www.Straydog.org UPDATE posted THURSDAY 1/1/04 at ~8:22 p.m. ct usa

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

THURSDAY JANUARY 1 2004

After studying the x-rays and examining the dog Dr. Wilkens said surgery is not necessary

   Email from Marsha, the rescuer:

Dear Erin:

You have probably talked to Gayle by now. We saw the doctor at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center this morning, and he said Molly does not need surgery!! Thank God! What a real blessing for all of us. Molly should have no future problems. She is eating everything in sight and I anticipate that she will be a loving, sweet pet for my friend, Bob.

I really appreciate all the effort you put forth to help me in this crisis situation. I appreciate Gayle and Jim's willingness to foot the cost of treatment had it been necessary.

I will try to do something for Tom [Straydog's new feral cat]. Hang on to him a little longer if you can. I will let you know soon.

Again, thanks for being there. As my financial situation improves, I will share the wealth with your organization. You folks are performing a service that I personally believe is a divine calling, and I want to help. Pray for me as I pray for you.

Marsha D.

The fireworks didn't end till after midnight New Year's Eve, petrifying many of the dogs

     The hospital trailer was filled to capacity with scared, panting dogs, who all looked like they were sure the world was coming to an end.

Big Boy and his kennel mate, Lisa-Lisa, reacted in a different way to the fireworks

     These two made a game out of the continuous explosions, many of which were less than a quarter mile from Straydog. Big Boy stood on the roof of his and Lisa's shelter, and barked at the booms and cracks of the fireworks. Then he'd jump down and run as fast as he could around the outside of their shelter with little, tiny Lisa in hot pursuit. Then he'd jump back up on the roof (which Lisa is too small to jump up on) and they'd both wait for the next explosion and then would repeat the drill.

An email with a suggestion for Sasha from Mary Anne

     Mary Anne, who volunteered a day here at Straydog a couple of weeks ago, sent us the following email concerning Sasha:

Bill/Erin --

I read the update on Sasha this morning. Ironically, my current foster lab is also named Sasha -- and has a serious jumping issue as well. To say she was 'out of control' when I got her three weeks ago would be appropriate. One of the other foster homes introduced me to clicker training this weekend (clickertraining.com or clickerlogic.com), and finally little Sasha is beginning to 'get it'. Instead of 100% of the time, she is jumping only 30% of the time -- in just a matter of days.

I'm certainly not a trainer by trade, but maybe that's a good suggestion for the lady who has your Sasha. Also, if she is unable to keep Golden Retriever Sasha long enough to complete training, I'm more than happy to foster her at my place. I have a huge crate (that an 80+ pound dog has sufficient room to stand and stretch in) that I could keep her in. Goldens and Labs are wonderful dogs, but unfortunately they always need training to get there -- I'm sorry her first adoption didn't work out, but it wasn't her fault....

Let me know if I can help.

Mary Anne