Charley - a Quickie

I received an email about a woman needing help getting an owner-surrendered rat terrier by the name of Charley to Sacramento.  There was a transport coming from Ridgecrest, CA (a hundred miles east of Bakersfield) and headed to Oregon carrying a St. Bernard named MonAmi.  At 8am, I met up with Charley at a grocery store parking lot and then we headed north to Bakersfield to meet the volunteer with the St. Bernard.  And here's dedication and generosity for you:  the transporter I met up with actually RENTED a car, rather than using her own, to be sure the St. Bernard would fit. 

Below is the email I sent to all those involved once I got back home.

Hey All,

Just got back from handing Charley over to Karla.  Charley rode well in passenger seat, just slept for the most part.  Karla and I agreed that unfortunately it was best for Charley to ride the next leg in the crate; luckily her car could accomodate the crate in the passenger seat.  MonAmi is sooo chill!  He's awesome.  But Charley wasn't much into him.  I didn't fear the Saint would do anything; I feared Charley might never stop barking from being so upset about MonAmi's presence.  Not sure if she was ever properly socialized with dogs, or if it was just his enormous size in comparison to hers that got her upset.  She just seemed terrified, barking and backing away, snipping in the air.  She didn't try to sniff his butt (and he certainly wasn't going for hers given her connipition fit; he just politely ignored her) or do any of the usual "nice to meet you" signs dogs give one another.  Then again given their size discrepancy, perhaps neither knew the other was actually a dog.

Once in the crate, the door facing Karla, she was fine, even if Mon Ami's giant head happened to sniff near her.  Maybe on the next leg she can be out of the crate, or perhaps she'll find it more comforting be in there.

Here's her in the beginning looking a bit scared, but she settled into the ride eventually.  Love the bat-wing ears!

-Stephanie.

Freckles is on the Road!

Hi Riki and Helene,

Just handed Freckles off to Jolene, so he should be arriving in Fresno later this afternoon.  I would have taken pictures of him on his ride up there, but it's difficult to drive, take pictures, and ward off his advances.  He just wants to be in your lap when you drive.  I did give him his Woobie, a yellow towel that I discovered he enjoys attacking, rolling on, and sucking on.  It did distract him for a few minutes in the car.

He seems to be nocturnal; perhaps he's part cat.  He can sleep all day long in the living room and kitchen, but the hours of midnight to six AM are reserved for pacing back and forth, trying to get on the bed, trying to get me out of bed, trying to get off the bed, getting dramatic about not being allowed on the bed for the fourth time and slamming oneself into the wall with a sigh and crashing to the floor, followed by a few groans in case I didn't get his point.

Afternoon Sleep Position #1              Afternoon Sleep Position #2

I should give him some credit though--he did sleep for a few minutes.  I was actually excited that he fell asleep on the towel I placed on the bed and was sleeping soundly for a good twenty minutes.  But he appears to have night terrors--or whatever the term is for canines who don't fully sleepwalk, but do make motions and noises in their sleep.  I realize my concern for his breathing the night before might not have been so much flu-induced as just getting worked up in a dream.  I couldn't stand to see him all fidgety and whining and shaking the bed, so I was the one who woke him up out of that dream.  He seemed thankful, but then that was the end of peace for me that evening.

He is vocal when it comes to food.  He wasn't brash enough to jump on me, but again this morning he tried the whine/grown/moan while sitting next to me.  When that didn't work he went to the living room where he lay down, closed his eyes, and then began his impression of a lawnmower with Doppler effect, which crescendoed into an all out bark.

Last night he tipped his food dish over AGAIN, and then walked into the living room.  I told him to come back in and pick it up (the food all over the floor).  He sighed, came back in, sniffed the food on the floor, but didn't touch it, then picked up the food dish with the remaining food in it in his mouth.  I watched in silence expecting him to either a.  throw it into the air, or b. fling it at me.  Instead he walked back into the living room, lay down, and stuck his face in the bowl to finish dinner.  He didn't seem to care that I didn't give him permission to eat dinner in the living room.

Freckles is indeed quite the character, and with some basic training, I know he will make someone an awesome dog...he might even be a good candidate for being a therapy dog.  I don't think he's a Freckles though...I don't know what his name is, but it just doesn't feel right calling him Freckles.  (but that's just my opinion).  I think as he continues to get better, his personality will shine through even more.  This morning he actually ran around the apartment and chased a Kong.  He appears better, but stress does cause the eye and nose running.  The drooling is just extremely active salivary glands from what I can tell.

Thanks for letting me hang out with him for a bit, and let me know when he's up for adoption so I can spread the word.  He really is going to make someone very happy (perhaps someone who works the night shift :)).

Stephanie.

Freckles - sicky boy

One of the unfortunate things about pulling a dog from a shelter is that if the dog is on any meds, you don't get to take them with you.  I can only assume it's got to do with them not being licensed to sell animal pharmaceuticals or something.  Freckles really did seem to have some respiratory issues, but I was hoping he could hold out to start a new course of antibiotics when he got to the rescue in Frenso.

