Pets Welcomed

[Polly Ticks]

I'm loving all the pet pictures!  Very stress-relieving.

Here's my two, curled up with my husband who claims to not even like them (yeah, right).

[ScottinVA]

I'm loving all the pet pictures!  Very stress-relieving.

Here's my two, curled up with my husband who claims to not even like them (yeah, right).

 :thumbsup2:

[austingirl]

OK, trying to post my first pic on TBR.  Here is Buford the coon hound!

Buford has a great smile!

[austingirl]

When we rescued Wendy, our beloved Cocker Spaniel, from the SPCA in January of 2006 (believed to be 3 years old at the time), she had no energy, couldn't run, and was beset with hair loss and elephantine gray skin.  She also tremored noticeably when drifting off to sleep.  Apparently, none of the vets who'd previously examined her managed to tie all her symptoms together to diagnose the root cause.  When we adopted her on a Saturday, we set about researching those symptoms ourselves and found that everything pointed to an underactive thyroid.  That following Monday, we brought her to the local vet who warned us her symptoms were so varied and advanced, that we may be investing time, money and emotion into a dog that may not be around for long, but we had them run the blood test anyway.  Sure enough, we hit the bullseye.  The vet called me at work and told me we were dead-on with our research, and they'd get her on Soloxine to normalize the hormone output from the thyroid immediately.  Within two weeks, she was running with energy and growing hair again. 

And here she is, still going strong at age 13!

Wonderful story. Rescues are the best.

[austingirl]

I'm loving all the pet pictures!  Very stress-relieving.

Here's my two, curled up with my husband who claims to not even like them (yeah, right).

Darling dogs.

[CSM]

A GREAT looking dog!!

Thanks ScottinVA.  He knows it and uses it to charm the ladies and get treats! 

[CSM]

When we rescued Wendy, our beloved Cocker Spaniel, from the SPCA in January of 2006 (believed to be 3 years old at the time), she had no energy, couldn't run, and was beset with hair loss and elephantine gray skin.  She also tremored noticeably when drifting off to sleep.  Apparently, none of the vets who'd previously examined her managed to tie all her symptoms together to diagnose the root cause.  When we adopted her on a Saturday, we set about researching those symptoms ourselves and found that everything pointed to an underactive thyroid.  That following Monday, we brought her to the local vet who warned us her symptoms were so varied and advanced, that we may be investing time, money and emotion into a dog that may not be around for long, but we had them run the blood test anyway.  Sure enough, we hit the bullseye.  The vet called me at work and told me we were dead-on with our research, and they'd get her on Soloxine to normalize the hormone output from the thyroid immediately.  Within two weeks, she was running with energy and growing hair again. 

And here she is, still going strong at age 13!

What a wonderful story!  You are a truly a great family for Wendy.  I'm sure she has paid you back in spades!

[CSM]

I'm loving all the pet pictures!  Very stress-relieving.

Here's my two, curled up with my husband who claims to not even like them (yeah, right).

Awww, what a great pic!  I'm sure your DH is absolutely frustrated with all that love!

[ScottinVA]

Wonderful story. Rescues are the best.

Thank you!  And yes, they certainly are!

[ScottinVA]

What a wonderful story!  You are a truly a great family for Wendy.  I'm sure she has paid you back in spades!

Thanks, she most certainly has.  She's a great family member... just sweet as can be.

[Polly Ticks]

I'm sure your DH is absolutely frustrated with all that love!

I know, right?? 

We very nearly lost Bunny (the white one on top of hubby) a number of years ago when she came down with immune mediated anemia.  We took her to our regular vet and he gave us a 5% chance of her making it thru the weekend -- which was apparently just a bit of optimism because when my husband asked, the vet admitted that they had never had one survive without more intensive treatment than what they could provide.

My husband still claims to this day that he only did it for me, but he didn't even stop to think about it before we took her to the Emergency Vet to start blood transfusions and such.  It was touch and go for awhile and she'll always be on medication to suppress her immune system, but 7 years later she's doing great and lives to snuggle and cuddle.  And my husband is right there, snuggling and cuddling with her like the rest of us!

