Nanci
Alien Lover
So, most of you know I have a pit bull mix, Bella, who I adopted in December, 2008. She was an adult dog, dumped at the pound with a litter of eight pups, a week old. She was skeletal, and had heartworm disease. A rescue pulled the whole family and the pups were raised and adopted. Bella remained at the rescue until I went looking for a dog. I told the guy that I wanted an adult dog, house-trained, crate-trained, who didn't bark or chew. He said, "That's impossible! Here, look at this one." Bella was pretty plain, and very quiet, and unwilling to make eye contact, and didn't even know how to play with toys. But she blossomed and became a perfect dog. Bella went nearly everywhere with me. Many of my friends here know her. She even went on my first date with Rich- and immediately won his heart.
Then in October, this year, Bella was diagnosed with bone cancer. After further testing, we learned it had spread to her lungs. Her prognosis was grim. I didn't know if I should just put her to sleep right then, or take her home for one more good weekend, as the vet said. I was heartbroken. I hoped that she would make it long enough for one last trip up to Ohio to see her love, Rich. The vet said I would know when it was time to let her go. She would lose her appetite, not sleep through the night, and stop interacting with people. The bone tumor wouldn't spread to other bones, but it would eventually cause her leg to break. I decided to take Bella home and take things one day at a time. The bone tumor was very scary- it grew visibly every day. Bella didn't seem to care at all. She stayed happy and for all intents and purposes, healthy.
I thought- I can't bear the sadness of losing her. I am never going to get another dog. That lasted about one day
So I was just looking, just looking! at ads for adoptable pit bulls around my area, just to see who was out there. Just in case.
So I'm paging through Petfinder, and saw one little black doggy who was the most adorable thing ever. And she had her own Facebook page, with more cute photos! And she was featured as a StubbyDog Rescue Dog of the Week!
I think one of the scariest things about adopting a dog is, they are such an unknown quantity. But Ella had been in foster care since June. As told in her story on StubbyDog "Ella was found on the street on June 11 in Gainesville, Florida. She had multiple puncture wounds on her neck and chest. A nice person took her to a veterinary hospital, and from there she was taken to Alachua County Animal Services.
Since the shelter was very full, there was no room for her to stay there while she was recovering from her wounds. She was placed on the euthanasia list for June 15, when her three-day stray hold was up.
After all this dog had been through, all she wanted was to shower love on the people she met. At the shelter, she gave kisses and charmed shelter staff, who looked hard for a rescue group to pull her. Normally we do not take in a dog unless we have a foster home lined up, but for Ella we went out on a limb. (That underbite was killing us!) We put Ella in boarding for her first week. Of course, the owner of our very rescue-friendly kennel also fell in love with her. For a funny-looking gremlin, she is quite a seductress. She has lived in two temporary foster homes – the first a small apartment and the second a home with two small children. She really loves children and is very good with them. Both foster families kept her past their original commitment because she is so easy to have around."
Then Ella went to live with Hillary Kladke, professional pet photographer extraordinaire, her final foster home. Hilary took Ella to training classes, Ella went to adoption events every weekend, and yet no one took her home! When I asked how such an adorable dog was still available I was told because she has three strikes against her: black, adult, pit bull. Well, two of the three were exactly what I was looking for!
I went to visit Ella at an adoption event. There were lots and lots of pit bulls there, each sweeter than the next. It was so emotional for me. All I could think about was my perfect Bella, not long for this world. Which dog could possibly replace her? It didn't matter anyway, everyone knows it's difficult to introduce two adult pit bulls, especially of the same sex. So I'd have to wait, or would I? A helpful volunteer sat with me as I cried and related Bella's sad circumstances. I said I wasn't ready to take a dog home today. Sharon asked, had I considered a two dog family? No, I had not. Bella had never been good with other dogs. In honesty, I'd actually never worked hard on that. Pit bulls aren't the doggy daycare, dog park type of dog. It's just asking for trouble, and no matter who starts the trouble, the pit bull gets the blame, and the breed already has so much negative publicity.
