SUNDAY MAY 26 2002

We're working on our next fund-raising newsletter

      Those of you who follow our daily updates on the Internet have undoubtedly noticed that we're almost always a day behind on the updates to the text and that our processing and publishing of photos is often running a week behind. There's just not enough time to stay current (as we would like to do). And Bill and I take no breaks, no vacations, no days off--not even a half day off since we moved to our current location in October 1994. (Again, we're not complaining. And we would do even more if it were physically possible.) There's simply too much to do running our no-kill dog shelter in addition to having to spend so much time raising the funds necessary to keep Straydog Inc. going. ... But we shall continue for the duration.

MONDAY MAY 27 2002 - MEMORIAL DAY

Volunteer Shannon drives to Paris (Texas) to pick up rescued dog

Yesterday, Sunday, volunteer Shannon was here helping me get caught up with the office work when I received a call from a woman in Paris, Texas. The woman was desperately trying to find a no-kill shelter to take in a stray German Shepherd, and she was hoping we could help her, adding that the dog would be put down if she couldn't find a place for him by tomorrow.

Shannon was sitting across the table from me, and she heard the seriousness of the conversation and offered to go pick up the dog. Since it was at least a two-hour drive, one way, arrangements were made for another rescue person from Paris to pick up the dog and drive the fellow at least half the way here, and the two "rescue drivers" would meet at a designated location so that Shannon could bring the dog the rest of the way to our shelter. The earliest that this plan could be set in motion would be today, Monday.

New dog arrives

Shannon left her home around 10:30 this morning heading for the meeting place half way to Paris. She called me again a little after one o'clock to tell me that she had met the other driver and had picked up the dog, who was safe in the car with her, and they were now on their way to our shelter. It was around 3:00 when she called again saying she was about 10 minutes away from Straydog and that she thought I'd like to know that the fellow was covered with fleas and ticks.

By the time they arrived we were ready for the dog, and after a warm welcome from all of us, we gave him a much needed bath.

"Arthur" is a sweetie!

Arthur, named by Bill, is a gentle, affectionate young dog. He is a German Shepherd (mix?) with soft black fur. He may be about one or two years old, and probably weighs close to 75 pounds. After Arthur's sudsy bath we gave him some new toys to play with, and he acted like a pup as he bounced around his large kennel yard pouncing on the toys when we tossed them to him. Then we offered him a bowl of food, which he gobbled right up.

With a full tummy, and nice and clean from his bath, Arthur settled down to chew on his new toy bone. Later in the afternoon when I went to check on him, he was lying in his "swimming pool" just looking around, probably listening to the birds chirping as he enjoyed the cool water. At the final check of the evening Arthur was curled up in the scoopy hole he had made and was snoozing peacefully, just like all the other dogs.

Arthur is happy and content, and we are all glad that we were able to give him a second chance in life.

TUESDAY MAY 28 2002

Arthur goes for his checkup, along with Toby and Snowflake

This morning Bobby is coming to work early to drive us to the vets. Arthur will get his checkup, vaccinations and will be scheduled to be neutered.

Toby has his usual springtime allergies that are causing him to have a lot of skin irritation, and Snowflake goes for a checkup. I think she may have an infection.

I'll give an update on Arthur (and the other two) after we return from the vet.

TUESDAY EVENING UPDATE:

When employee, Bobby, and I arrived at the clinic with the dogs, we went in with Toby and Snowflake first, leaving New Arrival Arthur in the van, since Toby and Snow are the fellas for whom we had originally made the appointment, and I told Dorothy, the receptionist, that we also had another "new arrival" with us for a checkup too.

I know the clinic likes us to make appointments, whenever possible, but they are very used to us coming in with new arrivals at any time, with no appointment, and they are really good at "squeezing us in" as soon as possible.

Toby and Snowflake do okay

Toby's skin allergies have been getting the best of him this spring, and he needed an anti-inflammatory injection and medication. This should make the fellow feel much better now, and we'll keep our eye on his diet.

Snowflake did have an infection in an anal gland, which the doctor treated, and he sent Snow home with medication too. The doctor remarked on how GOOD Snowflake is getting along and how great she looks! He took a sample of her blood and ran the test to see how her kidneys are doing, and the results of that report show everything to be in the Normal Range!! How about that for this little old dog who was supposed to have died last December!