[CSM]

Wonderful story (now, not then.) Thank you for sharing.

[austingirl]

Rocky has kidney failure secondary to the heart failure. He is still eating and drinking but is so frail it is frightening. Bought some special foods today. I am so grateful I am working at home so I don't have to leave him. He has been a loyal friend for over fifteen years. I am praying that God is merciful to him.

Rocky left this earth today. He had trouble breathing and I could not let him suffer. The vet came to the house within 45 minutes and helped him pass. I will treasure the fifteen plus years I had with my little ambassador of love.

[TheMom]

Rocky left this earth today. He had trouble breathing and I could not let him suffer. The vet came to the house within 45 minutes and helped him pass. I will treasure the fifteen plus years I had with my little ambassador of love.

Really sorry for your loss.

[austingirl]

Really sorry for your loss.

Thank you. So glad my husband and were home.

[Sanguine]

So sorry, @austingirl.   

[austingirl]

So sorry, @austingirl.

Thank you. Bobbi and Hank seem a little confused but I took them for a walk. Many days of tears ahead....

[Polly Ticks]

Rocky left this earth today. He had trouble breathing and I could not let him suffer. The vet came to the house within 45 minutes and helped him pass. I will treasure the fifteen plus years I had with my little ambassador of love.

So sorry to hear that, @austingirl
 

[austingirl]

I adopted Rocky from Wee Rescue in Austin in June of 2001. He had been on death row at the shelter when he was saved and had his picture put on Petfinders. I had lost my Westie the year before and was looking for a rescue pup.

I emailed the woman who saved him all those years ago to let her know Rocky had passed and she sent me photo she kept of him from two days after his rescue when he was cleaned up. He was so special that his rescuer kept him in her heart all these years. He was a comedian and loved to steal my shoes. I will always love him.

Thank you @Polly Ticks

[DCPatriot]

@austingirl

I've very sorry for your grief in the loss of your friend and companion.   

[austingirl]

@austingirl

I've very sorry for your grief in the loss of your friend and companion.   

Thank you @DCPatriot

[RoosGirl]

@austingirl So sorry for your loss.

[austingirl]

@austingirl So sorry for your loss.

Thank you @RoosGirl

There is a huge emptiness in our house today. I am thankful for Bobbi and Hank- I keep a dynasty of dogs running.

[RoosGirl]

I've had an odd dog week.  I raised one litter of German Shorthaired Pointers.  The "puppies" are 7 years old now.  One owner called me to tell me that while her dog sitter was at the house (she travels to various states during the week for work, flies out Monday and back home on Thursday) and exercising the dogs the dog she got from me had what appeared to be a seizure while in the pool and almost drown.  She thankfully is okay, and I am suspecting what she had was not a seizure but a form a exercise intolerance similar to what her mother developed about the same age.  But, it is still a mystery as to what really happened and not a good feeling not to know why it happened.

Another puppy owner, who bought a bitch with the intention of showing and then eventually breeding, but around 1 1/2 years old developed some weird fear issue that could never be "fixed", asked how I would feel about her being rehomed.  So, I'm not super happy about that, but the owner is busy moving on with her breeding goals and if the bitch will get a lot of wonderful attention in a new home then that is what is best.

You expect things to come up with puppies you've bred, but two in the same week is unwelcome.

[Idiot]

Thank you @RoosGirl

There is a huge emptiness in our house today. I am thankful for Bobbi and Hank- I keep a dynasty of dogs running.

I am sorry for your loss as well.  It's not like losing a member of the family....you actually do lose a member of the family. 

Take care...........

[austingirl]

@mrpotatohead

Thank you. Rocky was a great loving family member for over fifteen years-he was a blessing.

