This is Sadie, who is our guest
sadieP1010018
Originally uploaded by marymactavishBoy have we been busy.
Saturday was my birthday, and my friend Ruth and I spent several hours on Fairmont Ridge with the dogs, DJ and Zoe, and her moose, Shane. While we were up there, we ran into a woman a couple of times, who on the second or third greeting, said, "You two wouldn't know anyone who could foster an old lab, do you? Just for awhile? Muttville has no room, and the shelter's not even offering her for adoption, just putting her down because she's old."
I didn't even call to check with Casey, just asked her to phone me. She did, and now Sadie's living with us.
I took her to the vet this morning. She has a "lick granuloma" on one foot, which we thought was a hot spot. Her skin's thickened there, so it's been there a long, long time, giving her chronic burning neuropathy and itch. The vet shot it up with cortisone and bandaged it, and it should feel better soon. The bandage has to stay on for a month. She's fine with it.
She also has arthritis, but after one dose of Rimadyl, she's rolling in the grass and kicking her feet.
Did I say she's 15? They're not positive, but that's the estimate.
I can't express what a sweet dog she is - chronic pain, some small degree of neglect (we know she was dropped off by a family who had to put Grandma in a home, and brought Grandma's dog to the pound shortly after, perhaps Grandma wasn't able to focus on the dog enough to make sure things like foot injuries were managed), and old age - and she's *nothing* but love. She assumes the whole world will treat her kindly. Small rooms are scary, hard floors are scary. "Inside" is a bit scary. But now she's asleep on the papasan cushion in front of a radiant heater, and all is right with her world.
We're only fostering Sadie. She's going to head off, eventually, to a forever home. Even if her forever isn't *long*, we hope to ensure it will be happy.
So far, Sadie's care has cost FOFAS $180 in medical bills. She will require about $60 in meds and $100 in blood tests next May, and I'm not sure after that. She's probably got two healthy, happy years left on her, maybe a few more than that, with just arthritis meds and the occasional cortisone shot to keep her going. If you'd like to donate to Sadie's care, visit the "dogs" page at FOFAS, scroll/search down to Sadie's pictures, and donate through paypal there.
Getting to take care of Sadie for awhile will be an awesome way to start my 48th year.
Thanks :)