Updates

Wow, I have been really busy, which means blogging is suffering. My trip to Kanab was productive yet brief. I enjoyed three wonderful nights with my Tina Louise(y) Wheezy, and met a ton of my new coworkers. The one thing I can say about working for Best Friends is that everyone is so passionate, and loves what they do, including me. Everyone works so hard, and it's evident in the creativity and programs that we have. It's very inspiring.

I wasn't in Kanab but two days, when I was called to help with a heartbreaking rescue project out of state. I'm still really not at liberty to discuss the details of this rescue. I can say that Arkansas, and Missouri (well, and a lot of places), have notoriously weak animal cruelty laws. I will enlighten my faithful readers more when the details of this rescue come out for the public. I learned alot, I was glad to go, I would go again, though the outcomes were disappointing. It strengthens our resolve to do more and get tougher laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect. We had a very good team and a wonderful volunteer network in place and seeing that come together was very inspiring.

In other news, Honey started her hydrotherapy. It was so cool, and she loved her hydro tech Wilma. We will go weekly and I think this will help Honey's recovery tremendously.

For my out of state readers, have you heard that Salt Lake City is the most polluted in the nation right now? We have all been breathing a brown soupy cloud for weeks now. Nothing was more evident that flying through the brown cloud on my way home last week. Inversion sucks! There will be a critical mass transit this week in the City to protest our terrible air quality. Uck.

Hope you are all well.

Holidaze

Well, Adam and I enjoyed a very quiet T-giving. Jaima and John came over for drinks and appy's then Adam and I made a lovely dinner...though the turkey was not so good. I think Mr. Turkey lived a rough and tumble life on the streets, and was one...tough...bird.

Yesterday we got our tree up and decorated in preparation for Scotty and Mel's visit- the little nephews Reece and Trevor warrant getting a BIG tree, so we went with a 10 and a half footer! But, our space is limited, so it couldn't be more than 3 ft wide...good challenge!

Hope you like it:

In other news, we found Honey a stroller, but it was a bust- she HATED it, and sang the Honey Donkey Opera all the way down 45th South- people were coming out on their lawns to see what that donkey/manatee/operetta was coming from inside the stroller....then she wedged her head through the back pocket and clawed her way out- embarrassing. But, we did get some Ruff Wear booties, and they are a GREAT SUCCESS- in addition to climbing V10 now, she can also wander the first floor of the house with her booties on without slipping on the wood floors- as Mel Gibson in Braveheart would say- FREEEEEEEDOOOMMMMMMMM!!

Facebook is killing my blogging. Sorry for the lack of updates. Hope all of my readers are well.

Right About Now

We need THIS for Honey:

Her shit still is messed UP- limping, and the new freakish repair is still shifting a few degrees each week. We've been xraying her weekly, she is now radioactive. She lives in a pen. My poor dog. If I can come up with 250 bones, this baby will be hers! Then she could have some fun adventures. If any creative, handy friends want to try to make this out of a converted kid stroller, let me know, I'll pay ya!

I'm Like David Hasslehoff

Not really, but this is a banner week for media. I must be big in Japan...or Germany, or somewhere!

Yesterday, my friend Chris pointed out that I am a centerfold in the new Urban Climber for an FFA I did in LCC about two years ago...oh well, better late than never, right? And, for those of you who have asked, Yes, it was scary. It's actually Ditch Witch low, or sit, or whatever it's called and was a fourth overall ascent, first female ascent. Back when I used to be strong, was motivated, and had balls. I remember the day well, I made Andy promise to stay on the ground and spot me with Justin, and he PROMISED he would and that he wouldn't take pics. When I topped out that boulder and looked over in the trees and saw Andy in a tree limb with his camera in hand, and only little ol' Justin on the ground, I was MAD. But, I was also so ecstatic, and I forgave Andy, as I was happy to have his amazing pics to remember it by.

Then today, again in design blog land, I have popped up again on Apartment Therapy, a republish of a shot that appeared about a year ago. This time, they have labled me as having an "Unstuffy Dining Room." Cool, I'll take it. I need to entertain soon in that Unstuffy Dining Room, because as of late I have been a total and complete shut in.