[RoosGirl]

My Jack Russell has seizures.  She was running full speed ahead headed for the doggy door and hit some slick leaves and hit head first into the concrete back porch step.  I thought she was dead and picked her up and brought her into the house.  Eventually she came to and seemed to be ok.  Since that time a couple of years ago, she'll have a seizure probably once a month.  The first time she had one I thought she had died again.....then she perks back up in 20-30 minutes and is ok.  Sure scary to see though.  They wanted to put her on meds but I have resisted since she really doesn't have them that often.  She does take pain meds for a hurt back though, when she broke her leg jumping up to play with my neighbor and one of her back legs lodged into the chain link fence. 

Expensive dog........but worth every penny.

Definitely scary.  I think you're making the right decision to not put her on meds if she is only having a small seizure every month or so.

The bitch that I kept from the litter was playing in our front yard with her brother and I was around the side of the house.  All of a sudden I heard a loud bang and her crying and running to me as I was running to see what was going on.  The best we can figure is she ran into the trailer hitch on the back of our truck, fractured her skull just behind the eye orbital and her spine in 3 places.  Amazing she lived through it and luckily she has not had any lasting damage from it.  That was about 6 years ago.  Only thing they could do for her was crate rest for 8 weeks.  She's got a divot on the top of her head that something slightly smaller than a golf ball could rest in.  Anywho, I'm sure all we crazy dog owners know the stomach sinking feeling of injuries.

[geronl]

nap time

baby bulldogs are so cute

[geronl]

I really need a new picture.



"You saw nothing!"



No pics please

[Machiavelli]

Maid of Honor Carries Family's Dying Dog Down Aisle for Couple

Nicole Pelletiere
ABC News
September 16, 2016

A maid of honor carried a bride's beloved dog down the aisle this month when the pup was too weak to meet her and the groom at the end.

More, with video

[Sanguine]

Maid of Honor Carries Family's Dying Dog Down Aisle for Couple

Nicole Pelletiere
ABC News
September 16, 2016
More, with video

That one should have a content warning!   

[austingirl]

That one should have a content warning!   

Made me cry, too. It's been 4 weeks since I lost Rocky and I cry every day. Bobbi and Hank miss him, too.

[CSM]

That one should have a content warning!   

Dam U!

 :hard crying:

[Chasaway]

Okay! Here's my running buddy, Seamus (pronounced "Shamus"...get it?).

These are from when he was about 5 weeks old to about 8 months. He's 1 1/2 years now. We live on a canal on the Gulf Coast and his absolutely favorite thing to do is go swimming; retrieving throw/training dummies.

He's well-trained in obedience and we are working on scent/tracking together.

About 5 weeks to 2 1/2 months:






About 8 months old:





Diving off of the deck

[At the beginning, he's waiting for me to send him after the dummy. I've already thrown it into the water, picked up the camera and got ready. And he wanted to go NOW!]:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4tQp9AZqGQI

[Sanguine]

Okay! Here's my running buddy, Seamus (pronounced "Shamus"...get it?).

These are from when he was about 5 weeks old to about 8 months. He's 1 1/2 years now. We live on a canal on the Gulf Coast and his absolutely favorite thing to do is go swimming; retrieving throw/training dummies.

He's well-trained in obedience and we are working on scent/tracking together.

What a cute puppy!

[CSM]

@chaseaway

What a wonderful looking dog!  My favorite breed is the Lab and the Choc is by far my favorite color!

[Chasaway]

What a cute puppy!

Thank you!

And boy, is he ever a love! Gentle, polite and smart, smart, smart!

Plus, he loves to love on us. He sleeps with us for a while, most nights.

I've had dogs all of my life, but he's special.

[Guess you can tell I'm a fan.]

[Idiot]

Thank you!

And boy, is he ever a love! Gentle, polite and smart, smart, smart!

Plus, he loves to love on us. He sleeps with us for a while, most nights.

I've had dogs all of my life, but he's special.

[Guess you can tell I'm a fan.]

Beautiful dog!  I'm a huge fan of those dogs.  My uncle had black labs and they were always so loveable.

[austingirl]

@Chasaway

Wonderful pics of your sweet dog.

