Why Do All The Sick Animals Come To Our House?

 It's been over a two months since we adopted Kylie from P.S I Love You and we have had some health issues with her. The day after we adopted her she started coughing in the middle of the night. She was hacking so much that I panicked and called Zach's brother and dad to go to our house and check on her while I was at work. I was so afraid that she was going to choke to death. She was still coughing so we went to the vet that night for a check up.



The vet wasn't sure what it was and explained to us about her possibly having kennel cough. She sent us home with antibiotics and an order for plenty of TLC. The cough was improving for a week but the next Friday night she was coughing non stop for 15 minuets at a time. So, the next day we brought her back to the vet. The doctor discussed with us the possibility of having lung worm or breathing issues. She told us we could possibly have to do a chest x-ray and a trans-treachial wash of her throat to determine what she had. But we could not do an x-ray that day because she was so nervous that she would have to be restrained down to get it or be sedated which you can't do until shes off antibiotics for 5 days. So we went home with an increase in her antibiotic and a cough suppressant. The cough medicine worked really well. She became more active, she was starting wrestling matches with Trinity and could do it for 10 minuets with out going into a coughing fit. So, we decided not to do the treacheal wash and held off on the X-ray for a few weeks.

She didn't need the cough medicine for a few weeks but last week her coughing became worse and she had one a day. I made an appointment for her on Saturday for a chest X-ray. We saw several things on it. One being a pellet in her muscle on her left side. Where she was dumped in Arkansas people frequently shot dogs for sport. I had hoped she hadn't been there to long to get shot but apparently she had been. It's not hurting her so were going to monitor it for now. It also showed a lot of busy activity in her lung fields. Shes not sure if it is 1) chronic bronchitis 2) athsma or 3) lung worm. We sent the X-ray out to the radiologist for a through examination and see what they suggest we do. But for now we are keeping up with the cough suppressant and monitoring her breathing. I just want her to get better and know what's going on in her little body.

Kylie's Rescue Story

Now that Kylie has been officially introduced to the blogging community I figure now is as good a time to tell you her story. She is from Arkansas and was rescued by Darlene from P.S I Love You Animal Rescue, the same rescue Trinity came from. Here is the Facebook post that she wrote a week after rescuing her.  (Little Bit is Kylie and Annabell was the dog she was found with)

Ok I went to visit the two abandoned dogs that begged me to take them Friday while I was out at the lake looking for the year old pup Daisy, with her paw hurt...didn't find her but two other dogs were dumped and in very sad shape. A thunder storm was coming...though scared they reached out to trust the only people who were there...took food from my hand and because I had no place to take them, started to leave, to regroup and think about how we might help them...someone said they would give food to them....but they started whining and begging to get into the van. Dog down there do not last a week. Lil Bit shook so hard, had a cherry eye and was dirty...Annabelle though collie Shepard mix, her white hair was completely grey...and I thought her eyes too...but with a bath..she is totally gorgeous. Though she is missing much of her back side hair from worms and itching..and a tummy bug that pretty much made her loose a lot of weight. She is 56 lbs and should be almost 70. What could I do...15 minutes before the vet closes...has apt for the other dog I couldn't find, 17 minutes away...and two dogs getting ready to lay flat on gravel like sitting ducks waiting to be shot, hurting and scared, whimpering to be saved....was it my responsibility...no, was it my problem, only if I wanted to sleep that night without regrets..and that is what I thought of....will I be able to sleep tonight knowing what I turned my back on. So I did it...called the vet and boarded them....They have been at the vets all weekend...had the total work up, spay and shots and a bath...and look what treasures that are waiting for someone to foster until adoption. NOW....I need one or two people to give these sweeties a few days to relax at someones home..they love outside..not sure if the collie would jump a small fence...if someone has a privacy fence or kennel they could board the dogs in for a little while...I have people who are willing to help..but no one can at the moment with dogs getting ready to transport, and everyone full. They are not happy at the vets...they don't know why they are there...they only get to be on leash for a few minutes outside and no running around playing..they were even separated in two compartments so they cant be together...but now that they are on the mend they can be..but its tight and dark in there...PLEASE help me...I know I was suppose to pick them up...help them and get them adopted...there is a wonderful home out there that I will find a match for.

I never saw this status update but I am so thankful that she didn't leave them their. Something was telling her to take them and that everything would be ok. We believe she is around 3 years old, so I have made her Birthday June 1, 2009 three years to the day she was rescued and in honor of the day her new life began.

Thank you so much Darlene. We all love what you do. You have a big heart. Zach, Kylie, and I are thankful for what you have done for her.

Remember When I said....

Remember that time I said, "Small dog? Why don't you just get a cat?"