New Arrival Arthur's checkup

After we took Toby and Snow to the van, I took in Arthur. Dorothy's response to seeing this big fellow was the usual, "Okay, tell me about this one" and I gave her what little information I knew, then she automatically filled in all the blanks on the dog's (soon-to-be) health record, to Check for: Heartworm Test; Intestinal Bacteria exam; Intestinal Parasite exam; Complete Blood Profile, Presurgical Profile
and then to give all necessary vaccinations.

Arthur stood patiently on the lift table while the doctor examined him, taking the blood tests, listening to his heart, checking his ears and mouth and pushing gently over various parts of Arthur's body.

"This fellow has had a pretty rough life," Dr. C. remarked, adding that Arthur has an enlarged spleen and that the presurgical profile shows Arthur's white blood cell count was elevated, way above the normal range, and until we get this under control, we will have to hold off having him neutered. He'll need to go back to see the doctor in two weeks for another check on the white blood cell count.

The good news is that the heartworm test was negative, thank goodness, and Arthur was given the first treatment for the infestation of hookworms and whip worms, and was treated for fleas and ticks and had his vaccinations. He is also taking an antibiotic for infection.

Arthur is a black German Shepherd mix, about four years old, weighs 73 pounds and is a bit underweight. He is now vaccinated and will be neutered as soon as he is back to good health. Arthur's personality is that of a very gentle, lovable, affectionate dog. He is a playful, happy fellow! Arthur will make a great family pet if just given the chance.

After all the dogs' checkups, home we came with the three dogs and a bag full of medications for them.

WEDNESDAY MAY 29 2002

Employees are "dropping like flies"

With all of the employees who have been out sick lately it's been major work for the few teem members who are able to make it in, as they are having to carry the load of the full team.

Guy has been home sick for almost two weeks, and may be out for much longer with his health problem.

Several other employees have been out for days at a time with the flu or other such illness, which has caused us to be extremely short-handed. Then, to top that off, yesterday our p. m. caregiver went home in the middle of her shift because she wasn't feeling well, so Bobby (the only person left on the afternoon shift) had to do double duty in order to see that all the dogs were taken care of, and I helped out as best I could, along with interviewing another perspective employee.

It's Always Something!

THURSDAY MAY 30 2002

No time for writing an update. Too short-handed!

FRIDAY MAY 31 2002

We're so short-handed I don't have time to report much

It's mowing day, and Employee Bobby is going to have to drive me and one of the dogs (Duke) to the vet. With three employees out sick this will leave us short five people while Bobby and I are at the vet clinic.

Duke's vet visit results

Duke had his examination early this morning (to have him checked for a bladder infection), and the doctor took blood tests and a urine sample and x-rays too.

"The fellow has some problems," the doctor stated when he came back into the examining room and slid the x-rays on the lighted screen. What caught my attention were all the Dozens of little "lentil" size white dots that were scattered through out the picture that the doctor had taken of Duke's spine. The white dots were PELLETS!

"Duke had been shot, you know," the vet said. "All those white dots you see are pellets, and that must have been very painful for the fellow." In a way this was not news to me. I knew at Duke's initial examination two years ago that he had been shot with a pellet gun because the doctor noticed one pellet in his scrotum, and we could feel a little lump on his hip that the vet said was a pellet. I just thought those were the only two pellets that there were. What was shocking to me now was seeing all the pellets [buckshot] in him. The white dots were everywhere! How cruel a thing to have done to this wonderful animal!

The doctor went on to say that Duke also has a collapsed disk, hip dysplasia and arthritis along with the problems with his bladder. The results of the blood work (done to see if he has a thyroid problem) won't be back for a week.

After a lengthy explanation of what we need to do for Duke, home we came with four medications, one of which he will have to take for his entire life

When I found Black Lab Duke walking slowly along the busy highway two years ago, he had many health problems at that time, and he over came them all. Duke was successfully treated for heartworm disease, demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, a bladder infection at that time too, and several other maladies.

"Don't you worry, Duke," I told him as I gave the big fellow a hug. "We'll take good care of you-- forever."

More to come later. I need to give Julie her insulin now and Snowflake wants to go out too.

SATURDAY JUNE 1 2002

EVENING UPDATE:

No adoptions today, but everything went very well

[Full story to come in the big Sunday Update tomorrow, June 2, 2002.]