Below is the email I wrote the rescuers about trying to get him some drugs.

...I was thinking I really only need 2-3 pills since he's headed to the rescue tomorrow.  I don't have a vet, but if someone can just call in a couple of pills, I can pick them up.

His breathing is better today, but last night he had issues.  He does better lying on the flat floor.  He didn't get the concept of "bedtime" whatsoever.  He hasn't had any accidents (or purposefuls) in the house, but I think it may be because I'm giving him ample opportunity to go outdoors.  We went to bed at 11, back up and outside at 2:30am (He wags so hard, it just looks like he's about to pee his pants).  Then up again at 5am (didn't take him out, he just wanted to either be on the bed with me or have me down on the floor with him)...finally had the official morning walk at 8:30am....and of course now HE'S sleeping on the living room floor.

He does seem better this morning.  His breathing has slowed to normal pace.  He's vocal as well.  Grunts and moans trying to get his point across, and even let out a bark when I explained for the fifth time that I was not sharing my breakfast and he could have his own on the floor...he then went over to the dog bowl, stuck his foot in it, and tipped it over.

He really is quite the character.  I think he'll be fine till he gets to the rescue, but I didn't want to see him have to do a full course all over again.  His stool is really soft, and he's kind of constipated (hunches for a good long time, wanders a bit, etc before anything comes out).  And when he farts, geesh.  It's REALLY bad.  The stench actually woke me up.

Let me know if you can find a couple of pills, and I'll get them.
Thanks!
stephanie.

Freckles - Tons of Pics

I had received an email about a pit bull mix that needed to get from a South LA shelter to Valencia, less than an hour round trip.  Initially he was supposed to be neutered first, but he couldn't have surgery because the shelter had diagnosed him with kennel cough (sick dog=no surgery).  He was red-listed, and the transport couldn't happen until Tuesday, so I offered to pick him and overnight him until then.
 
Hi Helene and Riki,

Thought you might enjoy some pics of Freckles.  He really is quite a great dog.  His paperwork says he was caught as a stray, which if that is the case and he's never been in a home, he's done quite well in my opinion.  He was a little antsy in the car, first trying to sit on the passenger floor while his head and front half of his body was on my lap, next by finally sitting in the seat but every now and again trying to get into the back seat.  I found out what he wanted back there was a rolled up travel blanket to chew on, not food or toys--just the blanket.

It's easy to know when he's about to get mischievous because his tail wags, giving him away.  I keep wanting to call him Mr. Waggles.  When he finds something especially fun, his tail wags not just back and forth, but in every which direction in a chaotic semi-circular motion.  He loves to hear laughter; it makes him wag even harder so his whole body wags.  He also just wags contently as he wanders about.  And my favorite:  he was lying on the floor sleeping when out of nowhere, I heard two THWACK-THWACK's on the floor...he even wags his tail when he dreams.

He doesn't know Sit or Stay, but gets the concept of Come, and responds to a quick "Eh!" to stop him from something.

As for his health, he drank a LOT of water when he got here...almost all of which ended up on the potted plant outside two hours later; the rest he saved for the neighborhood.  He ate dinner, and eats a little quickly.  I don't think he always chews.  I've given him a treat and his mouth opens, it goes in, and it's gone--not chewed, just swallowed.  He is panting a lot, but now only in bursts as evening as turned into night.  I think some of it is just anxiety.  He tends to starts panting when he gets up to see where I'm going.  As he sleeps now, he's not panting, but the rhythm of his breathing is still a pant--rapid shallow breaths--but his mouth is closed.  So I do think some of it may be from the cough, but some of it is just stress.  He does whine too, although I haven't figured out why--except when I went into the bathroom and he couldn't come:  that got a whine, and a pounce on the door actually.

Oh, he's a bit of a drooler.  No Hooch from Turner and Hooch, but he really hasn't any clue when a thin seven inch drool is hanging from the left side of his mouth.

(Salvador Dali Perspective)

I think he's going to make somebody one very happy person.  He's a cuddler, but can't seem to get comfortable.  It's like he wants to be close to you, but not sure how to go about it.  So he ends up with his face in my boobs, then his ass in my armpit, then leaning with the side of his body into my leg, then stretching his legs into my thigh, and all sorts of strange positions that don't look very comfortable.  He's quite limber, and sits way back on his haunches so his back legs are straight, and has no issue showing you his goods. Anyway, I realize I've gone on and on about him--I can't help it.  He's a good dog.  Here are some pics.  I do think perhaps he should get back on his meds, just so he doesn't relapse.  He's been on Baytril 68 since April 26th.

 

I look forward to hanging out with him for the next couple of days.  Riki, just let me know when and where you want to meet whomever on Tuesday and I'll be there!

stephanie.