Ahoy, Mateys! Lefty / Cap'n Jack Pupdate!

Shiver me timbers, I'm home!

Pawsome news: Lefty is home again! He spent Sunday night through Wednesday (today) afternoon at the vet being treated for his tummy ailments. I finally got to pick him up just an hour ago and he is very happy to be home with all his buddies again. Oliver missed playing with The Whack Attack! That's what we call Lefty...Wacky Jacky converted to The Whack Attack because he's so nutsy. So, he's home and doing just fine so far.

WHAT, I have to get another bath?!

The vets couldn't quite put their fingers on what caused his massive upset, but they're suggesting it was a combination of the Rimadyl, maybe a little something viral, and possibly worms or intestinal infection. They finally got the multi-point explosions to cease, thank goodness. They sent me home with the works for upset tummy: Fortiflora to help firm things up, Carafate to coat the belly, Panacur just in case he is wormy, and of course the fabulous miracle-working Metronidazole. Metro seriously solves every single tummy problem imaginable. That stuff is magic. So, Wacky Jacky should be good to go from here.

Lefty had has staples and sutures taken out while he was there for his tummy issues, too. His leg looks GREAT. Check out the before and after. His fur will grow back and he will look perfectly good as new! The eye looks great, too. You wouldn't even notice he's missing one at first glance. We are to continue doing the physical therapy exercises for the leg: bicycle rotating it when he's on the couch and shifting his weight to the healing side when he's standing. Barring any more surprise catastrophes, Lefty should be ready to head north in a week or two. Check out the video below to see Wacky Jacky in action (from a week ago).

Me foster mum says I should have me a bit of a lie-down

Yaaaarr, 'tis true mateys, I be a tired scaliwag!

Lefty / Cap'n Jack: SOS, Mateys!

Cap'n Jack is a pro at the side-eye

Paws crossed for Jacky, everyone. He's rather sick. We had to rush him to Village Vets emergency last night. He had diarrhea for over 24 hours, which is enough for concern. As I called the vet, it turned to blood. He was crying and obviously in distress. I thought it must be due to the rimadyl he's been on for two weeks, although I discontinued it the morning before when I first noticed his tummy problems. When we got to the vet, he threw up in the lobby. I really got scared then because I thought he must have gotten into something toxic. We have nothing lying around the house, but I thought maybe he could have eaten a poisonous frog or something in the yard. I was so scared; I know he's not a super young pup and that he's had all his shots, but it looked like parvo. They admitted him for overnight testing and monitoring.

He's also an underbite expert

I got a call at 9PM last night saying we could come get him. I said I'd rather them keep him overnight. Sure enough, his diarrhea continued throughout the night. This morning when I spoke with the vet (the same wonderful lady who operated on Jacky's eye), she said that he's stable but is still passing a lot of blood. His x-rays and bloodwork were clear, so no blockages or organ damage. He tested negative for parvo, thank Dog (the mere fact that the vet tested him shows how acute his symptoms were!). He held down a little bit of food, which is always a good thing. The vet said he's resting well, but she definitely wants to keep him for another day and night at least. Her suspicion is that it's viral, not something he got into. Either way, I know they'll take great care of him.

Behold: extreme ear scruff!

Of course, Cap'n Jack is as affectionate and feisty as ever. He is a staff favorite at Village Vets; he practically has to sign autographs when he comes through the door. A vet tech even asked us yesterday if he's still available for adoption, haha! They said they were wracking their brains for good pirate themed nicknames for him when he came in for his enucleation. Y'all should have seen how excited they got when I told them Lefty is only his "official" name, but that he actually goes by Cap'n Jack! Yaaaaaaarr, mateys! They absolutely love him. So I know he's in good hands. Nevertheless, it always hurts my heart when one of our guys is struggling. Jacky is one of my favorite fosters ever...he is such a lovey little scruff munchkin and is just so happy all the time, no matter what he's going through. So please cross every paw you've got in hopes that Cap'n Jack / Lefty will overcome yet another medical challenge. The poor little guy needs a break!

