  I even put up with him during the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy!  And that was not easy.  I have also been using the Thundershirt when it's time to try to relax.  He is taking a supplement called Composure a few times a day.  I try to do relaxation exercises with him.  They must be working a little because the other morning after an hour and a half of play time, I put the shirt on him and laid on the couch with him and we both fell asleep and I was 40 minutes late to work!  Most of all, we try to practice our own calm behaviors.  We usually play pretty rowdy in this house and are trying to adjust our overall energy a little bit until he can handle more stimulation without instantly flipping out. 

Dixie and Jax have been great, as usual.  He was getting beaten up by the dogs in his most recent foster home, which is why he was removed. He has scars all over his face and legs. Our dogs are used to unstable behavior so they put up with him as best they can when he can't control himself.  For the most part, they love to play with him and he is keeping them very busy and getting them in shape for hiking season, which is just around the corner! 

He is a great dog, but he needs a lot of work.  He will probably be here for a while. 



 

Bella Pictures

As promised, here are some fun pictures of Bella!  The two pool pics are older, but the rest were all taken her last morning at our house and then at Jen's. 



Surfer Dog!



Jax and Bella "floating"

 



 

Action shot!  (Buster was a temp foster.  He lives in NH now)

 

The plus side of having two fosters at once. Never a third wheel!

Napping with big sis.



This is one of my favorites of her!

 

Jen, Daisy and Bella.  The new family!



Another family photo.



My last night with my girl:-(

Big Bella News!

This is the story of Bella's adoption. 

I started to write this post several times.  I wanted to do a pre-home visit post and then a follow up.  Each time, I got only a few sentences written and I stopped.  It just wasn't working for me.  I couldn't put into words exactly how I felt about Bella leaving me, because I didn't really know yet.  My emotions were running high because I was so attached to her that I just broke down when I tried to write. 

I knew that our girl was ready to face the world without us, but I couldn't say the same for myself.  She had become such a big part of our family.  I no longer saw her as a foster dog, but as one of us.  She had become an ambassador to other temporary fosters that had come and gone while she was with us.  And to be perfectly honest, there was a long time that I didn't think she would ever leave us this way.  I thought that she would live out her last days in our home.  I spoiled her rotten.  She slept next to me in my bed for two months.  I hand fed her not only her food, but meat, eggs, and even homemade doggy ice cream.  I thought that she was dying and I wanted to give her the most pleasurable experience possible before that happened.  Obviously her leaving us for a new home is a miracle and so much better than her leaving us for the rainbow bridge, but nevertheless, it was not something that I had prepared myself for. 

The only thing that kept me from totally losing it was that the person applying to adopt Bella was already a part of my life.  Jen!  I knew that she had been considering a companion for her dog, Daisy, for quite a while so when I found out that she was planning to drive out to spend labor day with us, the wheels in my head started turning.  When Jen arrived, there was an instant connection between the two of them.  We talked casually about Bella possible joining Jen's family all weekend.   I was not allowing myself to get excited.  I didn't want Jen to feel any pressure and I didn't want to be disappointed myself.  I think Jen was doing the same thing, for the same reasons.  When she left, I told her to take some time and really consider it and how a second dog would change her life.  A few days went by and I received a text from Jen.  "Ok, I have thought a lot about it and talked to Daisy about it and we both think that Bella would be a great addition to our family!"  And so it began.

I knew that I needed to be completely unbiased and treat this like any other adoption.  I couldn't approve it for the selfish reason that I would be able to have Bella in my life forever and I couldn't approve it because I didn't want to hurt Jen's feelings either.  Jen and I discussed everything and both agreed that there would be no hard feelings on either side if either of us decided it wasn't a perfect fit.  Of course Bella and Daisy had to meet and be on board with becoming sisters too.  The only way to know for sure if Bella would fit into their lives was to try it out.  So, we planned a trip. 

Three weeks later, on Thursday afternoon, Bella and I were on our way to Fort Worth, Texas to spend the weekend.  I admit, I almost changed my mind before I was even out of the driveway.  I had packed up all of Bella's stuff, including her crate, and loaded it into the car.  As we pulled away, I could hear Dixie howling.  It was a long, sad, pitiful howl.  She had never done that for any other foster before.  She too had come to think of Bella as one of us.  It broke my heart. 

