Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

THURSDAY August 18 2005

5:00 P.M. UPDATE

     I arrived at the hospital at 6:30 this morning in plenty of time to be there before the doctor was to arrive at seven o'clock. (He didn't arrive till 8:30.) Another doctor came in at about 7:30 and read me the MRI results: Dad had a bleed on the left side of his brain, which is why his speech has been affected. Also the right side of his body is not working well. This doctor told me that Dad would probably be in the hospital for four or five days and then would have to be in rehab for four or five months and that he most probably wouldn't be able to live alone any longer.

     I don't think Dad heard the doctor tell me these things, but he was terribly frustrated and very unhappy this morning that he couldn't just get up, put on his clothes and go home. The overnight nurse caring for Dad told me that Dad had had to be restrained during the night, because he wouldn't stop trying to get up to leave the hospital. And this morning he refused to take his pills, refused to work with the speech therapist and wasn't very cooperative with the physical therapists, who got him up in a sitting position at the side of the bed and then got him to stand with their help.

     This is not going to be easy.

     My older brother, Pete, arrived at the hospital at about 10:00, and our younger brother, Tom, is flying in from New York this afternoon. I left Pete with Dad at noon to come over to Dad's house, where I'm writing this update.

From: Kathi McGee

To: straydog147@yahoo.com

Subject: Dad

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 20:28

Dear Bill-

I just read about your dad and wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. I sincerely hope he makes a quick recovery and will be anxious to keep up with him on your update. I know it's stressful when a parent falls ill and my thoughts are with you. I'm in Dallas, not far at all from Richardson, and if there is anything I can do on this end, please do not hesitate to let me know...

Also, I wanted to respond to your no-kill email. I suppose what the person said is true. However, to insinuate that you are somehow doing something wrong is ludicrous. Ramona's mom, Jamie put it so eloquently--you are simply doing your part to try to curb overpopulation and you and your staff are doing that in a loving, responsible, whole-hearted manner. I don't know what the answer is to the open door/no-kill shelter subject, I can see both sides of the matter, but don't, for one second, let anyone ever downplay what you are doing at Straydog. As far as I'm concerned, you are both at times, whether you have a say in it or not. Look at poor Skynard. You couldn't turn him away and that says volumes about where your hearts are.
Again, please let me know if I can be of any help regarding your Dad. I'll be out of town this weekend, but will be back Monday and like I said, I'm not far from Richardson at all.

Sincerely,

Kathi

Thanks, Kathi!

From: Carol Lyons

To: straydog147@yahoo.com

Subject: Mr. Arnold's Dad

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 19:04

Mr. Arnold, please know that many of us are praying for you, your brother and your dad. My husband and I have had three different folks in nursing homes and one cared for in her home but bed ridden. We are very familiar with the problems that the elderly face. We've been members of an advocacy group for people in nursing homes for 14 years. It sure sounds like your dad had a stroke all right. The MRI should give you a much more complete picture. I know that he is very frustrated right now. I'm sure having his two sons there helps tremendously. Don't forget to take care of yourself too.

Sincerely,

Carol Lyons

Thanks, Carol--and please call me Bill!

Subject: Your Dad

Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:03

From: Bollinger, Pam

To: straydog147@yahoo.com

Bill,

Just a note to say how sorry I was to hear about your Dad. I hope therapy will help him recover some communication and physical functions. Due to Gary's family history, I always ask him to carry aspirin with him and to take one if he feels any sign of a stroke or heart attack and then to seek medical attention. (I don't know if he really listens to me, though!)

I wanted to add a comment about adopting "older and unwanted" dogs.  Just like Vanessa, Mandy's mom, I think it is very rewarding to adopt older dogs. I wondered if Dallas (a dog Pam and Gary adopted from Straydog several years ago) would adapt to being inside after living outside for so long and quickly realized how stupid that was!  I believe that all of the dogs who have been raised outside are already house-trained ­ that is all they have ever known!  Dallas has never had an accident in the house, and I believe it is because he knows to go outside ­ he never had to be trained. They also understand many words and when I tell them to go out and go "potty" they know what I mean. Can you believe that Mags is 9 and Dallas is 11 years old already?  Time goes so fast!

In response to the e-mail about "no kill" shelters - I feel like Jamie does, that all animal lovers are responsible for playing a role in making a change and that we have made progress (with a long way to go). I try to encourage anyone thinking of getting an animal to adopt one from a shelter, to support rescue organizations, to spay /neuter, to pick up strays and get them cared for, etc. All of you at Straydog make a huge difference, and there is absolutely no way that you can save every dog and cat that needs help. Sometimes we must focus on our successes rather than on what has not been accomplished!  Again, thanks to all of you.

Pam

Thanks for the kind message, Pam!

Erin reports ...

     Angie Manriquez called me this afternoon and told me that Jessie Evans, fellow rescuer (whom we met over the
phone last summer when she called us asking for help in adopting out her animals) has had a heart attack. Jessie had angioplasic surgery and will be released from the hospital today or tomorrow.

     We need help very quickly now in finding foster or permanent homes for her ten dogs and ten inside kitties. Angie thought that some of the dogs won't make it past the SPCA guidelines of keeping a dog alive for a period of time, because the dogs have only known Jessie and wouldn't be quickly 'adoptable' because of their timidity with a new situation.

     Our rescuer friend, Angie (who is still recovering from her bout with bone infection), also said that so far there may be a foster home for possibly three of the cats but none of the dogs.

     When I picked up the calico kittens today at the clinic I told the young receptionist/tech of the crisis that rescuer Jessie is in now, and she said that she could let people know. I wrote the clinic employee the details, and as we talked further she thought that maybe SHE could foster one or two of the dogs! "My two dogs are friendly," the clinic employee said. "I'll talk to my husband."

     Perhaps our volunteers and friends could let the vet clinics and pet stores in their areas know about this (with a flyer or just by talking to them). Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of Jessie's charges could be saved. This will have to happen very, very soon.

     Angie thought that if there were volunteers to help Jessie (whose home/shelter is in Oak Cliff) care for the dogs and clean up after the cats, as Jessie is very frail, we could offer this to Jessie right away. Please write to our email address straydog147@yahoo.com with ideas or help with this situation! Thank you.