Not a second of sleep last night, poor dude can't handle life anymore. I don't know what else they could try. There's a list of reasons he's been at the shelter for over a year with nobody showing interest. Poor guys days are numbered.
Fuck. That breaks my heart. You are a good dude for trying. Fuck the people that had a hand in making him this way.
Said goodbye to my Husky earlier today. His stomach twisted up a month ago and he had two surgeries to fix it. It twisted up again today and we decided not to put him through a 3rd one since he was 13 and had a nightmarish recovery the last time around. Gonna miss this guy my kids don’t remember a time when he wasn’t around.
Handsome boy. So sorry man. Facing a similar situation. My 17 yo iggy is having significant gastro issues. I’m hoping the antibiotic she’s taking clears up the issue, but she’s also basically blind and deaf at this point…it’s been a lot of sleepless/low sleep nights lately caring for her but I’m just not ready to give up on her yet. Worried I’m getting to the point that it’s less about her and more about me. She’s my first dog… I got her at a really tough time in my life after both my folks passed. I’m praying it’s a clear cut decision one way or the other but I’m told it rarely is… This is my Penny girl.
Question for those who have had to make the difficult decision to say good bye: How much did you factor your own quality of life into the equation? Our vet and my wife have suggested that it needs to be considered, but my personal view to this point has been to not consider it. But after a couple days of little to no sleep and more watery poops than I care to recall, I found myself frustrated with Penny. I pretty quickly realized that I was an asshole for doing that, but the emotional and physical toll is starting to get to me. If this is her new normal, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It feels wrong and selfish to even think about my own needs while she’s struggling the way she is, but at the same time I don’t ever want to feel frustrated or mad at her the way I did. Anyone else deal with this issue?
It does factor some. The wife and I had to pretty much be home most of the day while he was recovering from his second surgery. It was like having a new born. Ultimately I just couldn’t put him through a third surgery knowing the outcome likely wouldn’t be good.
It's tough, sorry for what you're going through. I don't think a lot of people will want to touch this subject as everyone's situation is different and fear of swaying ones decision on the matter of their best friend.
Thanks. Yea, that makes sense. I posted after a fourth night straight of very little sleep, but I’m happy to report that Penny has shown some improvement today. Appreciate any positive vibes you guys send her way.
We did some nose work at the shelter today. It's basically puzzles varying in degree of difficulty, solve the puzzle and find the treats. Gives the dogs something to focus on and makes them do a little thinking which doesn't happen often in the shelter environment. Jada (She was returned today, turned out to be a bit much for the people that adopted her) MJ (Re-named Mickey. Was adopted today right before closing but I have to wonder if they know what they're in for) Jack (Seems to always be on his best behavior around me, I hear things but I just don't believe it)
We're about to get a bunch of fresh faces in a few days as not everyone likes fireworks. June 30 to July 2 we celebrate National Adoption Week, every dog or cat over 2 years old is $25.00. I imagine it takes place this time of year to free up space for all the newcomers we're about to see. Speaking of newcomers we got a great batch of pups this past week, some have been flown in with the help of non-profit Dog Is My CoPilot. I'm going to track their time here at the shelter, note any behavior changes or if they bounce around from pod to pod for any reason. Upon their arrival the behavior team assigns them a color. Green: Friendliest of dogs, any volunteers can work with the green dogs. Yellow: This is where you'll find your pullers and excitable dogs. Red: Reds are where the problems start. Really rambunctious hard to handle dogs, or shy and fearful which is where you'll be at your greatest risk of being bit. A dogs body language is really important here. Blue: These dogs are very high stressed, reactive, aggressive or fearful. It's important they get to know who is handling them so only a few dozen people with the right training work with blue dogs. This is Echo. Echo came to us from Texas. He's listed as a boxer but lets be real. Color: Yellow ADOPTED Meet Cookie. Gonna be honest, Cookie is a bit of a bitch. She's already growled at me multiple times. It could be a guy thing, might just be a me thing. She seems fine with the other volunteers who are mostly women. Color: Yellow This is Geraldo from Utah. He's my favorite out of the new batch, total stud. He and I were out for a stroll when we were stopped for this photo. I should have cleared his eye boogers first. Boy is smart like most Border Collies, even with the $550.00 price tag I don't see him lasting too long. Color: Blue Here we have Milk. Milk is very nervous right now, hopefully he can adjust or gets adopted quickly. Color: Blue Mango is a 6 year old mixed breed dog who wants nothing to do with this shelter bullshit. He's already showing signs of not wanting to re-kennel. Color: Red Sweet Georgie checking in. She was a bit fearful to start but quickly adjusting and learning the ropes. Color: Yellow Leif here DGAF. Everything about the shelter is awesome to Leif and he's pumped to be around so many people. If you've got the time he's got the energy. Color: Yellow Adopted 7/1/2023 Gumball weighing in at nearly 100lbs. Gets pretty pissed off even being in the larger roomy kennel and is determined to break the metal guillotine door. Color: Red ADOPTED Penny will do what she has to in order to stand out. Sweet little girl. Small docile dogs never last long, elderly community loves the companionship. Color: Green Seltzer here is ready to point out everything you need to know. First day at the shelter was a little nerve-racking but I have no doubt he'll get his poop in a group. Color: Yellow ADOPTED Bear plays a bit rough, otherwise he's about as happy-go-lucky as it gets. Color: Blue
Now that I have a dog I now have a similar hatred for fireworks like the rest of you. My little guy is freaking out and I wanna kill all these mother fuckers.
