Atticus Update
Yes, we've decided to call him Atticus. I haven't really said much because a whole lot was going on with Atticus, the vet, the rescue and us last week. I don't know why I'm so surprised that we asked for a younger, healthy dog and we got an older, not healthy one. The same thing happened with Lulu in August from a completely different rescue!
At first we were angry because they lied to us and we were scared for Lulu. The vet wanted them separated ASAP (so Lulu wouldn't catch kennel cough--again!) and we had no way to keep them physically apart (so they couldn't breathe on or lick each other) and still give Atticus the care he needed. He had an awful infection where his incision was. He was fixed just 3 days before we took him home. On top if that he was burning up with fever. He was up ALL NIGHT coughing that Sunday--the day after we took him home.
I don't know what we would have done if our vet didn't step up to the plate. Actually, I know exactly what we would have done, we would have had to return him, pure and simple. We didn't want to. He didn't deserve to be shuffled back and forth again and we already loved him. We actually called up the rescue on Monday night and told them they had to pick him up. But they are all volunteers and no one could come and get him, we had to wait for the weekend and take him back ourselves. In the meantime, we had to keep him separate from Lulu--which meant he had to be kept at the vet all week. Such an expensive dilemma!
The next day we went back to the vet and we got his tests back. She could tell right away that he was older and she wanted to make sure that he wasn't so underweight because he had cancer--a common thing for Boxers. The tests showed no cancer, but the x-rays showed that his internal organs were much older than the rescue said (2 or 3) and more like what the vet had originally thought (6 or 7). She now tells us definitely 7.
Anyway, most of that's all over. Atticus has come a long, long way. His fever is gone. His infection is better. He's still sweet as can be. The vet has been feeding him AD pet food (the good stuff) and giving him his meds and keeping him for the boarding fee, rather than the hospitalization fee she would have normally charged. We are all so lucky.
The rescue owner called the other day and when she found out how sick he was and how long he's been at the vet, she tore up our adoption check. That made all the difference in how we felt about the rescue. I know this isn't the norm for them, but this dog fell through the cracks and this should never happen again. Atticus didn't deserve it. She even said they are going to change their policy. They are going to keep every dog they rescue at least a week to make sure that they can properly assess and care for them. If this saves the life of just one dog, or saves just one dog from all the pain Atticus went through, I'll be so glad. And I know it will help more than just one dog. Guaranteed.
That's all for now. Lunch break over.
At first we were angry because they lied to us and we were scared for Lulu. The vet wanted them separated ASAP (so Lulu wouldn't catch kennel cough--again!) and we had no way to keep them physically apart (so they couldn't breathe on or lick each other) and still give Atticus the care he needed. He had an awful infection where his incision was. He was fixed just 3 days before we took him home. On top if that he was burning up with fever. He was up ALL NIGHT coughing that Sunday--the day after we took him home.
I don't know what we would have done if our vet didn't step up to the plate. Actually, I know exactly what we would have done, we would have had to return him, pure and simple. We didn't want to. He didn't deserve to be shuffled back and forth again and we already loved him. We actually called up the rescue on Monday night and told them they had to pick him up. But they are all volunteers and no one could come and get him, we had to wait for the weekend and take him back ourselves. In the meantime, we had to keep him separate from Lulu--which meant he had to be kept at the vet all week. Such an expensive dilemma!
The next day we went back to the vet and we got his tests back. She could tell right away that he was older and she wanted to make sure that he wasn't so underweight because he had cancer--a common thing for Boxers. The tests showed no cancer, but the x-rays showed that his internal organs were much older than the rescue said (2 or 3) and more like what the vet had originally thought (6 or 7). She now tells us definitely 7.
Anyway, most of that's all over. Atticus has come a long, long way. His fever is gone. His infection is better. He's still sweet as can be. The vet has been feeding him AD pet food (the good stuff) and giving him his meds and keeping him for the boarding fee, rather than the hospitalization fee she would have normally charged. We are all so lucky.
The rescue owner called the other day and when she found out how sick he was and how long he's been at the vet, she tore up our adoption check. That made all the difference in how we felt about the rescue. I know this isn't the norm for them, but this dog fell through the cracks and this should never happen again. Atticus didn't deserve it. She even said they are going to change their policy. They are going to keep every dog they rescue at least a week to make sure that they can properly assess and care for them. If this saves the life of just one dog, or saves just one dog from all the pain Atticus went through, I'll be so glad. And I know it will help more than just one dog. Guaranteed.
That's all for now. Lunch break over.
posted by Cherry Red at 1:31 PM
3 Comments:
You guys are so AWESOME! I am so glad Atticus is doing better. When you get him home, give him a big hug for me, that guy needs it! I admire you so much for loving Atticus like you do. The world definitely needs more ppl like yoU!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Awwww, thanks you guys. Really, if you met him, you'd have done the same.
It sounds so mean to say that we didn't want an older dog with health problems--and thankfully, he doesn't have any long-term ones. It's just all too fresh after losing Niki in her old age and Kilroy before her. I just wasn't ready to watch a dog age so soon. But oh well. Things happen for a reason.
We could have bought a puppy and known what we were getting, but we chose to rescue. I have to believe that we're doing a good thing, even if it'll hurt to lose him sooner.
I can't wait for Friday! I bet Lulu is going to be so excited when she sees Atticus. And the vet's office is getting a nice gift basket with some homemade stuff, coffee and teas I'm putting together. I'm so glad we found her. She rocks.
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