Bob's first check up

So the short version is that Bob appears to be a big faker!

I spent 4 hours at the vet today! Harley has an ear infection and Steve has an ACL tear ( Macgyver is the only good one this time around)


and BOB is completely fine!!!!

based on his teeth the Vet estimates he might be as much as 12 or a rock chewer. She did a full work up... x-rays the works -- she says she thinks he is a rock chewer -- she says his teeth are badly worn, but nothing that would be seriously out of line for a dog of that age -- there are no exposed areas that should cause him pain when eating hard food, nothing is loose - he has some tartar on the back teeth but nothing requiring any treatment ..

he is underweight - thinks he could use about 10 lbs - he was 63 today

his heart is good --

she thinks the respiratory thing is more of a cold than anything else -- he isn't doing alot of sneezing or coughing so we'll try some hanging out in the bathroom steam to see if anything breaks up if it gets worse, i'll take him back but she thinks this will pass eventually..( maybe i'll sit him in front of a steaming bowl of water with a towel over his head!)

she saw him stand with that funky gate of his and she was sure he had dysplasia ... till she took the x-rays -- his hips look great... there is arthritis evident, but there is nothing to suggest any muscular issues -- if there is something torn there it's very small -- she thinks the walk may be stiffness from arthritis or the result of an old injury that he learned to favor the leg and just continues to do so...

heartworm neg

we had nail trims all around; bob was ok with that more or less ( he is also scheduled for a visit to the barber next tuesday - isn't that where old guys go to get their do's done? I have this vision of him sitting in one of those old fashioned barber chairs in his bermuda's with hot towels wrapped around his face -- I really need some professional help! So anyway it's a professional grooming next week)

the vet advised that he should eat the hard food, and that he probably just doesn't like the hard... he's going to have to get over it... because when we got home and this is totally my fault -- he was trying to get into the grass and i was trying to get him into the house so that i could get changed and get to work -- when -- explosion out of his rear --all loose and icky-- had i been standing 6 inches closer -- well i just don't even want to think about that... that can of one last night loosened him up for sure! I wonder if that was his problem? right on the step into the house... i couldn't close the door -- so imagine this scene -- one of me -- 3 dogs in the house off leash, one outside crapping -- me on the door threshold -- trying to keep the dogs inside with one hand, hold onto bob's leash with the other and with my third hand pull the thing on the screen door to keep it open so it won't get crap all over it and not step in the mess in the process... hello worlds funniest video's!

so after washing that down -- thank god it was right there so i could just use a bucket to wash down the steps and walkway.. I penned the 3 boys into the kitchen ( in case bob had anything else in him waiting to come out, linoleom is a better clean up surface...) and off i went to work -- 15 minutes into my 30 min drive to work -- i realized -- i have had this dog for less than a week and macgyver satan's minion can be at times testy with other dogs, though we haven't really seen any of that so far.. but it's been such a short time... OMG how am i going to explain to the rescue how i have let Bob be chewed up by mac so i turned around and came back and penned him in the kitchen by himself and back to work i went...again.... Have you ever had one of these weeks?

tonight when i came home -- Bob was right there in the pack heading for the door -- i really wonder if he just needed a jump start to get his bowels moving and now he's feeling so much better? ( also wonder if he knows the i'm sickly and frail gig is up -- BUSTED!) ... his hip is still weird when he stands but it doesn't seem to bother him so at this point the suggestion is to do the supplement thing... and see how it works out -- if it 's not bothering him or causing problems then it's not really something to mess with at his age... if the glucosamine and chondroitin don't seem to do anything then we can move to rimadyl and other things but at this point -- the vet suggested just the supps -- i will be checking them out for bob, harley and steve since he has now been diagnosed with the ACL tear --

Steve's x-rays show his lower leg bone is out of line with the top -- she said it's not that bad a tear and doesn't recommend more than supplements for him either -- she did recommend not letting him rough house -- I seriously doubt that's going to happen.. that is all mac and steve do.. so she said that short of him coming up lame or having serious problems nothing to do for him at this point either .. at some point he may need surgery but until it bothers him... no reason to worry

Steve is going to have to go to the large animal dr though as he has gained another 10 lbs -- he is a hog -- there is just no nice way to say it! He has gained 20 lbs since he came in may ... i knew he was quite the little tank -- but i didn't realize what a porker he truly was! he needs a wide load sign -- but who doesn't...

So, because I'm a sucker, the plan is to give Bob some dry food mixed with canned to get him to eat and put on some weight, and then he's going to have to suck it up and eat the dry... he'll just have to have his poker buds bring in the contraband cans when i'm not here... but I swear if they mess up the electric can opener or if anyone gets cut opening them -- i'm not taking them to the vet -- though I suppose many of those cans have pull tabs now... and they just better put the cans in the garbage! By the way, Bob is quite a vocal dog -- he came and barked at me because steve was drinking and he wanted to drink -- i've never had such a talkative dog before -- not sure how i feel about this..