As if the costs of Lefty's FHO and enucleation weren't already sky-high, Perfect Pets Rescue continues to stand by his side no matter the expense. They could really use some help raising funds to cover Lefty's medical bills, especially now that he's had to have expensive tests and overnight hospitalization. If you can forego an afternoon coffee run or maybe even just a morning bagel to help PPR, please click here to donate for Lefty's care: http://www.perfectpetsrescue.org/donations-and-how-you-can-help.html

Bonus Happy Tails: Katie and Suri

When I had them...

Bonus happy tails alert! Remember Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise? I posted about their transport to NJ and adoptions a couple months ago. I've been super fortunate to receive continued updates on both of these precious girls since their adoptions. I really want to share with you how happy they are in their forever homes and just how adorable they both look. Huge thanks to both of their new families for taking the time to share these wonderful pictures and updates with me! It warms my heart to see their new lives. I couldn't have dreamed of more for Katie and Suri / Kit and Zoe!

First up: Miss Katie Holmes, now Kit! Judging from these pictures and her mom's correspondence, Kit is as adorable and feisty as ever. Kit's mom says her skin (remember how awful it was from the flea bites?) is doing pretty well overall. That one bad spot flared up a little due to the super cold weather, but with continued fish oil supplements and an antibiotic shot from the vet it seems to be under control. Wearing sweaters helps keep Kit from scratching and prevents flare ups, too. How conveniently cute! Love it. She's settled in beautifully with her new siblings. Check out how pawsome she looks in her fancy Christmas dress and Santa suit!

Suri / Zoe then...

...Suri / Zoe now!

Next up: Suri Cruise, now Zoe! Just. Look. At. Her. Squeeeeeee!!! Zoe's mom emailed me this picture. It's a good thing she told me who it was because I would never have recognized our little baby girl! Oh my goodness! She is so grown up and big! And surprise: she still looks absolutely nothing like her mama. Hah! What a goofy pair these girls are, honestly. I hear Zoe's about ten pounds now. She was barely five when we sent her on transport. I just can't believe how much she's grown and changed. Dachshund? Yeah, right! She looks like a baby Boxer or Mastiff. How ridiculous! Again, the only telling trait is the double dewclaw phenomenon. Otherwise you'd never know Zoe was Kit's puppy. Zoe's doing great. She's learning how to play politely and continuing her potty training.  Check out her transformation! That's all I have for now. Just wanted y'all to see the pawsomeness of rescue pupdates! Paws up for Zoe & Kit!

Lefty: On the Road to Recovery

Hey, my eye looks GREAT!

Lefty / Cap'n Jack had his femoral head ostectomy (FHO) on Friday. FHO is a major surgery in which they remove the ball joint (femoral head) part of the hip/leg. This leaves the femur free-floating. While this sounds extreme, Lefty is much better off without the fractured, dying, inflamed part of the bone. Leaving the femoral head in place like that would invite prolonged pain and infection. So, in a small dog like Lefty it's much better to just remove the damaged bone.

The vet told us that Lefty's leg injury was worse than they expected. Once in surgery, the vet found that the fracture continued farther down the femur and caused a great deal of inflammation. He had to burrow into the bone and smooth out the fracture line in order to prevent continued inflammation and spurs. This meant cutting into a lot more of Lefty's muscle and delicately navigating around nerves. Needless to say, this is very painful. Lefty was originally slated to come home on Saturday, but due to the amount of bleeding and extensive incision the vet thought it'd be best for him to stay another night. So, I picked Lefty up this afternoon. Aside from his hind end being shaved and the line of staples running down his leg, you'd never know he went through so much trauma. Good ole Jacky came around the corner with the same feisty grin on his face he had when I dropped him off. In just a few short weeks, Lefty will be able to function fully despite missing part of his hip. Just goes to show how remarkable and resilient dogs truly are.

