Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

MONDAY MAY 3 2004

Rocky's going into surgery at about 12:30 p.m.

     Dr. Reeves just called and said he must operate now. Rocky's no longer responding to the other therapies, and we can only hope it's the spleen and that after removing it Rocky will start to get better. We'll know the outcome in a couple of hours, and I'll do a special update then.

     Everyone please pray for Rocky!

6:20 P.M. UPDATE

     Dr. Reeves said the spleen looked abnormal so he removed it and has sent it off to the lab. The doctor saw nothing else wrong inside Rocky, who is now sleeping well and seems to be doing okay. We should have the report from the lab tomorrow. Let us keep praying for the old fellow's complete recovery.

No adoptions at our Special Sunday Edition of "Saturday Adoption Day"

     It was a very slow day Sunday at Petsmart. On a good note, Puppy Holly (who was attending Adoption Day) got invited to participate in the PetsMart Puppy Training Class. Trainer Kristi had worked with Holly a little bit before at other Adoption Days. This was the first class in a series of eight classes. The goals the trainers have are for the pups to become socialized and to begin learning commands. In the beginning, during the socialization period, Kristi stayed very close to Holly, as there were two little 14-week old Boston Terriers who came over to sniff Holly, and Holly was fearful of them, which caused her to snip at them. Kristi had her water bottle ready to counteract the fearful behavior. "She needs lots more of this type of socialization," Kristi said. Finally Holly came out of the corner and began to play with the toys in the training area. "Let's just let her do this for awhile. Just being in the same area as the other dogs will be good for her," Kristi said. When it came time for getting treats, Holly remembered very well how to "Sit." "She's very smart," Kristi said. "You could bring Holly every other time to Puppy Training and still have a very nicely trained dog, because she's so smart!"

     The PetsMart store manager thanked us for coming out at last minutes' notice, and we thank our wonderful volunteers for giving up much of their Sunday to help us try again to find good homes for our doggies!

Email regarding Rocky's visit to Dr. Maris at Shelley Drive Animal Clinic

Hello Mr. Arnold [Please call me Bill]

Just noticed that you took Rocky to Shelley Drive Animal Clinic in Tyler yesterday [Friday]. Wanted to let you know that Dr. Maris has been my vet for many years, and he is an excellent vet. I hope you got to see him and that you had a good experience with him. I'm not sure what Rocky's diagnosis is but I certainly hope he is able to improve. Bless you for all that you guys do.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Kelly

Response from Bill: I sure did get to see Dr. Maris, Carolyn, and he did a thorough job with the x-rays, sonogram and aspiration of cells from Rocky's spleen. I've just finished processing the photos I took at Shelley Road Animal Clinic last Friday, and here they are:

Another email regarding Rocky from our wonderful volunteer, Dr. Murray

Dear Bill and Rocky -

I am sending prayers up to you for angels to take care of you. May St. Francis, patron saint of dogs and all who love them, watch over you and bring you comfort and strength.

Love,

Consuelo

Response from Bill: Thank you so much, Consuelo. This is very difficult. I feel like I felt on the couple of occasions more than 40 years ago when our kids were little and got very sick and had to go to the hospital.

Another email regarding Rocky

Thanks for the update on Rocky. Will be praying HARD for all of you. - Carol Lyons

An email from Candy and Tommy Tootles regarding the Kroger Share Cards

Message from Candy & Tommy Tootles,

We are still loving our forever home with David & Betty.

Our "Uncle Mike" Got a share card from you a few weeks ago and has been using it.

Please tell everyone about the share cards again so lots of people can donate to Straydog by just grocery shopping and using their card to help all the others who haven't got a forever home yet.

Best regards,

Tommy Tootles
Candy (the not so shy one anymore)

An email from Renate updating us on Sam and Baxter, Ann Story's dogs

Erin,

I cannot believe I forgot to tell you yesterday at Petsmart that Ann Story came to visit her dogs. Joyce said Ann just called out of the blue Friday afternoon and said she was visiting her grandchildren who live in Wylie (only 20 minutes from Joyce's) and she wanted to come by. Apparently it was quite a tearful reunion between dogs and owner. Sam and Baxter were very, very happy to see Ann, and she played with them for a long time. Of course they were sad when she had to leave. Ann promised to come by more often (I think it will be easier now after that first visit). Ann is coming along in her job training program and is looking forward to getting back on her feet again so she can "reclaim" her beloved dogs. Joyce was impressed with Ann's knowledge of dogs and dog behavior, especially when Ann was able to just walk up to Joyce's big German Shepherd, who intimidates people just with his size, and got him to lick her hand while she petted him. Joyce and I are keeping our fingers crossed for Ann and hope everything continues come along as well as it has been.

Renate

Email from last week from Adoption Day volunteer, Pat Seward, regarding Jordan

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:36:36 EDT
Subject: Jordan's New Family - Great News
To: straydog@straydog.org

Hi, Erin
Talked to Al Schiller (Jordan's new dad), and he said everything is wonderful!! He said his two oldest sons have really bonded the most with Jordan. Saturday, the first night Jordan was in their home, Al said he put the big wire crate in his oldest son's room and put Jordan to sleep in there. But in the morning, guess where Jordan was: sleeping on the bed with Al's son, and he has been every night since then!!! (But, we're not really surprised at that, are we?) Al said all his kids love Jordan, even his three-year-old girl, who was somewhat hesitant and was shy of Jordan at first. All the kids love playing with Jordan and throwing the frisbees and toys for him. And Jordan has not had an accident in the home and is enjoying the days in his back yard. When I told Al I had found him an Igloo doghouse, he was so appreciative of all the things Straydog has done for him. Al could not be happier as Jordan has such a laid back personality, which is a perfect match for his small children. Al said Jordan's tail has not stopped wagging. I think Jordan is already
spoiled.

Larry Powell did not mention the Al Schiller family by name as I did not mention their name in my email to him. Just told him I was a volunteer with Straydog Inc. and knew a family (a single father with five kids all under nine years old) who had just adopted a Lab from Straydog and that they needed a doghouse. It is
just amazing the networking that goes on between animal lovers on the Internet. Ask and you shall receive. Larry Powell and his wife are a powerful force in animal rescue, and I am most appreciative to him that he took the time to "publish" my email to him on his Pet Blog and in doing that, he found a doghouse for Jordan. I'm sure you know this already, but Larry's Pet Blog can be reached by going to www.dallasnews.com and looking under Pets. See you Saturday for Adoption Day!

Pat S.

Email from Larry Powel (of The Dallas Morning News) to Pat Seward

Hey, Pat,

A friend of mine read your request on the pet blog at www.dallasnews.com and says she has a doghouse she'll give you. It was originally intended for her Lab, but he never slept a night in it (preferring the human bed!) ... The dog was diagnosed with a fatal cancer yesterday and, Kelly says, he has about six weeks. ... She's a pretty swell person and she wants to make sure that her dog is comfortable and loved and that other dogs are comfortable and loved too. And, understandably, she's upset, but even in this state she's willing to help other people. Tell her I sent you.

Larry Powel