Sirocco_Nikki

Run free sweet Volanteer!

Happy Birthday Maddison! My favorite picture of you is the one where you are eating your mum's breakfast. Given your well-behaved, dignified and demure behavior while on earth, I am certain that you have met your match at the bridge with my bridge brittany, Polly. No one can do rotten ornery stinkiness quite like a brittany.

Miss Nellie: You are truly a miracle girl. You have taught so many of us about courage, spirit, compassion and the importance of enjoying a good sunbeam. OS may have won this battle. However, many more of us will fight the war in honor of you. Godspeed little sweetie.

I am not offended by the post either. Reality 101. Dogs are living longer than ever before. Longer lives means more opportunities for disease and disorders. As a result, it is very likely that we will all face this decision at some time, if we have not already done so. Knowing our limits helps prevent the wrong decision being made because of guilt. When our Chesterboy was diagnosed with osteo of the jaw, we did not even consider radiation or chemo. Cost did not factor into the decision. Chester was a BIG BIG mama's boy and would never have understood being away from us. We believed that keeping him home and treating symptoms only would provide him with the best quality of life. We did spend $$$ on surgery and emergency treatment for our brittany's laryngeal paralysis. NEVER AGAIN! I truly believed that I was improving the quality of her life. If I had any idea of the complications and suffering she would endure as a result of the surgery, I would never have agreed to it. Even though quality of life is my main criteria, there are still financial considerations. (But then again, there are financial considerations to my own health care. Thank dog for living wills and life prolonging measure declarations.) The trick is to find the right balance between the gain and the cost.

Sirocco had hookworms. I don't blame the adoption group but I do blame the vet that did his initial care. This vet (who is no longer used by the group) checked Sirocco for diabetes but not heartworm. Sirocco was at least 10 pounds under his racing weight but never checked for parasites. This vet also did not update Sirocco's vaccines. He did present the group with a sizable bill for Sirocco's care.

In the case of our vet, Dr. Jon Sheff, the answer is not no but heck no. Sirocco had his annual exam and shots on Friday. I also picked up a 12 month supply of Interceptor for him. The total bill was $152. But more important than cost, I trust him. He has been taking care of all of our dogs for the past 17 years. He knows greys. He is very cautious with the dogs. He said he doesn't want to clean their teeth again until they need it because it is not worth the risk of putting greys under anesthesia. So, when he says that the dogs need something, they really need it. And as icing on the cake, he doesn't laugh at crazy women that bring their dogs in for an exam just because something doesn't seem right. Such as turning down cookies, or a sudden stop to all tail wagging-even during tummy scratches.............

Dear Casey: I am very fortunate to have known you since you found your home with Hope. Most dogs are content to wait at the bridge for their people. However, I know how you soul dogs are. You have a plan and will not leave Hope, Homer, Jingles, Bubbles and Tiny until everything is situated to your exact liking. I also have a feeling that when your plan comes to fruition, it will be the big topic at M&Gs for a long time to come.