Madilyn

Maddy, my first 'child' had to be put down on Monday.

Maddy would have been 13 on Saturday. I found her at the pound when she was just a few weeks old. I brought her home and loved her more than I loved any other living thing. I had wanted a child for so long but knew I needed to get other things in place for that to happen, so in the mean time, Maddy filled that void.

She was a great dog. She was very skittish initially. She hated men and didn't like children much. She grew into a good dog though. She was very bright, well trained and I believe saw herself as more of a human than animal. She was spoiled rotten. The focus of all my xmas cards, recipient of all the best vet care, toys, collars, treats leashes etc. It got so bad that every time a package came to the house she got excited, because usually the contents were for her.

When she was young she was diagnosed with a pretty severe hip dysplagia. They said she would need hip replacements by 5 years old. She was placed on some medicines for pain and often her mobility was impacted. Within a few years she seemed to compensate and didn't need the drugs again, nor did she seem to have difficulty walking.

Then...HUGE reality check for Maddy...arrival of not one but two babies. I do feel some guilt about her loss of status; her reduction in attention and priority in my life. But, I can only do so much. She still had everything she needed...just the frills went away. Of course, this drop in status occurred again with M's arrival and some days it was a job just to remember if she had been fed or not.

About 2 months ago I left Maddy at my parents house while I travelled. She ended up staying with them. I am gone all day and at my parents home she had my mom all day, as well as their two dogs. I felt good about leaving her there because I knew she was getting more attention than I could give.

S, had a little harder time with it. He was really the only one of the three who had attached to Maddy. He claimed her as his own and liked to make her do tricks and take care of her. When my parents visited this past Sunday, they brought Maddy and S begged me to let her stay here again. I told him no and explained why. He understood, got his iPod and took her picture.

That day my parents had mentioned taking Maddy to the vet and the worsening problems she was having with pain, her hips and her teeth. They asked me what my decision would be if the vet suggested euthenasia. I told them I would be ok with it. We left it at that, and a few hours later they left.

The next morning I received a text at work saying Maddy was gone. I had no idea they were even taking her Monday. It was a little bit of a shock that it played out so quickly, but I knew it was the right decision. I allowed myself to cry for a few minutes, and then went on. I told the kids that night. S was ok. He said he was glad he took a picture of Maddy the day before. K, well in her very typical self, suggested that we now get a cat.

I think it was a very good thing that Maddy had been with my parents the last two months. I would have never been able to be present while they put her down, and I think since she had already been halfway removed from our lives, the kids weren't as upset with her death. Now, when they go to my mom's house in a few weeks and she's not there, they may get upset, but I think it would have been much worse for them if Maddy had been with us here until the end.

In the end, she really was the 'perfect' dog with her demeanor and personality. I got very lucky. For now though I have enough to focus on, so we will remain a pet-free home. Maybe when my three little monsters are older, and I need to fill that void again I can venture into pet parenthood again.

Mookie Is One!!!

I will post more tomorrow as right now I am so exhausted from today. My baby is one....

Black Cloud

It seems like our family is under a black cloud when it comes to our pets. It makes me wonder...what is next?

Our family has three dogs. Maddy is mine, and Jessie and Tigger are my parents, however Maddy and Jessie came into the family when I still lived at home, so they both seem more like every ones. Tigger was added after I moved out, but still is around enough that there is a bond, especially with the twins.

Well about 2 months ago, Jessie had to be put down due to a large bladder tumor. She was nine years old. My dad took the loss harder then any of us thought he would, but he seemed okay within a few days. Jessie was cremated and her ashes spread at my parents cabin, which was one of her favorite places.

About 2 weeks after this, my mom hit a dog with her car. The dog was unleashed and ran across the road after dark. My mom called the police and the dog was taken to an emergency vet, but the feeling is that most likely the dog would have been put down.

About two weeks ago, my dad brought Tigger to the vet to evaluate some nodules under her front leg. The vet wasn't sure what they were but wanted to remove them. Last Tuesday, November 9th, Tigger underwent surgery to remove the nodules. Yesterday my dad got the news that they were an aggressive form of cancer. Tigger is only six. Right now, since Tigger is pain free, very active and showing no sign of illness, we will wait and see what happens. But, sadly, the day will come, hopefully not any time soon, that Tigger will also have to be put down.

And then of course Maddy being attacked on Sunday. She is doing better. Still mostly stays in one spot, but she is eating better, drinking and when she does get up to move, she doesn't seem nearly as sore. She is still on pain meds around the clock and antibiotics. Tomorrow I will remove her drains. Everyday she looks a bit better.

The twins had to process the loss of Jessie and will have to do the same with Tigger eventually. I'm hoping nothing else occurs with Maddy. I would hate for the kids to lose three dogs so closely together.

Ouch...Poor Maddy!

Today while at work, my dad had the dogs out in my backyard. One of the neighbors has a German Shepherd and out of nowhere, the dog made a bee-line towards my dog and started to attack her. Luckily my dad was there, and as he fought off the other dog, Maddy was able to get away. Initially my parents felt that the wounds were superficial and that they would heal on their own, but soon after realized that Maddy needed to be seen by a My dad took her to the emergency vet. My dad still only thought that Maddy would just need some stitches, but that was quickly proven wrong.

She had to undergo surgery to clean out and debride 5 different wounds. She has drains in two of them, and sadly has to wear that horrible cone thingie. She is on three different meds, including pain pills, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

Initially the people said they would pay for her bills, but now are complaining that they don't have the money right now. My dad felt that they took the situation seriously, but then they haven't returned any calls since Maddy has been home from the vet. My dad asked them to come and see Maddy so that they would know exactly how bad the attack was. So far, no response.

My parents filed a police report and animal control will be notified in the am. So far, all people are saying is that a report will be filed. I can't wait to talk to them, because I am not happy with just a report. I would like something more to happen. I am extremely upset. Not just because my poor dog was brutally attacked, but because this could have been one of my children. The twins play in the backyard all the time. I am now terrified that this dog may come around again and something much worse could happen.

Once I talk to the police and animal control, I will follow up with the owners of this dog. I will be honest though, I will not be happy with anything less than having the dog removed from my neighborhood. I have already prepared myself that this outcome is highly unlikely, but something more than paper work needs to occur.

I WILL NOT WAIT for this to happen again.