Well, prepare for me to put my foot in my mouth cause guess what I just adopted?? :D :D

 

This is Kylie she's a Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, Whippet mix. She's small (only 13lbs!) she's a lap dog, she's quite, she's rescued (more about her story later!) but most importantly she's all ours. No more wandering the streets for this pup. She's home for good.

She's my little love bug!

Today Is Trinity's 'Gotcha' Day!

One year ago today we picked up this little cutie from transport.

"Last year I didn't know who these people were."

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What a wonderful first year it's been. I hope to have many, many more to come.

"Now their my family!"

 

Happy 'Gotcha' Day Trinity! We love you!!!

The Truth About Trinity: Transport Pick Up

Getting Trinity was a very short and easy process. As I have previously said we adopted her through P.S I Love You Animal Rescue located in Arkansas. This is where her mom still lives with her family.


The weekend prior to getting Trinity, Zach and I went on a puppy shopping spree. We got all of the essentials for her. We bought her a collar, leash, food, toys, treats, bones, and her meal dishes. I did set it up to get a pre-puppy photo shoot. Thank goodness we got a mat for her bowls because she does like to dribble her water all over the place.

Trinity was placed on the transport on Thursday, March 3, 2011. She took the 1,400 mile, 2 day drive from the south all the way up to Connecticut. I was very nervous about her going on the transport. This was going to be the first time she was away from her mom and siblings. It was her first time in a vehicle. She was going to be in a crate and surrounded by other dogs she did not know. But I try not to think of it like that. I think of the wonderful people at Alpha Dog Transport who stayed with the dogs on the trailer and who gave each dog a short walk every four hours.

I took the day off of work so Zach and I could pick her up. We decided to go a little early to check out where the pick up was. But instead we went to Target and bought her more stuff. I just couldn't resist, I was going to be a new mommy!

We got to the rest stop and walked up to the trailer. I was both nervous and excited all at the same time. I was wondering, how will she be? Is she as sweet as she looks? Will she be the perfect pet that I have been imagining her to be? But most of all I was wondering, will she get along with our cats? Then, I handed the staff my license. I told them we were there to pick up Dot from P.S I Love You. They went back into the trailer and out they came with the most precious puppy I had ever seen. They came out with MY puppy! All of the wondering went out the door as the man said, "I've been doing this for a while. You (Zach) get the paper work. And you (me) get the puppy." I was smitten from that very moment.

Of course I forgot to take pictures of picking her up at the transport. But I did take many pictures of her at home. I have the rest of her life to take pictures of her. My precious baby!

Stay tuned for: Trinity's first day home & Meeting her adopted human and doggy family!

The Truth About Trinity: The Adoption Process

Adopting a dog was one of the most wonderful and satisfying experiences I have ever done. I love the fact that I did not 'buy' a dog. I felt like I made a difference because Trinity was not 'breed' by someone. I feel that adoption is the best way to get a dog. Saving the life of a dog is wonderful. Although I'm not against responsible breeders, however you can get a pedigree dog via adoption.

Well, like I previously stated, I found "My best friend for life" just searching around on Pet Finder. I e-mailed the rescue group asking if they still had the 'German Wired Haired Pointer' puppies available. I waited that whole day for a response and the next day I finally got one. They still had all of the puppies available so I said I wanted the 'tri-colored' one. I filled out my application and then received an e-mail from the person who runs the rescue group saying that she would be in contact with me the next day.

This was wonderful news! I was ready to go and meet 'my puppy' and see how cute she was in person. Seeing as how they were 'located' in southern Connecticut an hour and a half away from me, I was ready to go the next weekend to see her.

I received a call two days later. I spoke with the woman from rescue group I had e-mailed. She told me the name of her rescue group was called P.S I Love You and they were located in Arkansas. Arkansas? I was confused. I thought they were located in CT and they were called 'Serenity in the Sun'. She explained to me that they transport there puppies to New England to provide for more adoptions to be made. She said that they transport many dogs to New England and the transport company they use has been doing it for many years. I told her I would have to think about it and talk to Zach about what we would do. On that same day I talked with the 'foster mom' of Trinity's. She told me that she's a big girl and was 8 weeks old. I then asked a bunch of questions about the puppy to see if she was the dog for me.

When I got home from work I talked with Zach about how we would get her. I was very worried about getting a puppy from another state half way across the country. I was also concerned about paying for a puppy and never getting it. There are always horror stories about that. I did research about the rescue group and I talked with some people who got there dogs from P.S I Love You. They told me great things about the group and Alpha Dog Transport. So Zach and I took a leap of faith and said YES to getting 'my puppy'.

Then a week and a half later I got my very first puppy of my own!

Blog post's to come: Trinity's first family & The day we got her from the transport!