animal rescuers - resources - support

christie · 06-23-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softness

I am sad to report that the handsome Newf/Chow mix that I rescued from the pound died suddenly about a week ago. The vet misdiagnosed his cough, thought it was kennel cough. It was heartworm. He had done a heartworm test on him but he said his heart was so strong and he was so alert and active he felt it had to be a false positive. He apologized profusely to me and we grieved together. I love this old country vet. He has put down 4 of my dogs and 2 of my horses over the years. He has even come to my house to euthenize a dog because she couldnt be lifted without causing her serious pain.

Old Max had a good 2 weeks with me. He had a full belly, a soft comforter, a bowl of fresh clean water at all times. He had his own toys. He had been professionally groomed and had years of outside grime and sweat removed from him. He looked so handsome!

I will not be able to foster or rescue again for awhile. I am getting two surgeries done..one for my hiatal hernia, another for my back. Until I recover from this, I am unable to take on more responsibility.

and, my heart needs to heal from the loss of Old Max...

Awwww, softness. We are so sorry to hear this. I know that even in the two weeks, you had obviously grown to love that old boy.

I'm glad he had you for even a short time. Our hearts hurt for you.

Christie & Jess

Diavolo · 06-26-2010, 07:40 AM

I'm sorry to hear about Max. We believe that if they can spend their last days in the comfort of a home and receive some love and compassion, we've done our job. I know you thought he was going to get more than he did out of this life, I'm sorry, that's really hard, but thank you for caring about him and making his last days comfortable.

I've volunteered to take on a hospice case. We have two at the rescue right now and they can't afford a third unadoptable dog. This one is a beautiful boy with Wobblers. He's at the shelter, but everyone loves him to death. He's a great dog. He was collapsed when he came in, he couldn't walk. I actually diagnosed him and I've never worked in a vet's office a day in my life. I told them to take neck X-rays and look for Wobblers. They came back and said I was right. They've nursed him back to leap frogging. He won't be adoptable. They have one guy who wants to foster him, if that works great, but I need to know he understands that it's hospice, the dog's probably not getting better or moving on. If that doesn't work, he's coming here. I suspect he's coming here. Wobblers dogs can't be around slick surfaces. My place is carpet and slate. He won't slip here. I had a greyhound who lost his home in his twilight years. Luckily his family worked to find him someplace to go and didn't dump him at the shelter. I took on a red Doberman a few years back who's owner died and the family didn't want her. She lived here for 19 months before the cancer got her. I can do a Wobblers dog until the pain is too much and let him go knowing he was loved.

Soft*Silver · 06-26-2010, 10:17 AM

thank you for your kind words of support about Max. I am so glad he did have two weeks of being loved and cared for. I have done rescue and foster all my adult life and know only too well how sad it is when the ones we take under our wings, only stay with us a short while. Sometimes our job is simply to help them get to that rainbow bridge they speak of, where our animals go and wait for us over there. I have a small army waiting for me...soft laughter.... I love senior dogs...and have inquired about an old newfie girl I found online...her and my old demented newfie girl should get along famously!

Diavolo · 07-01-2010, 07:12 AM

This occurred at SF Pride. Bad Rap is the local pit bull rescue. They do amazing things. The funny thing is they are an organization that knows where to draw the line and does so frequently with aggressive dogs. Knowing that, it makes the whole PETA position even more ludicrous.

Link a dink

BTW, Ike the Wobbler's dog from Oakland Animal Services came here last night. He's here for hospice care. Quite honestly I didn't know if I should put him down on the way to my house he was so bad when I got him, I felt so bad for him. But I took him home and once he figured out that he could navigate the slate without falling down and that the cement and dirt in the back yard were safe too he's been doing ok. Not great, but he'll get a few weeks, maybe months with a warm place to sleep and a full belly and he'll know love.

Stearns · 07-01-2010, 08:38 AM

My neighbor and I caught 5 ferals in the last two days - mama cat and her 4 kittens. Mama got spayed and released, and the kittens were already spoken for.

Where I live, we have a free spay, neuter and release clinic once a month and a M-F $20 clinic that takes ferals without an appointment.

Diavolo · 07-04-2010, 08:40 AM

Ike has been improving little bits every day he's been here. Originally I though I was just going to keep him a couple of weeks and put him down, but I think I might be able to help him live a longer more quality life. I'm working with a 503(c) to get some help, I'm tapped right now. We'll see how that goes. He's a great dog, he follows me all around the yard. It took three days for him to quit sleeping on the slate and take advantage of the soft comforter I left down for him. I think he finally got a good night's sleep last night. He spends a lot of time laying down resting, but I think his legs are very week from the Wobblers. At least he's laying on something soft now. I tried Rita's Costco bed but he wasn't interested. He loves the comforter though. The open sore on his elbow should now start healing now that he's not laying on cement and slate. I think he went down where ever he was living before the shelter and they just left him there. After he wouldn't get up for a while they took him down and dumped him. He's got pressure sores that look like they're from him laying on something hard for a long time. At least he did a little dance when I got up this morning. That makes it all worthwhile.

WingsOnFire · 07-07-2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diavolo

At least he did a little dance when I got up this morning. That makes it all worthwhile.

This made me smile as tears rolled down my cheeks... I am a rescuer... I have my recent rescue beagle puppy "Pepper" sleeping soundly in her crate at home I am sure while I am away for the day. She has turned my home into quite the "romper room" where you never know when you will be bowled over by her 17 pounds and our rescued lab's 70 pounds following her...