The weekend was amazing.  We laughed, we cried, we drank wine...lots of wine.  The dogs, although hesitant at first, did wonderfully.  My biggest worry going into this was that Bella would be too high energy or rough for Daisy (who is a 7lb Chihuahua X Dachshund).  I didn't realize that Daisy was such a feisty little girl!  She matches if not beats Bella's energy for sure!  It was hilarious and adorable to watch them play.  Jen's neighborhood is very dog friendly.  Pretty much every house on her block has at least one dog and they all seem to get along and play at the fence lines with each other. 

Saturday morning, we took a long walk over to Jen's work so I could get the tour. (Jen is pretty big stuff, by the way.  So proud of you Jen!)  Although Bella hadn't been exposed to much in her life, she acted as though walking through the city traffic and into a big fancy building was the norm.  She stepped confidently into the elevator and after meeting some of Jen's employees, laid down and made herself comfortable at our feet.  I was filled with pride.  On the way home, we stopped for gelato at the Central Market (Some people have gelato for breakfast.) and my girl impressed me again.  She sat quietly watching the hustle and bustle as we enjoyed ourselves.  By the time we got home, Bella was exhausted.  I think it was probably the most excitement she'd ever had in one day. 

Jen and I were both crying when I left on Sunday morning.  It was so hard leaving Bella.  But, I didn't feel the same sad that I felt before.  After spending a few days there, I could tell that she would fit in well.  I knew that Jen was going to do whatever she could to give Bella the life that she deserves.  Thank you for that, my dear friend. 


Pictures to come!

Guess Who!

Guess who this handsome dog is!  (Jonathon didn't even recognize him.)



 It's Enzo!  All grown up!  He was still a pup when he left here for Washington DC in February-  about 9 months old, around 40lbs and still had a few bare patches left over from the mange. 

 

Just a refresher, here is baby Enzo when he first arrived at my house last Dec.

 

 

 He now weighs in at over 65lbs and look at the gorgeous coat!  Enzo's mom writes that she and Ezno go to the dog park almost everyday and he has a core group of friends there.  She also writes that not a day goes by that somebody doesn't stop her on the street to say what a good looking dog he is!   

 

Enzo with one of his buddies at the dog park.





 

 

Enzo's mom's email came at just the right time.  I had been feeling pretty deflated.  Lot's of sad things going on in the rescue network and hopelessness filling up my mind because of it.  Seeing Enzo looking so happy and hearing how great he is doing really warmed my heart.  I need moments like this to recharge myself! 

 

Bella and Charlie Sittin in a Tree!

Bella has a boyfriend!  We have a short term foster dog here for the week.  His name is Charlie and he is a Red Heeler, a pretty rare breed in these parts.  It's surprising that he ended up in a shelter.  He is about 5 months old and full of piss and vinegar!   He and Bella adore one another.  They play and play.  She got off restriction just in time. 

Although puppies tend to be obnoxious with their never ending energy, I do enjoy the unbridled happiness and innocence they bring with them.  Charlie spent 15 minutes playing with an acorn on the patio yesterday morning.  He was having a great time, all by himself.  The simple pleasures make me smile. 

On Saturday, Charlie will make his journey to his rescue in Tallahassee, Florida.  I will take him (and another dog that we will pick up from a shelter on the way) as far as Brinkley, AR where our second leg driver will meet us.  That night, about 10 drivers later, he will reach his destination.  I am told that he has an interested adopter already.  The family lives on a 700 acre working ranch.  Sounds like a dream come true for a cattle dog! 

Our Miracle

Not long ago, it was looking like the end for our girl.  I was heart broken. I am very emotional as I write this post, because I feared I would never get the chance. I couldn't be happier to annouce that Bella is 99% heartworm free! (which is considered negative as her last dose of oral ivermectin will finish off the process)