The seed was planted, though. Ella's face wouldn't leave my mind. And she'd plopped herself down in my lap at the adoption event like she belonged there. I asked if Bella could meet her. So I took Bella off to a park to meet Ella. Ella was thrilled and displayed her excitement by lunging and barking shrilly. Not a good first impression! We progressed to walking the dogs near each other, and Bella tolerated Ella's presence as long as Ella couldn't make contact. I thought some more, and took Bella on another walking date with Ella at a state park. This was what I thought was Bella's last normal day. Her leg had become virtually useless because of the tumor, and hiking or even walking for fun was out of the question.
I'd been gathering items needed for a second dog- a crate, beds, toys. Rich was to visit over Thanksgiving, and since we'd barely be at home, I didn't want to bring Ella home only to leave her crated for hours. Again, Sharon was supportive and offered to bring Ella for an overnight visit on any day we chose. I think she was worried that if I waited for there to be a perfect time, there would never be a perfect time. Really, she had nothing to worry about! My truck threw a wrench in the works, though, by dying while Rich and I were down in Orlando. So our fun Friday turned very stressful very quickly, and the Saturday that Ella was supposed to arrive turned into a day of trying to get my truck patched together. Still, Sharon delivered Ella, and I discovered fleas, and Rich had to go to Sharon's and pick up flea killer, and Ella had to have a bath! Finally everything was set and Rich and I walked the girls around the yard. Bella was happy to see her friend.
We noticed that Bella's leg was even more floppy than usual. What I thought was nerve damage from the tumor was actually combined with a fracture. Now what...During Ella's trial week, after slowly letting Bella get used to Ella's presence, in her crate, behind a gate, finally the girls were allowed to meet face to face. Ella and Bella wanted to play. The rules were, everyone stays laying down- we don't want to hurt Bella's leg even more. (Bella was on a couple different drugs for pain control, and had never made a whimper to tell me she was in pain- in fact, was still racing wildly around the house until asked to STOP!!) Ella was careful of her ailing friend, and Bella would take Ella's entire head in her mouth, gently! I couldn't be happier about how things were going, and decided to adopt Ella.
But then disaster struck. I'd called the vet Monday, because Bella wasn't going to drop dead any time soon, and her broken leg was a liability, and the tumor was getting huge. I made an appointment to bring her in for evaluation Tuesday. When I got home Monday, the tumor had opened up, and was obviously necrotic. I knew the leg had to go. Bella's leg was splinted Tuesday at the vet, and we made plans for the amputation surgery on Thursday. Bella came home with her leg splinted and had her best laying-down wrestling match with Ella yet! I asked for an estimate for the surgery, and Dr. Pat said he would have it ready on Thursday. Dillbird my pigeon had had two surgeries, an amputation and a laser tumor removal, and both were right around $300. I thought how bad could it be? $500?? $700?? At worst, $1000?? It didn't matter, there was no choice.
I dropped Bella off yesterday morning and waited for the call. Dr. Pat called around 1:30 PM and said the surgery had gone well, and Bella would be ready to go home at 5:30. When I arrived, I got the bill. $2358, OMG!! My vet kindly knocked $1000 off the cost of the three hour surgery. I'd taken out a loan when Bella was diagnosed, to pay for the initial diagnostic testing, and whatever would follow. I felt prepared, but then my truck ate up nearly all of the loan in repairs. Fortunately, I had a little bit left from the loan, and I'd made a snake sale Sunday, and a dear friend here sent a gift and asked others to as well. (I love you guys!!!) The remaining balance is bad, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Only a couple friends dared to bring up the question of would Bella be around long enough to warrant such an expense, which would do nothing to slow the eventual outcome.
When Bella came walking out on three legs, all naked and with this big, awful surgical wound, I just started crying. I knew she was okay, and would soon be running around with her sister Ella, which, without the amputation, would never have happened. Wow- it's still so shocking, though. She was just dopey, not in pain, tail wagging as usual. I took her home and settled her in bed for the night. Bella felt well enough this morning to eat breakfast, and she gets around okay out in the yard to potty. I look forward to only a few days from now, when she will be able to play with her new sister like a normal dog. I'd lost hope of her ever making a trip up to see Rich again, because the tumor and the broken leg and everything seemed so hopeless, but I'm certain now that she will be around for maybe a month or two, hopefully longer if I am really lucky.
