The Story Of An Eye (part one)

Back in June, I had a dental and skin biopsies done on my long-haired Chihuahua, Mona. She had had some fur loss in some places for a little while and her normally big, fluffy tail was lacking. Little did I know at the time that her skin and coat issues (hormone-related) would be the least of her problems.

Shortly after those procedures, I noticed what looked to be a cataract forming in Mona’s left eye. Bummer, but not too unusual for an 11 year old Chihuahua. However, it popped up so fast that it just baffled me. Nonetheless, after keeping an eye on the eye (har har), I finally consulted with my vet about it. In looking at it in passing (I was there for one of my other dogs and Mona was along for the ride, as always), he suggested consulting with an eye specialist. My thinking is it caught his eye (har har) as being more than a cataract. And it was. She was now at least largely blind in that eye (I HAD noticed some missteps on her part). But, she also had glaucoma, causing higher than normal pressure of the eye. This meant surgery. A whoppingly expensive surgery. The good news was that there was a large chance that her vision would be restored in the eye. So, being the dog (and cat) mom that I am, I swallowed the shock of the estimate and went for it. That’s what credit cards are for, right? Plus, I have pet insurance for her, so I was hoping to recoup some back. However, the story didn’t end with the surgery. Nor did the financial and emotional toll end there, either. 

Stay tuned for part two of "The Story Of An Eye".

Mona before any eye troubles. (Photo credit: Me.)

FYI

It looks like Beyond The Myth is currently not playing on hulu. I will post the link to it when it is playing again (or anywhere for free). I encourage all to search for it in the meantime.

In the spirit of the movie, here are two pics I found online:

Must See TV

If you have dogs, are around dogs, know someone who has or is around dogs, love Pit Bulls, hate Pit Bulls, or are indifferent about Pit Bulls, please watch this free movie. It is imperative to judge all dogs as individuals based on their behavior, not as a breed as a whole and looks alone.
Emotions can be high on both sides of the spectrum: It is horrible if anyone is hurt/killed by a dog AND it is horrible if a dog is hurt (i.e., taken away from its family/put down) due to the actions of another that they look like. Imagine if you were ostracized if a distance relative of yours was a criminal? That wouldn't be fair, would it?

Beyond the Myth (2012) 

Watch - http://www.hulu.com/watch/417334

Details: Unfairly known as violent killers, Pit Bulls have suffered from the stigma of negative media coverage that has lead to city-wide bans across the country.

Movie | Aired on 05/05/2012 | Not Rated | 1 hr. 34 min. |

This Says It All

(Photo credit unknown.)

We Are Lennox

Surprise! A second post today. You know what they say, when inspiration hits...

Patch: "I am a Dalmatian mix. It is known that the white color of Dalmatians can lead to deafness or hearing issues. This can make a Dalmatian snappy due to being startled from not hearing you. Even I have grumbled on occasion, particularly at the vet when they did something I did not like. However, my mommie worked with me and always warns people of my limitations. I like going to the vet now and can be trusted as much as any dog can be. I would hate for all Dalmatians to be deemed dangerous across the board, taken from their families, and put to sleep before their time. I AM LENNOX!"

(Photo credit: Me.)

Mona:" I am a Long-Haired Chihuahua. I was a stray that my mommie caught and turned into the animal shelter, sure my former people would be looking for me (they weren't). I was scared to death at the shelter and when my mommie called to check on me the next day, the staff said I would be put down due to fear aggression. Because my mommie is an animal lover and truly wants to help pets, she asked the staff is she could adopt me since she turned me in. She felt an immediate responsibility for me (lucky me!) and they let her take me...LUCKY ME! (Funny, I would've been free if mommie would've never turned me in to the shelter, but she paid $100 to get me out. LOL mommie!) Mommie worked with me and knows my limitations, warning people when to back off (especially kids since I don't care for them), and I have turned out to be such a good little girl. Chihuahuas have a reputation for being nasty, but I would hate for all of us to be deemed unsuitable to live. I AM LENNOX!"

(Photo credit: Me.)

In Memory Of Lennox

I came to learn of Lennox through links on Twitter. Not sure exactly when I learned of him, but the circumstances surrounding this dog spoke to me, as does any case of injustice towards an animal. Read more about the specifics of Lennox at http://www.savelennox.co.uk/ *Note: The website is down until 7/22/12, so please check back if you are reading my blog before that date. If the site changes its url, I will come back and post it in a new post.
You can also read about the campaign to save Lennox here: http://savelennox.com/ That being said, the campaign to specifically save Lennox has ended because he was euthanized on 7/11/12. However, the memory of Lennox will never end. While it is tremendously sad and upsetting that he is gone, perhaps he will be the one who finally changes breed specific legislation. I work in animal care and I know you have to take dogs as individuals. If you don't, you are foolish, prone to getting hurt, and will be limited in your success in dog training. I learned this long ago and it is re-emphasized on a regular basis.
If there are any specifics you want to talk about concerning Lennox's story, please post a comment. There are already so many things on the internet that I don't want to re-hash too much. I simply want to pass on this lovely piece by Lennox's family.

(Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=447890705231210&set=pb.125005200853097.-2207520000.1351442846&type=3&theater)

Doggie trust

I experienced something Friday that I hadn't really experienced before: Angst about the temporary care of one of my babies from work. She was adopted to a home out of town (the adopter had adopted from us before) and a pet courier service was taking her (and two other dogs) on an eight hour drive to her new home. As I held her, a Miniature Dachshund, waiting to put her in the van, she clung to me. I suddenly felt a pang in the pit of my stomach at the thought of handing her over to this stranger who was going to take her away. I have to admit that for a brief moment, my mind imagined that this company was nothing but a big rouse and that they were taking the dogs to an unknown location. This pet courier service is reputable and the people are well-trained (and I was told we've used them before), but I wished I could ride along to ensure her safe delivery. I kissed her many times before placing her in the van and, in a few moments, they were gone. I thought about her all day and messaged the coordinator later that night, inquiring if they had arrived yet. Shortly thereafter, I got a message that they arrived safely and the three dogs had slept together most of the way. They were happy and healthy and home. Still, I anxiously await the adoption update with pics of everyone.
I hadn't been worried about her adoption; just the in between part of getting her there. She trusted me and I wanted to make her feel like everything would be alright. For that brief moment, though, I didn't know if everything was alright, even though my logical mind knew it was.
I am reminded of it all the time, but this event made it even more clear: We can never break the trust of an animal in our care. They depend on us for everything and it is our responsibility to provide it. No ifs, ands, or buts.