The x rays showed much improvement overall.  The lungs are a whole lot clearer and the tangled vessels within them are settling down.  There is still a small bit of fluid.  The doctor is hopeful that they will continue to correct themselves over time.  Her heart, although smaller than before, has not returned to it's pre-heartworm state.  It likely never will.  It was so fiercely stretched out by the infestation, that the damage is irreparable. The good news is that she is not showing any clinical signs of cardiac disease.  We will monitor her now that she is off of restriction and see how she handles a more regular active lifestyle.  If there is no coughing or exercise intolerance, it will point to her being able to live a normal life.  She will still be listed as a special needs dog because any potential adopter will need to be aware of all that she has gone through and that there is the potential for heart problems to develop in the future.  Precautionary chest x rays at her annual exams will be highly recommended.  The doctor's best guess at life expectancy for her is 10 years.  Had she not contracted heartworm disease, it would likely be around 15 years but given her prognosis six weeks ago, I consider 10 years fantastic. She has her small size working in her favor (smaller dogs tend to live longer) as well as the mutt factor (mixes typically have fewer health issues than pure bred dogs). 

Bella is a true miracle dog.  She has beaten the odds that were greatly against her.  She has the chance to live a long, happy life.  Now we need to focus on finding her the perfect home.  She will not be an easy adoption.  If anyone knows somebody that would be a great match for Bella, please spread the word.  I will be very cautious in placing her. 

Words can not express my gratitude to everyone who has been supporting us these past two months.  All of the kind words, the prayers, and the donations for her medical expenses are what got us through this.  I am so incredibly thankful for Bella's extended foster family. 



 

 

 

The Moment of Truth

Today is the day that Bella goes in for her follow up heartworm test and x-rays!  I wanted to get this done prior to the holiday weekend in hopes that the news would be good and Bella would be able to enjoy her regained freedom!  Now the hurricane is barreling toward us and we will be stuck inside anyway!  We are hoping it passes by Saturday afternoon.  We are expecting to lose power tonight but I will try to get an update posted before that happens.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed for a clean bill of health! 

Bella - One month post treatment update

The good news is that Bella is feeling much better.  She has a healthy appetite and she has actually gained four pounds!  She is now at 26lbs.  We had our one month recheck this week and her level of microfilaria has gone down about 80%!  She got a dose of ivermectin and will almost surely be negative by our next month check up. 

The bad news is that as soon as we tapered down her steroid dose, she started coughing again.  This indicates that she still has a lot of inflammation in her lungs.  We are back on the steroids for the next month.   She is becoming more frustrated because as she regains her energy, she wants more than ever to be able to use it. She still has four weeks of restriction left.  I feel awful for her.  

I just can't say enough good about Bella.  What a trooper she has been through all of this.  She is the most well behaved dog that we have ever fostered.  She never makes a peep.  Although she is forced to spend the majority of her time isolated, she never cries, whines or barks.  She never chews or scratches at the door as most dogs would do if they were separated from the rest of the family so often.  Her self control is amazing and she wants nothing more than to please us. 

If it is in her future to be adopted, she will be a very special addition to a family.  I could picture her as a little girl's companion.  She would be the dog dressed in doll clothes with nail polish on and she would be perfectly content.  She would be a good jogging partner or hiker.  She is extremely smart  and focused so  she could also be great in agility, formal obedience, fly ball or even search and rescue.  One thing that she will absolutely need is to be a real member of the family.   Being "just a dog" will just not be enough. 

Right now, we are thankful that she made it through the most critical time, even with all odds against her.  We will concentrate on getting through the next month and continue to pray for good results on her follow up xrays.  If they show permanent heart or lung damage, we will need to reassess her long term prognosis and plans. 

Thanks again everyone for your kind words of support of our girl.  I wish you could all meet her.  You would all fall in love.

Unchained

It was 111 degrees in Little Rock yesterday.  The only place hotter in North America was Death Valley.  I got a text from the rescue director, a picture of a dog chained to a tree.  No visible water or shelter from the brutal heat.  The lady who owned the property had called the rescue and said that the dog belonged to her daughter and was not being cared for.  It was only a pup, at eight months old.  She wanted it gone.  She had agreed to surrender the dog to us, but she didn't want anyone to take it until her daughter was home and that wouldn't be until Thursday.  Anyway, we had no available fosters and no money for boarding.  Still, I couldn't get that picture out of my mind.  My stomach hurt.  The poor thing was going to die if nobody acted until Thursday, so I volunteered to go there myself, get the dog, and bring her here until arrangements could be made.  I called the lady and talked her into letting me come and take the dog right away.  I could tell that she wanted to do the right thing, even if it meant getting herself in trouble with her daughter.  She didn't want the dog suffering and dying on her watch so she gave in pretty easily. 