Bob the early days

Bob is doing good. Sunday was a bit concerning early on -- Bob didn't have much interest in eating -- wasn't even going for the meatballs. He finally did eat a can of chicken broth I warmed up for him and then later on ate some a few bites of kibble.. and i gave him a few more meatballs after mac stole the ones he didn't eat.

in the evening he seemed much better though quite stiff after having slept most of the day.. his rear movement issues didn't seem to improve much but we did spend some time bonding

today I penned mac and steve in the kitchen and left harley and bob in the bedroom and hallway - i didn't want to crate him as though i have one of those large crates, his mobility issues make me concerned about having him in a small space from 7 am till 5:45 pm -- and since harley isn't into anything that requires any effort besides her squeeky toys I figured they'd be fine... oh how wrong I was... you know how old people just do anything they want and don't really care what you think. I think I've got that going on here. I have a fireplace screen that I put across the hallway so the dogs can't get into the living room from the hallway and bedroom. I came home and there was harley and bob proudly looking out the living room window. HMMM.. so maybe I didnt' put that screen across the hallway this am -- I was running late... I left everybody out to do their thing and because I needed to run some errands put everybody back -- steve and mac in the kitchen and harley and bob in the hallway.... and i put the screen across the hall. You know how I know? Because I hadn't even made it to the door when I hear the screen sliding across the hardwood floor! Yes, har and bob, jointly, were pushing that screen away from the hallway so they could get into the living room.... could they have at least waited till i was out the door and couldn't see them?

I don't know if this foster thing is going to work out -- I'm afraid I may come home to all the neighborhood dogs sitting around the table playing poker & smoking cigars .... or since these are old dogs, it will bob with a pair of bermuda shorts pulled up to his armpits and black socks and harley in a muu muu playing canasta! it's not pretty here!

all joking aside, bob is feeling better, he didn't want to get up this am -- but by the time i herded everyone else to the door to go out, he had made it up and wasn't too far behind, he walks good but seems to stand like that right hip is loose. he didn't have much interest in food early today but did eat 1 1/2 chicken strip treats for breakfast. He's quickly caught on that we all come in after we pee in the morning and park in front of the frig so i can't get out of the kitchen unless I give out the daily pig ear / chicken strip

I picked up a can of purina one tonight and he inhaled that... I think tomorrow I will get him alot of canned food. That might solve some of his food issues.. i'm not particularly fond of canned food poop but I guess i'll have to get used to it .. He definitely could use a few lbs.

He is also on the vocal side... he barked at me today, because i was ignoring him... and tonight when we came in he whined because i was petting harley. once I scratched him he shut up.. he is very needy... he is pretty velcro-y right now ... when he lays down he needs to be near me and if he's laying in the opposite direction he frequently sits up to make sure i'm where he left me

he still seems to have some respiratory thing going on -- especially when he lays on his side... if he's laying with his head up .. he's fine... maybe it's too many cigars form the poker games?

everyone is getting along quite well. We've had no issues so either everyone gets it that he's sick and geriatric or for the moment it just all good. Hopefully this will continue.

tommorrow at 10:45 is the vet appointment, hopefully we will get a good look at his teeth and see what the deal is there as well as with the hip/leg -- now that he's had that can of food - i won't feel so bad about poking and proding him

still trying to get him in for a beauty treatment... boy he needs that bad as well...

You're all invited over for canasta!

bob and company

Bob's First Day

So we got home and did a spin around the yard... he sniffed everything - doesn't lift his leg much -- but I suspect it has to do with his hips -- which are really bad -- he walks like he needs a rear alignment

after we spend about 10 minutes outside - I decided it was time to meet larry moe and curly -- so one by one they came out -- harley sniffed him and pretty much went on about her business -- she really didn't care much

steve was next -- he was just vibrating with excitement -- i gave them some time to sniff and made sure that everyone was ok, before bringing macgyver out.. before mac came out, i do think carver had had enough - he went over to the fence gate where we came in and sat down -- looking at the door -- I think this has been quite much for him today

mac came out and there was more butt sniffing, no one seemed to have any issues -- i didn't let my 3 overwhelm him too much... he seems so fragile... we did all walk the yard a bit -- we peed on everything...

carver came in and drank about 20 gallons of water and checked out the house --

he didn't have much interest in food - but he did take 2 chicken strip treats -- he eats like it's painful to chew though -- and from what i can see his teeth are really worn

( i don't want to poke and prod him too much - he's been through so much today)

I left him outside on his own for a bit... and he did a really small cow pattie -- hopefully he'll eat soon and some purina one will fix that...

we all came in and everyone including me had some power nap time...