Here's a photo I took of me and Bella for Animal Farm Foundation's I Am The Majority campaign, which wants to tell the public that MOST pit bulls are just normal dogs in normal families with normal people.
Anyway- that's the latest. I'm excited about the new dog, Ella, and hopeful about Bella, for the time being.
Thanks for looking!
Then in October, this year, Bella was diagnosed with bone cancer. After further testing, we learned it had spread to her lungs. Her prognosis was grim. I didn't know if I should just put her to sleep right then, or take her home for one more good weekend, as the vet said. I was heartbroken. I hoped that she would make it long enough for one last trip up to Ohio to see her love, Rich. The vet said I would know when it was time to let her go. She would lose her appetite, not sleep through the night, and stop interacting with people. The bone tumor wouldn't spread to other bones, but it would eventually cause her leg to break. I decided to take Bella home and take things one day at a time. The bone tumor was very scary- it grew visibly every day. Bella didn't seem to care at all. She stayed happy and for all intents and purposes, healthy.
I thought- I can't bear the sadness of losing her. I am never going to get another dog. That lasted about one day
So I was just looking, just looking! at ads for adoptable pit bulls around my area, just to see who was out there. Just in case. So I'm paging through Petfinder, and saw one little black doggy who was the most adorable thing ever. And she had her own Facebook page, with more cute photos! And she was featured as a StubbyDog Rescue Dog of the Week!
I think one of the scariest things about adopting a dog is, they are such an unknown quantity. But Ella had been in foster care since June. As told in her story on StubbyDog "Ella was found on the street on June 11 in Gainesville, Florida. She had multiple puncture wounds on her neck and chest. A nice person took her to a veterinary hospital, and from there she was taken to Alachua County Animal Services.
Since the shelter was very full, there was no room for her to stay there while she was recovering from her wounds. She was placed on the euthanasia list for June 15, when her three-day stray hold was up.
After all this dog had been through, all she wanted was to shower love on the people she met. At the shelter, she gave kisses and charmed shelter staff, who looked hard for a rescue group to pull her. Normally we do not take in a dog unless we have a foster home lined up, but for Ella we went out on a limb. (That underbite was killing us!) We put Ella in boarding for her first week. Of course, the owner of our very rescue-friendly kennel also fell in love with her. For a funny-looking gremlin, she is quite a seductress. She has lived in two temporary foster homes – the first a small apartment and the second a home with two small children. She really loves children and is very good with them. Both foster families kept her past their original commitment because she is so easy to have around."
Then Ella went to live with Hillary Kladke, professional pet photographer extraordinaire, her final foster home. Hilary took Ella to training classes, Ella went to adoption events every weekend, and yet no one took her home! When I asked how such an adorable dog was still available I was told because she has three strikes against her: black, adult, pit bull. Well, two of the three were exactly what I was looking for!
I went to visit Ella at an adoption event. There were lots and lots of pit bulls there, each sweeter than the next. It was so emotional for me. All I could think about was my perfect Bella, not long for this world. Which dog could possibly replace her? It didn't matter anyway, everyone knows it's difficult to introduce two adult pit bulls, especially of the same sex. So I'd have to wait, or would I? A helpful volunteer sat with me as I cried and related Bella's sad circumstances. I said I wasn't ready to take a dog home today. Sharon asked, had I considered a two dog family? No, I had not. Bella had never been good with other dogs. In honesty, I'd actually never worked hard on that. Pit bulls aren't the doggy daycare, dog park type of dog. It's just asking for trouble, and no matter who starts the trouble, the pit bull gets the blame, and the breed already has so much negative publicity.
The seed was planted, though. Ella's face wouldn't leave my mind. And she'd plopped herself down in my lap at the adoption event like she belonged there. I asked if Bella could meet her. So I took Bella off to a park to meet Ella. Ella was thrilled and displayed her excitement by lunging and barking shrilly. Not a good first impression! We progressed to walking the dogs near each other, and Bella tolerated Ella's presence as long as Ella couldn't make contact. I thought some more, and took Bella on another walking date with Ella at a state park. This was what I thought was Bella's last normal day. Her leg had become virtually useless because of the tumor, and hiking or even walking for fun was out of the question.
