LabraDOG
Rescue and Rehoming

Joan - as requested here is your Nelson update!  I guess as things go he is doing fantastic really.  We take him swimming to the river as often as we can, at least 4 times a week if we can manage.  I am reasonably convinced that had he not been swimming he wouldn't be in the shape he is now and I say that because for a week we couldn't swim him because the river was so full from all the rain.  Over that week I could notice that his movement wasn't as fluid or consistent.  He still crosses his rear feet on occasion but can correct it without incident and we still wrap his rear feet for protection.  Obviously he doesn't have the strength or the stamina of a fully mobile pup so he play with lots of chew toys and the KONG wobbler to keep him occupied.  I had him at our local vet recently for a routine check and David said they way he got about the surgery was great and with the movement he had and in a home willing to manage him he could have a great quality of life.  Dr Child from SASH has seen Nelsons recent videos and has asked we stop in some time for her to examine him because little is known about spinal walking if in fact that's what he is doing.  With winter around the corner I am looking into options for continued water exercise and my thinking on Nelsons condition remains the same - whilst ever we can see progress and he isn't in pain or discomfort we will continue to work with him and I don't expect to have a clear idea of his capabilities until he is fully grown.  To put on muscle and maintain it has been incredibly hard with him growing at the rate he has.  Not much news I know but that;s where we are at.  For now Naughty Nelson is as obnoxious, inquisitive, active and as loving as any pup I have come across so I couldn't ask for more than that!
 

 

From bath to pool to bigger pool to river!  It's been a challenge!

 

 

 

 

 

The most recent pics of the little monster!

I know I am a bit behind the times but Hopes story has touched alot of people so we wanted to share her story here too.  We were asked to care for Hope under duty of care for the pound.  It was a crazy hot day and she wasn't coping in the kennel.  We collected her three weeks ago yesterday and she had ten days to "wait" - essentially owned by council and able to be reclaimed by her owner at any time.  When I collected her she was in a pretty bad way.  Both ears were infected, her eyes were grotty, she had an open sore on her head, could barely stand and was toileting in her bed.  Given she could barely stand I wasn't surpirsed that she could hardly walk!  I really thought that she was too far gone and the best I could do would be to medicate her and hold her for the time I had to and then euthanase her in a weeks time.  I took her straight to the vet and they too said she wasn't the kind of dog that was really rehomeable.  I explained that I understood that but the life and death decision wasn't mine to make at that point, I needed her to be pain mediacted as best she could be, I needed to take care of th "easy" things - eyes, ears diet etc and I would be back in a week if she hadn't been reclaimed and we could go over more options then. 

We got the old bear home and thankfully not once has she toileted in her bed.  I needed to give her a name so we opened that up to our facebook crowd and decided on Hope.  Hope was bright eyed and I am guessing felt better just because she was pain medicated and in a cool environment.  Almost immediately people were taken with her story and wanted to know what she needed.  Before I could blink Hope had a soft new bed, some fancy blankets of her own and a three month supply of Rose Hipe Vital Canine.  Her progress in three weeks has been great.  More vet advice has since identified a tumour on the side of her head and a neurological problem that can affect her walk.  For now though Hope is bright eyed, loves her dinner, loves being snuggled, loves the company of the residents here and all in all I think she is feeling much better than she has in a long while.  I have since had her at the vet again and as always we will be guided by them and whilst ever she is eating well, toileting well and getting herself about  we will make sure she is as comfortable as we can make her.
 

 

 

 

In contrast Nelson had his picture taken with Georgia on the same day.  Bored Princess much?

Along with the other messages and questions I have had about the blog my mum gave me a razz about getting my act together!  It will make her day to see me on the blog so a quick pic of Nelson and I.  A huge thanks to Rozanna who stopped by and took some amazing pictures for us.  This one pretty well sums up my relationship with Nelson.  I sit on the ground and he crawls all over me!  It's not really as bad as it sounds!

So it's a bit delayed but I am back!  I went to Pauls 40th the other night and when I arrived I was shocked to be handed the phone.  Seems Pauls Dad John, all the way from the UK,  wanted to have a word with me because it was about time I got back to blogging!  He was right so here I am.  I promised a family pic but can't say I did a very good job!  My crazy phone is so full I never have enough space to get a gret shot so this doesn't do this gorgeous crowd justice!