I hope your new one gets healthier and I agree... there is ALWAYS hope!! We just have to know when that hope has run its course. I am glad your dog is doing better.

I have always wanted to buy a big ranch and open an animal rescue sanctuary.... maybe one day I will win the lottery and get my dream!

violaine · 07-07-2010, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diavolo

I took on a red Doberman a few years back who's owner died and the family didn't want her.

animal control now works with rescue groups. in fact, they did telephone dobe rescue, [my contact provided to shelter], on a red doberman who was a stray. chief officer rang me to say they were all very impressed by the woman who came to pick him up at the shelter.

hope you are all doing well, diavolo.

06-26-2010, 10:17 AM	#3
SoftSilver Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: rose cottage Posts: 5,592 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 8,948 Thanked 15,894 Times in 4,062 Posts Rep Power*: 21474857	thank you for your kind words of support about Max. I am so glad he did have two weeks of being loved and cared for. I have done rescue and foster all my adult life and know only too well how sad it is when the ones we take under our wings, only stay with us a short while. Sometimes our job is simply to help them get to that rainbow bridge they speak of, where our animals go and wait for us over there. I have a small army waiting for me...soft laughter.... I love senior dogs...and have inquired about an old newfie girl I found online...her and my old demented newfie girl should get along famously! __________________ Pole bachit, a lis chuye. The field sees, the forest hears

06-26-2010, 07:40 AM	#2
Diavolo Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wine Cellar Posts: 163 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 130 Thanked 433 Times in 117 Posts Rep Power: 3304128	I'm sorry to hear about Max. We believe that if they can spend their last days in the comfort of a home and receive some love and compassion, we've done our job. I know you thought he was going to get more than he did out of this life, I'm sorry, that's really hard, but thank you for caring about him and making his last days comfortable. I've volunteered to take on a hospice case. We have two at the rescue right now and they can't afford a third unadoptable dog. This one is a beautiful boy with Wobblers. He's at the shelter, but everyone loves him to death. He's a great dog. He was collapsed when he came in, he couldn't walk. I actually diagnosed him and I've never worked in a vet's office a day in my life. I told them to take neck X-rays and look for Wobblers. They came back and said I was right. They've nursed him back to leap frogging. He won't be adoptable. They have one guy who wants to foster him, if that works great, but I need to know he understands that it's hospice, the dog's probably not getting better or moving on. If that doesn't work, he's coming here. I suspect he's coming here. Wobblers dogs can't be around slick surfaces. My place is carpet and slate. He won't slip here. I had a greyhound who lost his home in his twilight years. Luckily his family worked to find him someplace to go and didn't dump him at the shelter. I took on a red Doberman a few years back who's owner died and the family didn't want her. She lived here for 19 months before the cancer got her. I can do a Wobblers dog until the pain is too much and let him go knowing he was loved.

07-01-2010, 07:12 AM	#4
Diavolo Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wine Cellar Posts: 163 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 130 Thanked 433 Times in 117 Posts Rep Power: 3304128	This occurred at SF Pride. Bad Rap is the local pit bull rescue. They do amazing things. The funny thing is they are an organization that knows where to draw the line and does so frequently with aggressive dogs. Knowing that, it makes the whole PETA position even more ludicrous. Link a dink BTW, Ike the Wobbler's dog from Oakland Animal Services came here last night. He's here for hospice care. Quite honestly I didn't know if I should put him down on the way to my house he was so bad when I got him, I felt so bad for him. But I took him home and once he figured out that he could navigate the slate without falling down and that the cement and dirt in the back yard were safe too he's been doing ok. Not great, but he'll get a few weeks, maybe months with a warm place to sleep and a full belly and he'll know love.

07-01-2010, 08:38 AM	#5
Stearns Member How Do You Identify?: Trans Man Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Husband Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 'nita land Posts: 272 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 385 Thanked 443 Times in 149 Posts Rep Power: 3640	My neighbor and I caught 5 ferals in the last two days - mama cat and her 4 kittens. Mama got spayed and released, and the kittens were already spoken for. Where I live, we have a free spay, neuter and release clinic once a month and a M-F $20 clinic that takes ferals without an appointment.

07-04-2010, 08:40 AM	#6
Diavolo Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wine Cellar Posts: 163 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 130 Thanked 433 Times in 117 Posts Rep Power: 3304128	Ike has been improving little bits every day he's been here. Originally I though I was just going to keep him a couple of weeks and put him down, but I think I might be able to help him live a longer more quality life. I'm working with a 503(c) to get some help, I'm tapped right now. We'll see how that goes. He's a great dog, he follows me all around the yard. It took three days for him to quit sleeping on the slate and take advantage of the soft comforter I left down for him. I think he finally got a good night's sleep last night. He spends a lot of time laying down resting, but I think his legs are very week from the Wobblers. At least he's laying on something soft now. I tried Rita's Costco bed but he wasn't interested. He loves the comforter though. The open sore on his elbow should now start healing now that he's not laying on cement and slate. I think he went down where ever he was living before the shelter and they just left him there. After he wouldn't get up for a while they took him down and dumped him. He's got pressure sores that look like they're from him laying on something hard for a long time. At least he did a little dance when I got up this morning. That makes it all worthwhile.