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Lizzie in Ma

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Posts posted by Lizzie in Ma

    And just when things were getting good.

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    7 hours ago, ScoutTN said:

    Oh, how heartbreaking! Praying for Jenny, especially. Is your dh ok? I am glad you found a good place for Pluto. 

    Thanks Scout. Mike has multiple puncture wounds running from hand up through his forearm.  About 5 were really deep.  We have much experience dealing with puncture wounds from being wildlife rehabbers many years ago and so we cleaned and flushed the heck out of them and they are healing well.

    • Like 3

    Adding a New Dog...

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I'm so sorry.  We have done the add the new dog thing in the past.  It worked really well once and badly the second time due to the older one not behaving because she was so sick,  I hope whatever you choose works out for you.

    And just when things were getting good.

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    43 minutes ago, Ktgrok said:

    Oh I am so sorry, and so impressed. You are doing exactly the right thing. (Also, do I remember he's part cattle dog? They are so wonderfully smart but I swear some of them are born just not totally domesticated...they are still part wild in some ways, which seems to match up with what you are experiencing.)

    Also, can you PM me the link to the ground me?This is an issue near to my heart, both in terms of teen/young adult mental health and aggressive dogs. I can't donate much but want to help. Also perhaps I can help you find some contacts for another dog, if your daughter is able and you are able to do that. (former vet tech, member of society of veterinary behavior technicians, and former dog trainer who has some contacts in rescue). 

    Thanks love.

    Yes, he is part Catahoula. And the lady who runs Sweet Paws offered to let her have whatever dog she wants that come along, for free.  Which is amazing because they barely cover costs with their adoption fee.  She said now or 10 years from now, if Jenna wants another dog, it's hers.  My heart broke yet again from the kindness.  And she did say that many of the puppies they foster for adoption may come from feral packs, that what happened is a rarity but that it does happen.  Thank you for your love and support.

    • Like 2

    And just when things were getting good.

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I don't know if you recall, but when Jenny got out of inpatient the last time, in July of last year, we adopted a puppy from Sweet Paws Rescue for her to be her therapy dog.  He was literally the only thing keeping her alive for a long time and she adores him.  He is the sweetest boy and we all love him.  We spent a ton of money we don't really have on his training because he was supposed to be her therapy dog and he is exceedingly well trained now.

    Over time, and from the get go, he has been a little squirrely, a little unpredictable, if I didn't always have him under control, there are several people he would have bitten. People he has known or met before.  So we worked with the trainer more.  He was well socialized with both humans and other dogs and thrives on the days he gets to go to doggie daycare.  He has helped Jenny thrive again, she just got the highest awards her school offers and a STEM Book award from the MIT club that her principal nominated her for.  She was given a chance at a co-op job, the only kid in her shop to have one and they love her and she is doing amazing.  She wants to go to MIT and she asked out a boy and they have been dating for 7 months.

    Meanwhile, as Pluto got increasingly more unpredictable, we became more vigilant, worked with him and our trainer. Our trainer knows aggressive dogs well, and has worked with dogs as a K9 trainer and handler in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was starting to be very stressed having to have him under my strict control anytime someone came over.  Thank God for the Place command.  Fall back was always, that he would never hurt his family or the kids he loves.  Until he did.  Last Sunday, Dh reached down to scratch his head, as we have all done a million times.  Yes, at the time he had a treat, but it was a low value treat and was never an issue.  And he attacked my love.  Badly. It was terrifying. And it was like he couldn't stop himself.  It could have been me.  It could have been Jenny.  It could have been my Mom or Dad who have him on Fridays.  There was absolutely no way to have predicted it.

    So, after a week of phone calls to trainers, behaviorists, Sweet Paws, the vet, other vets, after ruling out medical issues, we have been told that every once in awhile, a puppy is born and his wires are crossed.  That there is no way to predict it and that you don't know until you know.  As his aggression is non specific and unpredictable, it is next to impossible to work with. That we have done everything right and that it isn't our fault or the dog's fault and it was recommended that we euthanize him, even by Sweet Paws.   As you can imagine, that sent Jenny into a tailspin and we were all scared.  She flat out told us that euthanizing the dog that saved her would send her back to inpatient. At the 11th hour, after being told no place like it exists, Rowan found a place called Spirit Animal.  It is a sanctuary in New York State.  In disbelief, we called it.  And it seemed like an answer to prayer.  Not willing to leave it at that, dh called half of New York to screen this place, town clerks, animal control officers, local vets, and they all have huge admiration for this man and this sanctuary.  So our dear Pluto will be going there to live out his life in a place where he understands the rules. Until we take him, his trainer, who runs the daycare, told us he was still welcome there because, like the sanctuary, it is a place he understands.  A dog place.  All these people who we spoke with were thrilled that we found an option that wasn't euthanasia.  It is a hard option because we adore him and it is going to leave a huge hole in our lives.  But it beats the only other alternative.  There were many no kill shelters we could have surrendered him to, but their goal would have been to re-home him and we can't, in good conscious, allow that. It would have only been a matter of time until he hurt someone else.

    Rowan then started a gofundme because there is a required $5,000 donation.  Understandable as this place will be taking him on for life.  The goal is NOT to re-home unlike every other place we talked to.  And again our faith in the goodness of people has been bolstered.  For love of Jenny, for us, for dogs, for our dog specifically, it is coming in a few dollars at a time.  Rowan and her stubbornness, bless her when she uses her powers for good.

    Please, I am not asking for training advice, behavior advice or other options.  This is what we are doing and it is the best case scenario for us and for Pluto.  I write because you are my tribe and our hearts are broken.

    Updated to add the link because some folks asked.  I deliberately didn't post the link because I didn't want anyone to feel they had to donate.  But I appreciate the love and the support.  Here it is, please don't feel obligated.  https://www.gofundme.com/save-a-therapy-dog

    30056656_15269546150_r.jpeg

     

    • Sad 13

    Well, that sucked. SAT related

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Youngest, who has been doing so well, had a full blown panic attack at the SATS yesterday and was unable to finish them.

    We will reschedule them, when she feels ready, but I felt so badly for her.  She got through the first section ok and then kind of just lost it and started sobbing.  Not because it was hard or anything, she isn't sure what triggered it.  Thinking of asking for accommodations, perhaps a small group setting or a private room which are listed as available on the College Board website. I know her therapist or psychiatrist would help us with anything that needs to be done to obtain the same.

    She puts so much pressure on herself academically. ?

    • Sad 16
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