Jonathon and I headed out to rural Saline Co. to free this suffering dog before the heat took her life.(rule of thumb is never to go on a rescue on private property alone...you never know what you will find when you get there!) We arrived to find the poor girl chained up in the dirt. The chain was about eight feet long.  This dog had spent her entire life in that dusty circle of dirt.  She ate, slept and eliminated there.  Only a small, plastic crate sat next to her.  I guess that was suppose to be a dog house.  There was a dirty, empty old bucket covered in algae.  I guess that was supposed to be her water supply.  Other than those two luxuries, her life was dirt. What a sad existence.   

She was filthy.  Her eye lids and lashes were covered with a thick layer of dust.  Her nose, mouth and tongue were dried out.  She was visibly dehydrated.  She wouldn't have made it another 24 hours in that situation.  She was also terrified of us.  But, she was gorgeous and her fearful eyes had a sweetness in them.  Living as a prisoner, she was longing to be a family member.  We loaded her up and got out of there. 

We stopped at the first gas station we passed to get her some water.  She was so hot and thirsty.  I'm sure it was the first clean cool water she'd had this drought stricken summer. 

We brought her home and introduced her to Dixie and Jax.  She was terrified of them, too, but that didn't last.  I bathed her right away.  She needed cleaning up and cooling down asap.  Most dogs do not enjoy their first bath.  I turned on the hose and she immediately put her face in the water.  She opened her eyes and mouth and let the water wash the dust out of them.  Her white stripe became more visible.  She moved her entire body around in the water, getting fully soaked and loving it.  I soaped her up and she started doing twirls and jumping around.  It must have felt amazing.

In the after bath came a different dog.  She began to run around the yard full speed.  She was finally free.  She could stretch her legs for the first time ever.  She was just discovering what she she was capable of unchained.  There was running and jumping and flailing around with six months of stored energy coming out.  It was a sight to see. 

She is only a temporary house guest.  She has a foster applicant that gets her home visit tonight.  If everything checks out, she will head down to Texarkana to her foster home in the next couple of days.  She appears to be healthy but she has never been to the vet, has had no shots or preventatives,  and therefore probably has heartworm.  Sigh. 

I have named her "London." ( The Olympics have occupied a lot of my attention since it's too damn hot to do anything else!)   I already love her.  She reminds me so much of a young Asia with her thick, reverse brindle coat and little white stripe on her nose. 

First taste of relief



AAAHHHH

WOOHOO!

There is a thin line between a happy dog and a miserable one.  It's called a chain. 

Hanging On.

Thanks for all of your positive energy and prayers for Bella.   I think they are working!

Our girl is doing as well as possible.  She is terribly annoyed at having to be cooped up all the time, but is learning incredible self control.  She finally has a better appetite back, which is great, because she has lost all of the weight that she had gained.  There has been much less coughing this past week too.  I am very optimistic.  I hope not foolishly so. 

Please pray for Bella.

Bella was in the hospital again yesterday for xrays.  Her cough had not subsided with the additional medications.  The xray was a precaution, to rule out secondary infection (like bronchitis or pneumonia) before we put her on higher dose steroids.  The xrays were expected to be normal.  Just a precaution. 

Instead, the xrays were shocking, and revealed terrible news.  Bella's heartworm disease is way more severe than seemingly possible for a dog as young as she is.  So advanced, that there are major abnormalities in her heart and lungs.  Her heart is deformed, the pulmonary artery is bulging from the infestation, barely allowing blood to pass through.  The vessels in her lungs are inflamed and twisted up.  She also has fluid in her lungs.  So although she seems fine on the outside, she is in critical condition. 



Bella's xray.  



My best attempt at explaining the xray.

Bella appeared to be the perfect candidate for heartworm treatment.  She is young and strong and was totally asymptomatic.  A dog with a case as advanced as hers would typically show all signs of the disease.  They have a chronic cough, exercise intolerance, and just an overall "sickness" about them.  Bella showed none of those.  She seemed like a perfectly healthy dog who would breeze though the treatment.  The protocol would have been different for an advanced case, like hers, had we known the danger.