Lefty's FHO incision 2 days after surgery

While he was under, the vet went ahead and neutered Lefty. He also had his eye stitches removed. The eye looks fantastic. I am so pleased with how everything has turned out for Jacky so far! He did great during all of his surgeries and has been an absolute recovery champ. I'll begin helping Lefty do some physical therapy in a couple days. The vet recommended simple balance and weight shifting exercises to help him begin using his leg again. All I have to do is lightly press on his good hip so he'll shift his weight to the recovering hip. That's it! That's enough to stimulate the muscles for now. He's still mostly on crate rest and confined to short slow leash walks, but in a week or so the vet said I can expect to see him tip-toeing instead of carrying that leg. That will be an exciting moment!

Look at that handsome face!

More pawsome news: Jacky can wear the comfy cone now that his eye is healed! No more sharp plastic e-collar! Everybody is so thrilled about this, although I already miss his fancy pirate tape. But check out his super cool brindle striped skin where they shaved him! Wacky Jacky's got tiger blood in him...no wonder he's such a tough cookie! And have you noticed his adorable alfalfa?! Squeeeeee!

Lefty goes back to Village Vets to have his staples removed in about two weeks. Then he'll be all ready to head up north to the amazing PPR folks, weather and health permitting. I can't wait to see him all healed and happy in his forever home! He is going to make somebody a wonderful companion.

To help PPR with Lefty's vet bills, please click here: http://www.perfectpetsrescue.org/donations-and-how-you-can-help.html

Pupdate: Lefty's Progress So Far

Wow! Lefty aka Pirate aka Cap'n Jack aka Jack aka Jacky aka Wacky Jacky is doing GREAT. And yes, we are nuts for nicknames around here. Y'all should know that by now. This crazy little bugger...ya can't keep a Boston down! I know that much. Jacky is no exception. Despite having one eye and a broken hip, he is still totally bonkers. I'm sure it's mostly because he's on crate rest, although we do make sure he gets gentle playtime breaks throughout the day. We've also realized he's still a puppy. He's got bright, white, sharp teeth and boatloads of energy. He's completely fearless and doesn't know any speed except full steam ahead. Unfortunately for him, that means his play breaks are cut short before he further hurts himself.

Having said that, I can't deprive the little guy altogether! I'm a sucker and a pushover when it comes to his scruffy little Energizer bunny butt. His favorite thing in life so far is his rope toy. I got him a mini rope that's not long enough to whack himself in the eye if he kill shakes it. He's obsessed. THROW THE ROPE THROW THE ROPE THROW THE ROPE! WHERE'S THE ROPE WHERE'S THE ROPE WHERE'S THE ROPE? I GOT THE ROPE I GOT THE ROPE I GOT THE ROPE! That's pretty much the bulk of Jacky's brain activity. I love it. He just cracks me up. He'd run on that broken leg all day long if I let him. Don't worry, not gonna happen.

The plastic e-collar is pretty much a mechanism of death and destruction. The vet said he can't wear a comfy cone because it would be too easy for him to smash it out of the way and rub his eye against stuff. Consequently, he's stuck in the hard plastic cone of shame. I hate cones. They make everything so much harder on the dog. Too bad, because as PPR's Allie pointed out, wearing a cone is much better than ripping open that eye socket. So don't feel too bad that Jack has to wear the cone. It's keeping him safe. Plus, his eye is looking awesome! It's not swollen or red anymore. Honestly, dogs are made up of Wolverine DNA, I swear. Their healing rate is unbelievable. Paws crossed his FHO recovery is no exception!

Poor Lefty has had quite a time trying to figure out how to fetch despite being confined to an e-collar. At first he just shoveled everything around like a bulldozer. Now he's decided that brute force is the best option. He smashes down on top of his target in an effort to squish the cone to the side so he can just reach whatever he's trying to get (usually the rope). This has resulted in a couple of barrel rolls / near headstands that have about scared the peewally out of me. It's terrifying, heartbreaking, and hilarious all at the same time. Watching him eat is a whole other thing. I had to hand feed him at first. Now he slams his head straight down so the cone completely surrounds the food bowl. He looks like a crash-landed satellite.

