12.22.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:34 am by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Of course, this “business” continues regardless of holidays or whatever else is going on. We’ve just had two behind the scenes emergencies in the last couple days.
I know you all are going to think I’ve gone completely nuts - but…
First, little Garrett Mesquite. Rescued from a Dallas-area shelter, little Garrett had developed an infection on his neck just below his jaw. After three weeks, it wasn’t getting any better and he actually started getting snippy when the foster mom tried to check it. Luckily she sent some pictures to me and, darn, I could tell from the pictures that it was an abcess!!
The foster mom, Emily, rushed Garrett to the vet the next day and found that indeed he did have an abcess - it was a totally rotted tooth - and he recommended that the tooth come out at once. The estimate - $600-$900. GULP! Unfortunately, Garrett is now in Arizona and we’ve learned that the vets there are H I G H. Even with rescue discounts, they are three times what the vets in DFW charge. GULP again. After the unbelievably high vet bills we’ve had this past month, I didn’t know what to do at first. But, that dog could not go on with an abcess like that so we said “do the surgery.” It gets worse.
During surgery, the vet called Emiy to tell her that Garrett actually had a broken jaw - the tooth had been so abcessed that the infection went into the bone and ate through his bottom jaw at the infected point. Just like Amaretto’s.
Of course, we told him “FIX IT!!” We’ll find the funding somehow.
That vet is the nicest guy, after all of the surgery plus wiring Garrett’s jaw back together, the bill was only $591!! He took pity on us!
This is little Garrett before we got him out of the Mesquite shelter.
Secondly, adorable Yardley Turner.
Yardley was an owner turn in from San Antonio. His owner had rescued him from another bad situation, but needed to turn him over to us. When we got him, the foster mom, Sunny, took him to the vet for an evaluation. Unfortunately, the vet found BLADDER STONES! A lot of bladder stones. So many that he thought we needed to do surgery quick. Once the vet got into his bladder, he reported that the situation was much worse than he thought. There were many more bladder stones than showed on the x-ray. His bladder was terribly inflamed. Surgery is now over and Yardley should be ready to head into a foster home Monday. His total bill, including all of the preliminary x-rays in San Antonio is $886.
If you have anything left over from Christmas shopping or shopping for other holidays, and you can help this little boy, plesae use THIS LINK for paypal, or THIS LINK to send a check. Download the credit card form HERE and fax it to 281-754-4851, but be sure to email me at teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com to let me know to look for it.
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12.20.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:24 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Dougie had his third session in rehab this morning. I am so sorry I was so rushed on my lunch hour that I forgot the video camera. All I got was this cell phone picture.
But he is making amazing progress. He walked on all four feet for 6 of the 8 minutes he was in the water tank. Then he started knuckling on the right leg (sciatic nerve damage). He did so much better today than Tuesday. On Tuesday, he was a pistol - he wouldn’t stay in the tank, he tried to bite the tech many times and really didn’t get much exercise. I do have video of that and will try to upload in a couple of days so you can laugh.
Dougie has received three care packages - one from Odean, with blankets and toys, one from Ellen with two warm coats and one from Ashley with a toy and two sweaters. What a lucky boy.
Thanks again to all of you that helped this sweet boy.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 9:28 am by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
Our dogs can’t ask for any better than this! A new forever home and even a little sister fluff! What a lucky boy Barkley Turner is. From a near-dead quadraplegic to a spoiled prince! THIS is why a bunch of sucker volunteers work day and night and night and day putting in untold hours! It doesn’t get any better than this.
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12.18.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:00 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
This girl was on death’s door just a few short weeks ago. Honestly, I thought we would lose her. It terrified me to even think about the situation because it was so unbelievably critical.
Today, you could not even tell she was so near death. Is she not a beauty?
You know, when we have a tragedy and lose one, like Tyson, especially after working so hard to not let him go, I feel so guilty - like we’ve let you all down so much. I know it’s my control freak coming out, but I just can’t get it through my head that once a dog is in a state of the art hospital, it’s still possible that we lose it.
It’s extremely stressful. For days, we’re clutching at straws and it’s very frustrating that we don’t know exactly what all is happening and whether we are doing the right thing for them.
But when we have one like Bobo (and Dougie and Barkley) who were so near death and now their little faces are shining and they are looking at such a bright future, I know I have to just pick myself up, take a deep breath and go get the next pitiful one!
Thank you for allowing me and the rest of the volunteers to be able to do this for these dogs!
We can only do this because of your support. To help us continue our mission to save those that others have passed by, plesae use THIS LINK for paypal, or THIS LINK to send a check. Download the credit card form HERE and fax it to 281-754-4851, but be sure to email me at teresa@shihtzu-rescue.com to let me know to look for it.
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12.15.07
Posted in Dougie Gillingham at 8:03 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
This little poot is an amazing little dog. If you haven’t heard of Dougie, GO HERE to read his story.
Thursday, we went to see the surgeons to have sutures and staples removed. He was great. All healed, no infections - ready for fun. Then we had the first rehab appointment and he got to “walk” in the water treadmill. This contraption, which you’ve seen before, is truly amazing - use of it dramatically speeds up their recovery time.
Dougie’s problem right now is the leg that wasn’t broken but luxated out of place. The sciatic nerve sustained severe damage and he could not make his right leg work correctly. Two weeks after surgery, Dougie can now walk, but is “knuckling” his toes on that bad leg. That means he bends the toes under and doesn’t realize that he’s walking on the top of his toes.
Work in the water treadmill is designed to help improve his overall control of that leg as well as start building up the muscles on both legs.
Dougie did two sessions of four minutes each on Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon, he didn’t wake up until around 8 pm and even then wouldn’t stand. We certainly taxed his little body. I was so nervous about it, I had to call the rehab director to make sure he was ok.
Saturday morning, the little guy was walking better than ever. Here is a short video showing his amazing progress.
Thanks to everyone who so very generously donated so that we could save this boy. I know we always ask for more and more and more, but when we have one or two good stories like this, it gives me the emotional balance I need to keep going.
Little Dougie received two care packages this week. One from Odean in PA which had a blue blankie, a Christmas afghan (Dougie-sized), a pillow and a little toy. The second from Ellen, came today and thankfully included two little coats. Dougie is modeling one of the coats in the first picture on this page. And above, he is very happy to have that little blue blankie on this really cold day!
Thanks to you wonderful people. You make my heart sing!!
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