While we're on the topic of my status as a shut in, Honey is still struggling. I can't really write about it, because it's painful. She is still having problems on her leg that was re-operated on, and we go back in again on Thursday for another xray. At this point, I'm saying no more surgery...let's let this poor Honey heal and try again in a few months. And as if to tell me how over it she really is, she took a dump in my laundry room- a first, and hopefully a last.

That's the news for the day, and if you have any funny stories, I could use a laugh right about now.

Pic by Andy Burr

pic by yours truly

pic by yours truly

Surgical Stress- It's Complicated...

I'm not sure where to begin.

First and foremost, my Honey is home with us following another surgery this morning to correct one of her two failed surgery knees.

The surgeon, the best in the this entire region, has only seen 3 in 5,000 surgeries go this way. It really sucks when your dog is the one with the 1/10th of a percent chance complication.

In addition to her tibial crest fracture which wouldn't have been that bad, two of her screws had sheared, causing the whole plate to shift and the tibial plateau to return to it's pre surgical angle.

Now, the crux was how to fix it...he couldn't touch the two broken screws, so he moved the plate and did another placement. The crappy thing about that placement, and it was the ONLY place to go without shattering her knee...was that there is now a screw head sticking up in her joint. He doesn't feel this will be in the way YET, but there is no way to know. He used locking hardware

plates and screws this time (where before he had not).

Additionally, he had to drive two other pins in to stabilize the fracture, then added a tensioning wire for additional support, which now runs through one of the now vacant screw holes.

Since were are in unchartered waters here, we really have no idea if and how this repair will hold.

He is recommending that if it is successful, that in 6 months, we remove all hardware from this leg. Assuming her other surgery leg is doing well, we'll leave that hardware alone- he doesn't like to remove unless necessary.

So, we have nothing to do now but wait and see. I'm trying to stay strong. He said of the three he's seen that were similar, one dog was 'never really the same' and the other two fared well.

That's the news...I wish it were better, but Honey is still her cute little wiggly-waggly butted, licking, happy little pink nosed pitty. So, from her I take my strength and good humor- it's all we can do at this point.

Surgery Complications for Honey

Many of my faithful readers already got this news, but Honey's left surgery leg has failed. Her tibial crest has fractured and the hardwear inside may be compromised. I had been concerned about this leg all along- it looked more bowed AFTER surgery, and I raised numerous concerns. Finally, by Sunday, she started limping, where she hadn't been before. She didn't even limp the day after surgery with both of her legs being operated on. I couldn't figure out why on Day 10 of recovery, all of a sudden we were seeing such a backslide.

I brought her in to the surgeon on Monday, he manipulated both legs, watched her walk, and said she was just healing unevenly- but, he never xrayed her legs- and he gave us the go ahead to start pt/rehab on Tuesday (yesterday). The rehab vet was also concerned when she saw the limp. She took some films, which showed things in tact. We began two hours of hydrotherapy and rehab, when as an afterthought, the rehab vet decided to get another view on an xray. This time, a clear fracture was noted. She emailed the digital files to the surgeon, and he said it's a problem, and needs to be reoperated on to fix it. Mind you, we just did two hours of rehab on a broken leg.

Now, today, she is in so much pain on BOTH legs, that she won't walk at all. This backslide is devastating- I'm sick to my stomach with worry, and we go in tomorrow for another surgery. I'm angry at being brushed off in the first place (twice) when I raised concerns about the left leg.

I'm angry that she did two hours of rehab on a broken leg, which has now taxed the remaining good surgery leg to the point that she doesn't want to weight it. If both of these legs are sabotaged, I will die. My poor Hun Buns.

Please, send some good wishes our way. This has been beyond stressful. I can only hope that in the long run, this will help her. This is difficult because I was always on the fence about whether to subject her to these surgeries in the first place. Now my worst fears are coming true. I feel so helpless. I have to stay strong for my baby.