Wearing a cone plus only having one eye has really put the ultimate kibosh on Jacky's peripheral vision. He clips corners, crashes into furniture as he walks by, and slams into our legs. The other dogs are terrified of it (he chases them around like a maniac and smashes into them when he tries to get close enough for a good sniff). It slices and bruises our legs when he runs into us (constantly). So, a couple rescue friends suggested I wrap the edges in duct tape. In keeping with his Pirate nickname, I bought skull and crossbones tape and decked out his cone with it. Now Jack's the most stylin' pirate on the block. Probably in the whole city!

I am clean, regal, and SCRUFFY!

Cap'n Jack got a bath today. Boy, did he need it! Not only does he look like a pirate, but he smelled like one too. He was very well behaved in the tub. I could tell he actually enjoyed it. The poor dude just stood there, shut his eyes, and leaned into my hands as I shampooed him. He even let me *very carefully* wipe all the dried blood and dirt away from his face and eyes. He needed that so badly. I took his cone off so I could clean around his neck and ears really well. Gosh he's so much cuter without the cone! I let him keep it off for a few (closely supervised) minutes until he dried. He was SO excited to roll around in the towels and dry off. I'm not sure I've ever seen a dog peacefully enjoy a bath so much. It warmed and broke my heart at the same time. Judging by his behavior and by the color of the tub water, I'd say it had been a very long time since Jacky last had a bath. Bonus: now that he's clean, he's extra mega scrufftacular!

Lefty / Pirate / Cap'n Jack / Jack / Jacky / Wacky Jacky is a really great little dog. We love him to pieces. He is so affectionate, happy go lucky, and goofy. While he's certainly feeling happier and is on the road to recovery, he still has a very long way to go. Please consider donating to help PPR with his medical bills (see link below). Happy New Year, Lefty! I promise it will be SO MUCH BETTER for you than this past year.

http://www.perfectpetsrescue.org/donations-and-how-you-can-help.html

Meet Lefty, the Feisty One-Eyed Scruff Munchkin!

I'm super excited to announce that we are back in the foster circuit, hurray! My finals are over, we had our break, and now we're ready to roll again. Our first foster of the [almost] new year: Lefty aka Pirate! Lefty is a Boston Terrier mix...maybe some Scotty? Some Cairn Terrier? Corgi? Who knows. He's scruffy, spunky, sweet, and spectacularly adorable. He's small, 17.5 pounds, heartworm negative and probably 2-4 years old.

Post Eye Removal

Poor Lefty came into DeKalb Animal Services yesterday with a severe eye trauma and a busted leg. You can see how awful the eye was in his shelter photo. Eyes usually pop out of their sockets like that as a result of impact. That combined with the broken leg leads us to believe Lefty was hit by a car. Fortunately for Lefty, Perfect Pets Rescue came to his aid immediately. He went straight to a local vet for evaluation and had an emergency enucleation after the eye ruptured last night. Even though this sounds and looks drastic, Lefty is MUCH more comfortable without that awful eye. Ruptures are incredibly painful, as the eyeball actually bursts from all the built up pressure caused by the trauma. He is far better off without it. The socket is swollen now, but with warm compresses applied every few hours it will return to normal. Lefty will adapt to having one eye before too long.

Resting on the way home

On top of dealing with an eye removal, poor Lefty has to go back to the vet on Friday for a femoral head ostectomy and neuter surgery. They'll take his eye stitches out then, too. Needless to say, this little scruffy munchkin is having one hell of a week. But at least he gets to rest and recoup in a comfy, warm, [relatively] quiet place! We are thrilled to have him. After our family Boston, Buster, passed earlier this week, helping a fellow Boston in need soothes my heart. This little guy is super special. He's doing great so far. I even got him to pee despite the rain we're having today. He let me wipe him down with Nature's Miracle wipes (to reduce odor and clean some gunk off him a little) and takes all his pills like a real champ. He's spending most of his time resting quietly in a crate with a big fluffy blanket.


