Loving my Oldies

I thought I’d show three pix which show Sooty’s progression. I’ve said before that when she came here on 6 January 2019, her ears were bald and covered in scratches because the ghastly excuse for a carer allowed her other dogs to drag Sooty around by her ears and thought it was funny. So here we go: 14 January 2019. Hair overhanging ears is greasy because I was applying Vit E cream daily: Version 2 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr 9 March 2019 - I’ve posted this before, but looking good: IMG_1028 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr 25 May 2019, this morning showing Poodle curls starting to form: 551BBA87-7D05-4F97-B779-81F3909BAE54 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

We are nearly there. Only $1,112 to go !!! Oh boy, this is now seriously happening.

@asal, an ethical rescuer does not rehome dogs undesexed.

But you were referred to an excellent, knowledgable and long term rescue and rehome person and said, nope you were going it alone. You did ask for help and you were given it, particularly about the dangers of selling undesexed dogs, and again particularly, “fashionable” dogs.

We have passed the 2/3rds mark !!!

I read through all your responses: @tdierikx, @Boronia, @Scratch @JulesP . Such lovely caring words of comfort, explanations and advice. I agree with you all, but would have had difficulty expressing myself so. Warm wishes to you and your beloved boy @Darkstar at this sad and difficult time.

How terrifying and tragic.

Rehoming undesexed dogs (unless they are old and compromised healthwise) is NEVER the best option. Rehoming undesexed fashionable breeds is virtually assuring more “unplanned litters” ..... and that is saying it kindly.

We haven’t had many donations, but those we have had have been substantial and so we have actually passed the halfway mark. Very exciting. On the other hand, when I think of dear little Sooty having such an enormous operation and wondering what they hell is happening to her (she is blind, remember), I get very very emotional. I think I’ll have to claim a parent's right and sleep beside her at the hospital.

I echo this 1,000%.

Please don’t surrender them to a shelter aka pound. They will not be desexed, homes will not be checked, the pound will sell to the first person who comes along. Try to get a REPUTABLE rescue group involved (don’t go anywhere near PetRescue - they are simply a website not a physical rescue group). There is a DOLer here called @yellowgirl who knows the rescue world in SA very well and could well be able to advise you. I have messaged her asking her to come into this thread so see how she could help. Perhaps you could message her, too, @Flick71.

For shame on them @John WLOL .... Alien was 1979. (I had to google it. I knew it was a long time ago, but couldn’t recall when. I am not a sci-fi fan, but even I’ve seen Alien, so it is hard to comprehend )

He sure has @PANDI-GIRL. The vet demanded he go on a diet and we have been successful - down to just over 5 kilos at last weight in. He needs to lose perhaps another 500grams. He is adorable. His nose was and still is a bit a bit out of joint with all the attention Sooty gets because she needs to carried up and down the stairs and I can see him looking at me as if to say, “TRAITOR!” I try to make it up to him which is not hard to do.

Thanks @PANDI-GIRL. She seems back to normal (no #2 yet) but a good breakfast and then a little bowl of broth and nutrigel. The mix that seems most successful for them all is a combination of human grade beef mince, dog food steak mince from Woollies and some steamed rice. My grocery bills are horrendous LOL. For those interested who might be having difficulties in feeding and giving meds( @mita), I have run out of home made bone broth and have been making up a little bit of vegetable stock to mix in with the nutrigel and moisten their food and the dogs really seem to like it. Even Jeune ate a good breakfast and last night she wanted more of the same - unheard of.

I know; I wish I knew who it was so I could thank them personally. I’ve had a few people email me with pledges and some people want to send cheques, so we are inching towards a reasonable sum. I’ll be surprised if we raise the whole amount, but every little helps. The most likely way of getting donations is to get the GoFundMe page in front of people. I’m pretty sure hobbling around on three legs is exhausting Sooty and this morning she was off colour with very sloppy #2s, didn’t want anything to eat, and also a little throw up which, I am pretty sure, is the first time. However, she was leaping around like a spring lamb when I came home from shopping late afternoon and wolfed down her dinner in the evening. She has been losing weight too which is really upsetting me, so I’ve started giving her Nutrigel again. She has to be in top notch condition for the op.

OMG OMG OMG!! Someone has put in $1,000. They have opted for anonymous. They probably couldn’t bear the thought of my throwing my arms around them and hugging them to death

This is very upsetting. If councils/council rangers did their jobs properly, you would be able to report, someone would come to assess the situation and, in this case, the dog would be banned from the park. Off leash dog parks seems to me to be a microcosm of life: the many pay for the crimes of all sorts (from the heinous to the plain nasty) of the few.

A GoFundMe page has been started to raise funds for Sooty’s surgery. If DOLers can donate and/or share the page I would be eternally grateful. Love this little girl to bits and it is heartbreaking to see her struggling. Many thanks. https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-sooty

A GoFundMe page has been started for Sooty as we really need to get her leg operated upon. It is heartbreaking to see her struggling around on three legs. If DOLers can help by donating and/or sharing the page, I would be eternally grateful. The more it is shared the more hope we can have of raising the funds. Thank you all so much. https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-sooty

Nice to see you @Jed I read back through the thread and saw my comment about Mezza now having a Pom tail instead of a rat’s tail. It is now so full that I constantly stand on it when I go to pick him up. I generally pick them up from behind so I can support their little bodies. His tail is so long it trails alongs the ground. I can’t believe the posts about his hair growing back. I had to have him all clippered off this summer past and it is still so thick. Jed, considering it is 20 years since compulsory microchipping was legislated in NSW and dogs are still coming in not m/chipped and out of date m/chips, I think a lot of people just don’t care.

Find a reputable rescue group (contact Denise at PAWS for starters) and rehome him. An apartment is not suitable for a young active dog unless taken out several times a day. You’ll have bugger all chance of toilet training him if you are gone from 7-4pm. No life for a dog.

Amazing, Powerlegs. I no longer have the contacts, but when I worked I was able to get goodies from all sorts of places for the raffles I organised for Burwood Pound and PAWS. Long time ago, though. The rescue people are organising a GoFundMe page but since I’ve been begging them to start one for a couple of months now, I am losing heart.

So if anyone has any ideas on how to raise the money, I’d be grateful for input.

Sooty definitely needs an operation; the surgeon is not sure which way it will go until the operation actually starts. She never puts her leg down now and it is very upsetting tp see her struggling to get around . Depending on the extent of the operation, it will cost between $4,000-$6,000. As this needs to be done prior to any discussion of cataract surgery, it is breaking my heart to realise that she will probably never have any sight back, because that would be an additional $5,500 .

Eugene Buffa is the O/surgeon we are consulting.