We followed the norm.  Nobody did anything wrong because we couldn't have anticipated this.  Old dogs that have had the disease for years have these issues, not pups.  But what is done is done.  We can't undo the treatment.  We can only wait it out now and pray that Bella pulls through.  She needs to be our little miracle dog. 

But there are just so many worms.  And her poor little heart is so full.  It terrifies me.  One hard cough, one jump off the couch, one tiny piece of worm dislodged is all it would take.  It could happen that fast. 

Long term prognosis is unknown, but Doc thinks pretty good if she makes it through the next month.  Of course we won't know how much, if any, permanent damage was done until the follow up xrays after the treatment is complete. 

I got no sleep last night.  I'm just sick over this.  I'm still in a state of disbelief.   And I feel so helpless.  Bella is in critical condition and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. 


I will keep you all posted.  I feel like I share Bella with all of you who contributed to her care.  I am doing what little I can for her and loving her enough for all of us.  And you should know, even with  this mess going on inside of her, she has no idea she is sick.  Her spirits are high and she is very happy.

Bella, one week update.

Today marks one week since Bella got her injections.  She is doing well, overall, though the treatment has been hard on all of us, as expected.  Her first night she extremely sick and my heart was breaking for her as her entire body trembled in pain.  Motherly Dixie was up all night long, pacing the house and whining nervously for her friend.  Luckily the immense pain stage passed quickly and by the end of day two she was feeling much better.   Friday she had to be hospitalized for observation as she began coughing, a sign that the emboli are irritating her lungs.  I had to go to work and couldn't leave her alone in case the situation were to escalate.  She got a steroid, cough suppressant, and a new anti-inflammatory added to her daily meds.  She has continued to cough all week, which is scary.  I am relieved every day when I get home and see her alive and well in her crate.  She has about another week before she is out of the highly critical stage of the treatment. 

The hardest part is how sad and confused she is about being kept from having fun and playing with the others after two months of doing nothing but.  I'm sure she feels as if she is being punished.  I so wish I could explain to her, and the other dogs, that it was for her own good.  After the two week period is over, I will start bringing her with me to work so she gets at least some variation back in her life. 

We are Lennox.

Earlier this week, at the stroke of midnight when his stay expired, an innocent family dog was put to death.  His name was Lennox.  His crime was his appearance (he was a lab/bulldog mix), it was said that he looked like a pit bull type dog.  This happened in Belfast,  (Northern Ireland), but his story has captured the hearts of bully breed lovers and dog lovers in general all over the world, including me. 

 Lennox's story has been going on for two years now when he was torn from his family and sentenced to death.  Despite the protest of thousands of people around the world, and several world renowned  animal behaviorists like Victoria Stillwell and Cesar Millan and rescue groups like Villalobos, asking to take possession of Lennox, the pleas were ignored.  After spending two years deplorable conditions, health deteriorating, he was ultimately euthanized.  His family wasn't even permitted to say goodbye.   This dog had never bitten anyone.  Quite the opposite, he was the best friend and therapy dog to a special needs little girl for five years.  That was, until BSL (breed specific legislation) went into affect and he was seized from her arms, being placed in the category of "dangerous dogs." 

This is important to me because there are Lennoxs' everywhere.  It's happening all over our country too.  In my state, there are many towns with BSL in place.  Having dogs in my family that, if judged solely on appearance, could easily fall into the "dangerous dog" category, it really makes me sad and afraid.  

I am not saying that I think animals that are an actual threat to the safety of society should be allowed to roam the streets.  I just think that the dogs are being punished instead of the real criminals, the thugs that own these "tough" looking dogs and train them to be aggressive.  Any dog can bite.  Any dog can be aggressive.  It's all in how they are raised and treated.  One reason that the pitties and other bully breeds are the ones that are always in the news is because dog fighters and gangsters and drug dealers don't typically raise labradoodles.  Truth be told, for every aggressive pit bull out there, there are a hundred more that wouldn't hurt a fly.  JUDGE THE DEED. NOT THE BREED!

Rest in peace, sweet Lennox.  Your death was not in vain.  You have an army fighting in your name so your brothers and sisters around the world don't meet the same fate. 

Dixe- Mixed breed. We have often thought she may have a touch of pitbull in her.

Bella- Almost certainly has pitbull in her.

Jax- white boxer. often mistaken for an American Bulldog.