Lefty has THE CUTEST little wiggle waggle walk! He's actually not limping much at all, despite the busted leg/hip. I just love his tail, his mug, his fabulous bulldog underbite, and his funky personality. I'll continue to post updates on him to let everyone know how he does on Friday. Once he's recovered from everything, he'll go on transport to PPR in New York where he'll await his forever home.


While he's not available for adoption yet, be sure to follow Perfect Pets Rescue on Facebook and watch for Lefty to pop up on their website. I know the holidays just passed and wallets are thinner than normal, but PPR could really use all the help they can get footing Lefty's extensive medical bills. Lefty would love for PPR to be able to help others like him and he really doesn't want to have to get a job! To donate to PPR, please click here: http://www.perfectpetsrescue.org/donations-and-how-you-can-help.html

He's got a cool tail...

...and a classic Boston profile!

...a long Corgi body...

For the Love of Buster

I've got a bit of sadness to share. One of my family dogs, Buster, crossed the rainbow bridge on Christmas Eve. Buster was a nine year old Boston Terrier who belonged chiefly to my younger brother, Max. We had three Bostons growing up: Bandit, Birdie, and Buster. I've already told you all about my Bandit in an earlier post. Birdie is my sister's, although nowadays she's more my mom's since my sister went to college. Anyhow, Birdie and Buster were always very close. She's doing ok, but of course she knows. It helps that my sister brought her dog home for Christmas the day after Buster passed, so Birdie's had a positive distraction.

While we of course love(d) all three dogs, Buster was the sweetest, funniest, most wonderful of the bunch. Everybody loved Buster. He had the smushiest face of everyone, which earned him the nickname "Smush" among others (Smush, Squish, Busty, Bubba, Butt, Buttweed, etc.). Even though I know it's way TMI, I will explain the origin of the Buttweed nickname. **For those of you who'd prefer the mystery, please skip to the next paragraph** Ya see, Buster had a special talent for dingleberries. Translation: he needed his booty wiped every single time he went potty. What's more is that he oftentimes had grass sticking out of his butt afterward. Extra special. Hence, Buttweed. Anyhow, that's the end of the nickname story. Sorry for that, but when a dog passes you've just got to share everything about them with everyone. Even the not so shareable stuff. Never thought I'd be telling the masses about Buster's buttweeds!

Ok, for those of you re-joining us here, let's continue talking about how awesome Buster was. He was so snorty and so squishy. He had a big old head and comparatively tiny ears. He had bones made of rubber and would spend hours on end lying in the sun with his back legs stretched out behind him like a frog. He loved tug o' war. One of his favorite things was to hold onto the rope/tug toy and let my brother swing him around in circles. In their younger years, he and Birdie were best tug buddies. They played for years until Birdie lost her front teeth. Buster never quit. He lived for tug.

Buster was the gentlest dog...we got him when my brother was five years old and he'd let Max do anything to him without protest. I don't think I ever heard that dog growl at anyone. He was just so incredibly mellow and laid back. I've never met another dog quite like him: half clown, half cauliflower.

About four months ago, my family found out that Buster was in congestive heart failure. They did everything they could for him until he was no longer comfortable. Buster spent his last few days in the GA mountains with his family. He was on vacation in a cozy cabin with those who loved him most. On the way home, it became clear he was ready to go. My mom and Max took him to the vet the next day and said their goodbyes. They buried him in the backyard on Christmas morning. My mom says they're planning to plant a tree over his grave. I wasn't there, but I know he's behind his favorite avocado tree lying in the sunshine forever. He would have liked that. It's so strange to think of him being gone; he never outgrew his puppiness.

We love you, Buster. Keep Bandit company for us.

Birdie (left) and Buster (right)