Honey's Recovery Day 3 Post Surg

Wow, Honey seems to be forgetting that she has Frankenknees...she just wants to moooove. She's annoyed that her area is restricted, and she has become very vocal to let me know about it. We have been walking several times a day to the corner and back (maybe 100 feet?). She isn't allowed to be near Tiggs for fear they will try to play...this will be tough, they are best buds, and they cannot play for 4 months! They will be able to walk next to each other however, on leash only.

We don't start rehab for another week and a half...I'm wondering what I am going to do to keep us all from going stir crazy. Meanwhile, Adam's been walking Tiggs and Winn and making sure they are getting out.

This pic was taken this morning from Honey's new lookout post by the front door. It's about the only excitement she is allowed.

Honey's Surgery Day 1

Honey is a BRAVE girl! She got through her surgeries yesterday with flying colors. Now we begin the long healing process. Honey's ACL's and CCL's were gone, and her meniscuses were torn and calcified. Dr. Dale Smith put Honey back together again by performing a bilateral TPLO surgery. Doing both knees at once has advantages and disadvantages. Right now, Honey is trying to stand up and walk, naturally this is difficult since two of her four legs are stapled and screwed together.

We will just take her recovery one day at a time, and she is a brave little trooper. She loves her food, and we're making her special meals that are extra, extra yummy. We also will be icing her throughout the day to help reduce her swelling.

Thanks for the good wishes!

Surgery Day Tomorrow

Everyone, please send us good wishes and thoughts and love out to the universe. Tomorrow, our baby Honey will be having her major knee surgeries, they will operate on both of them at the same time. We are very nervous- we know our Honey is a trooper, but it's very scary, and she will be in a lot of pain for a while. No playing, running, jumping, stairs, or dog door for a couple of months. I know she will do awesome, because she is as brave and tough as they come.

We will keep you posted, and her big brother Tiggs will be holding her paw the whole way, he's always keeping a good eye on her.

Special thanks to No More Homeless Pets in Utah for helping us with this surgery, along with Mountain View Animal Hospital in Sandy for donating their fees and anesthesia- they have been Honey's guardian angel from day one when they rescued her.

Two of my Kids are Poster Children

 

 

 

 

I am so proud of my 'kids.' Honey will be the next No More Homeless Pets appeal dog. This means that she will be on a special fundraising letter with her photos and story to promote adoption, specifically special needs adoptions. This couldn't have come at a better time, because we have learned that Honey will need BOTH of her knees operated on this year, at a whopping $2500 per knee, so our in addition to helping raise money and awareness for NMHPU and adoption, we will need to mount our own fundraising goals to help pay for Honey's surgery.

Also, Tiggs will be featured on a large poster at a sale to benefit the Morris Animal Foundation's Meisha's Hope fund, which raises money for research to find a cure and better treatment for Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. Tiggs can be seen on this poster, about the seventh row down towards the right- one of my favorite pics that we snapped of Tiggs while living on the road, in Squamish.

Bravo to my brave furkids for helping raise awareness for special dogs everywhere!

Playing with Joe's Camera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Official

 

Honey was officially adopted today, and is a permanent part of our family. We couldn't be happier. On site to welcome her to the brood was her Grampa Lipani, Tiggs, Adam and I, and Amber Randall of No More Homeless Pets.

Honey's Got a Grampa!

 

 

 

 

Today I took Honey back to the the vet that cared for her for 3 months. Dr. Hassinger of Mountain View deserves the Nobel Peace Prize in my opinion. It was a happy reunion, as all of the staff there were elated to see Honey, and they couldn't believe how healthy and happy she looked! They said it was so far from where she started- abandoned there by her last owner, who refused to treat her medical needs, bathe her, and wanted to put her to sleep. When they got her she was bald and filthy. They nursed her back to health for 3 months until they could find a suitable situation for her. It was evident how much they loved her, as everyone took turns coming to give her love and meet her new family- me and her new Grampa Lipani (too bad Adam was at work and didn't get to meet everyone)! Her new 'forever' Grampa, my dad, loves Honey, and she loves him. They took a snooze together. Later today I gave Honey a frisbee I bought her, and she looked like a flower when she put her face through it. She made me laugh! I'm so glad her story has a happy ending. We got her one month ago today, and she fits right in. Tiggs loves her, and Winnie still wants to kill her...we're working on it!