[RoosGirl]

Just an FYI for you @Chasaway and anyone that may not know, dogs should not be taken on long monotonous runs  before they are at least 18 months old.  That is the age where their growth plates are closed and they won't damage their growth patterns or growing bones.  Regular dog-type running, chasing ball, squirrels, etc is of course fine.  It's the long distance with rarely a pause or change in direction or pace that can cause damage.  Also, several friends in the dock diving world tell me that there is a high injury rate with dock diving. You wouldn't think it, but things get stretched, twisted, etc and they find their dogs start getting a little hitch in their giddyup that is easily taken care of with some chiropractic or, if you ask your vet about it they probably call it "VOM" veterinary orthopedic manipulation.

[ConstitutionRose]

Made me cry, too. It's been 4 weeks since I lost Rocky and I cry every day. Bobbi and Hank miss him, too.

So sorry about Rocky.  We lost our Felco July 2015 after 15 years.  Atticus (my avatar pic) has helped fill the dog space, but I just melted into tears when I saw your post. 

[ConstitutionRose]

Just an FYI for you @Chasaway and anyone that may not know, dogs should not be taken on long monotonous runs  before they are at least 18 months old.  That is the age where their growth plates are closed and they won't damage their growth patterns or growing bones.  Regular dog-type running, chasing ball, squirrels, etc is of course fine.  It's the long distance with rarely a pause or change in direction or pace that can cause damage.  Also, several friends in the dock diving world tell me that there is a high injury rate with dock diving. You wouldn't think it, but things get stretched, twisted, etc and they find their dogs start getting a little hitch in their giddyup that is easily taken care of with some chiropractic or, if you ask your vet about it they probably call it "VOM" veterinary orthopedic manipulation.

The vet told us to treat our Great Pyre like an antique until he is at least 18 months because his bones could be easily damaged,

[austingirl]

So sorry about Rocky.  We lost our Felco July 2015 after 15 years.  Atticus (my avatar pic) has helped fill the dog space, but I just melted into tears when I saw your post.

Thank you @ConstitutionRose. Hank and Bobbi are lost without their alpha. So am I. But I treasure those 15 years and grateful for my two little terriers who remind me that we need to go for walks.

[uglybiker]

I think I've lost my kitty.
She squirted out the door a few nights ago when I was on my way to work and I haven't seen her since. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[AllThatJazzZ]

I think I've lost my kitty.
She squirted out the door a few nights ago when I was on my way to work and I haven't seen her since. 

Beautiful kitty. Is she chipped?

@uglybiker

[Vulcan]

I'm a bird man.

Ziggy, the Moluccan Cockatoo. 

She was 3 when I got her, I've had her 26 years so she's 29.

[Sanguine]

Pretty bird! 

[RoosGirl]

I had a roommate in college who had birds.  One weekend she stayed at her boyfriend's place, who lived in the same apartment complex as we did.  She had an african grey and a green amazon and frequently left them on huge perches they had built for them.  So, this weekend early morning the green started screeching its fool head off and my room was on the other side of the wall from where its perch was. I picked something up off my nightstand and threw it at the wall.  The loud bang startled the bird and it flew down off its perch.  By the time I got up and went out in the main room the bird had climbed up on to rocking chair she had and ripped as much of the fabric and foam off it as it could.  On a different occasion, roommate again was not home, the grey was down on the floor looking up at its perch walking back and forth like it wanted up there and couldn't make it.  I put my hand down and it walked over and climbed on, I put it back on its perch.  It put one foot on the perch and had one on me and reached down and bit the hand it was standing on.  So, my introduction to living with birds was not ideal.

[austingirl]

I think I've lost my kitty.
She squirted out the door a few nights ago when I was on my way to work and I haven't seen her since. 

I hope she comes home.

[austingirl]

I'm a bird man.

Ziggy, the Moluccan Cockatoo. 

She was 3 when I got her, I've had her 26 years so she's 29.

When I lived in Austin I had a friend who converted her garage into a bird room.  She had many rescue birds of all sizes. Interesting creatures.