Yeah it started slowly a couple nights ago but tonight it was full go, my poor pups are so scared... well, Meg (the Dorgi) doesn't care and our foster Taco doesn't either, but the other two are beside themselves.
Just found out this week that my mom has terminal cancer, and my sister and I agree that my dad will need a dog to help him fill the void when she is gone. He hasn't had one since my dog that I grew up with passed in 1998. So we're slowly starting the process of looking for one for him, feels good to be doing something that I know will help him so much, despite the terrible circumstances
Groot’s coat is looking extra lovely after I put his conditioner on. I need to get him a brush. Anyone have any recommendations?
Our dog was staying at my in-laws around the 4th a few years ago and some of their neighbors set some off. Scared the shit out of him and he managed to escape the yard. He was missing for a day. Luckily he followed a nice lady home and was well taken care of but ever since I have become team anti-fireworks. Never really cared for them anyway.
If he's a fan of firm back scratches get one of those metal bristles brushes. Better yet I think they make two sided dog brushes, metal one side and plastic pins on the other.
When we rescued him he had a tumor on his leg. We brought him home from surgery and it was a full moon. He was high on the pain meds and started howling at the moon. My youngest told my wife that he couldn’t believe she brought a wolf home The kids called him Woofie after that. His name was Aksel but he responded to his nickname too.
Mine use to love it. Maybe go ball bristle hard plastic brush. I just know those soft bristled brushes would piss my dog off like it was nothing but a tease.
May have mentioned this previously, wife works at the SFSPCA. Their leadership team was invited to volunteer at a shelter in Laramie county- for those unfamiliar, as I was, it’s a rural county in the valley here in CA. Very red in terms of politics. They needed volunteers because they are perpetually understaffed. They taught her how to do sterile resources and remove breathing tubes. After 4 days out there, she came home last night in tears. The level of neglect can’t be described as anything other than inhumane. She also learned that for the first time, the shelter is putting puppies on the euthanasia list. The same people who abandon their elderly sick dog at the shelter are the same ones that espouse traditional family values and call places like SF shitholes. But their shelters have drastically higher kill rates and they rely on folks from places like SF to volunteer n their communities. Fuck rural America and anyone who doesn’t spay or neuter their animals.
It’s been about 8 months since we found out paisley had anal gland cancer. Her radiation therapy worked surprisingly well. It’s not gone but it’s smaller. There’s no telling what might happen and if it starts growing again but in the meantime…
Started adding veggies to Groot and Flash’s kibble Groot eats it all. Today was broccoli and red cabbage. Flash amazingly moves the veggies out the way and only eats the kibble. I think she might accidentally eat some vegetable. I feed them salmon dog food (fish is the first 3 ingredients) so I’m wondering if adding salmon oil is overkill.
When I first got my dog she would have diarrhea issues so the vet suggested putting green beans with her kibble to help her digestive system. She usually inhales her food but carefully avoided touching any green bean. This is from the same creature that considers cat poop a delicacy
Groot is a weird being. He loves Green beans but his personal shame is that I can’t leave a liter box unattended lol.
- Gumball leveled up to Blue, has been too difficult for some to control. Both times I've taken him out he's behaved just fine, fixates on other dogs but doesn't react. He must size up his walker before hitting the trail. - Little Penny has been returned. - Seltzer was adopted yesterday. So that's two out of the 11 gone the first week with the third returned. Somehow the goodest boy of the bunch Geraldo still remains.
Geraldo and Gumball - boom, gone! 29 pets adopted today, 7 dogs and a shit ton of cats. I think there was a rabbit in there too.
Watched that Hot Ones episode of Lewis Capaldi and they were talking about his latest video. Dude is a real son of a bitch for making this but damn dogs are awesome.