I'd been gathering items needed for a second dog- a crate, beds, toys. Rich was to visit over Thanksgiving, and since we'd barely be at home, I didn't want to bring Ella home only to leave her crated for hours. Again, Sharon was supportive and offered to bring Ella for an overnight visit on any day we chose. I think she was worried that if I waited for there to be a perfect time, there would never be a perfect time. Really, she had nothing to worry about! My truck threw a wrench in the works, though, by dying while Rich and I were down in Orlando. So our fun Friday turned very stressful very quickly, and the Saturday that Ella was supposed to arrive turned into a day of trying to get my truck patched together. Still, Sharon delivered Ella, and I discovered fleas, and Rich had to go to Sharon's and pick up flea killer, and Ella had to have a bath! Finally everything was set and Rich and I walked the girls around the yard. Bella was happy to see her friend.
We noticed that Bella's leg was even more floppy than usual. What I thought was nerve damage from the tumor was actually combined with a fracture. Now what...During Ella's trial week, after slowly letting Bella get used to Ella's presence, in her crate, behind a gate, finally the girls were allowed to meet face to face. Ella and Bella wanted to play. The rules were, everyone stays laying down- we don't want to hurt Bella's leg even more. (Bella was on a couple different drugs for pain control, and had never made a whimper to tell me she was in pain- in fact, was still racing wildly around the house until asked to STOP!!) Ella was careful of her ailing friend, and Bella would take Ella's entire head in her mouth, gently! I couldn't be happier about how things were going, and decided to adopt Ella.
But then disaster struck. I'd called the vet Monday, because Bella wasn't going to drop dead any time soon, and her broken leg was a liability, and the tumor was getting huge. I made an appointment to bring her in for evaluation Tuesday. When I got home Monday, the tumor had opened up, and was obviously necrotic. I knew the leg had to go. Bella's leg was splinted Tuesday at the vet, and we made plans for the amputation surgery on Thursday. Bella came home with her leg splinted and had her best laying-down wrestling match with Ella yet! I asked for an estimate for the surgery, and Dr. Pat said he would have it ready on Thursday. Dillbird my pigeon had had two surgeries, an amputation and a laser tumor removal, and both were right around $300. I thought how bad could it be? $500?? $700?? At worst, $1000?? It didn't matter, there was no choice.
I dropped Bella off yesterday morning and waited for the call. Dr. Pat called around 1:30 PM and said the surgery had gone well, and Bella would be ready to go home at 5:30. When I arrived, I got the bill. $2358, OMG!! My vet kindly knocked $1000 off the cost of the three hour surgery. I'd taken out a loan when Bella was diagnosed, to pay for the initial diagnostic testing, and whatever would follow. I felt prepared, but then my truck ate up nearly all of the loan in repairs. Fortunately, I had a little bit left from the loan, and I'd made a snake sale Sunday, and a dear friend here sent a gift and asked others to as well. (I love you guys!!!) The remaining balance is bad, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Only a couple friends dared to bring up the question of would Bella be around long enough to warrant such an expense, which would do nothing to slow the eventual outcome.
When Bella came walking out on three legs, all naked and with this big, awful surgical wound, I just started crying. I knew she was okay, and would soon be running around with her sister Ella, which, without the amputation, would never have happened. Wow- it's still so shocking, though. She was just dopey, not in pain, tail wagging as usual. I took her home and settled her in bed for the night. Bella felt well enough this morning to eat breakfast, and she gets around okay out in the yard to potty. I look forward to only a few days from now, when she will be able to play with her new sister like a normal dog. I'd lost hope of her ever making a trip up to see Rich again, because the tumor and the broken leg and everything seemed so hopeless, but I'm certain now that she will be around for maybe a month or two, hopefully longer if I am really lucky.
Here's a photo I took of me and Bella for Animal Farm Foundation's I Am The Majority campaign, which wants to tell the public that MOST pit bulls are just normal dogs in normal families with normal people.
Anyway- that's the latest. I'm excited about the new dog, Ella, and hopeful about Bella, for the time being.
Thanks for looking!
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