after power napping.... i have him a small bit of pizza crust -- he wasn't too interested but he did finally eat that -- that's about the extent of the people food for him though -- he needs to eat the good purina one

he has a dr appt in a few days -- he appears to have some serious hip issues -- he was probably sleeping for a good 2 hours and when he got up we went to the kitchen for a drink -- he walked like he was drunk -- his back end doesn't seem to support him or something -- he could't stand very well and he sort of crossed his back legs when he stands -- I don't know if he doesn't want to weight bear on one of his legs or what -- he's done alot of laying around today and I imagine he's been laying on a cement floor while at the shelter... so he's likely stiff -- but i'm rather concerned about him

right now he's laying 1/2 on and 1/2 off a cushy pillow bed -- i can't imagine that's comfortable either - he's doing a bit of half hearted sneezing / hacking -- sort of reminds me of the bad chest cold steve came with --

he is also in desperate need of a bath... I'm going to try to get him into a groomer this week -- I think he needs a professional job as i'm afraid with his hip condition he might get hurt getting in and out of the bathtub and It's too cold to do him outside....

he doesn't seem to answer to carver either -- he does answer to bob though -- i think i may call him bob or robert since it's the only thing that makes him look at me

i guess that's all for now --he's sort of snoozing - so hopefully he'll get a good rest - tommorrow he'll eat and perhaps with some decent food and a few meds he'll be on his way to a reasonable recovery

Bob the Faker - Foster # 2

So, finally, I'm back at it... got the taxes done and it's finally getting nice out, YAY! So I want to get back to the blog... My second attempt at fostering is underway. Carver, and older GSD was pulled from PACCA - a philly shelter. His time was up. Several GSR-SP volunteers, Leah and Rebecca helped out and formed a transport train and got him to the Lancaster Petsmart where I picked him up. He had a decent ride from philly. No trouble at all. We met in the parking lot, had a walk around and then after a couple of attempts to get him in the explorer ( he has some hip or leg or some sort of rear issue that he wasn't too enthralled with the climb up into the vehicle) he got in and we were on our way. I don't think he is a Carver. I'll have to think about what his name is. Anyway, we had a pretty uneventful drive home - Lancaster is about 2.5 - 3 hours from me - Carver slept much of the way. I was a bit concerned about him. He's pretty skinny and seems pretty disoriented. But, he was pulled pretty early in the morning and then has been in 3 different cars and travelled 1/2 way across the state, so I guess that's pretty understandable.

It was a nice warm day in early November when I got Carver. Soon to be renamed Bob. And the adventure begins again!

Sometimes thing work out for a reason

Before I get to all about Bob, I wanted to mention King. Sometimes things happen for a reason. King was a dog at the same shelter that Steve came from. The shelter was filling up, and Summer contacted the rescue about King. He was a young dog and needed out fast. Wasn't doing well in the shelter environment.

GSR-SP requires evaluations by two people - gives a better perspective - so some volunteers in the area took a look. I had seen his online post, he was a great looking guy. Appeared that he would be an easy adoption. I was all ready to leave work early to go pick him up, we had a transport arranged to get him close to me. I'm about 2 hours from the shelter he was at. And then I got the call.

The volunteers that looked at him had concerns about his getting along with other dogs. It was my call, but he showed some aggression towards others. It could be from the environment, but it could be the dog as well. SERIOUS DILEMMA! After a lengthy conversation, with the evaluating volunteers, I decided to pass. It was an agonizing decision. I potentially just condemned this dog to death. But, the words to live by -- you have to do what's best for YOU and YOUR DOGS.

I couldn't look at the shelter website for weeks. I was so afraid King wouldn't be on it. And I was afraid he would be. Being on it could mean he wasn't getting adopted and possibly deteriorating emotionally in the shelter environment. Which would mean death. Not being on it could mean that he was adopted, but it could also mean that he was put down. I couldn't bring myself to look.

We finally heard that another rescue's volunteers had looked at him and pulled him. He was placed in their kennel. Not the best outcome, but certainly better than the alternative. One of the rules of rescue is YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL. It totally sucks. In this instance, I guess he wasn't the dog meant for me to foster. If I had had him, I wouldn't have been able to take Bob, an older dog who probably would have been put down fairly quickly if GSR-SP hadn't pulled him. So, because of the way things worked out two dogs were saved. Sadly it doesn't always happen that way.

As for King, he got bounced around. He finally ended up with a GSR volunteer that also fosters for another rescue. She, like me is far from the main GSR-SP group, so we try to act locally as well as for the breed. King is doing well. He has a few issues but who doesn't! If you are interested in King, let me know and I'll update his status here.

Update 3/14/09

I want to post information about Bob. But, I have to do my taxes. It's getting nice out, and I spent a bit of time outside today with everyone, Bob is too funny! He wants to play but no body wants to play with him. So he comes and barks at me. Nice! Right now, Bob is sitting in the living room looking out the front window. Apparently there are invisible aliens landing in the front yard, because I'll be darned if I can see anything that needs to be barked at. Not to be outdone, MacGyver and Steve are helping to announce the arrival! I'm getting a headache!

I have most of my taxes done, so I'm ebaying. I really do not need to be spending any $, but I hate all my clothes! A bit more ebaying and then I'm going to balance my checkbook and then I"m going to finish my taxes. I swear!

My First Foster Part 2

So, I decided that I'm going to go ahead and post the conclusion of the story:

Steve, formerly Zeus, was pulled from the shelter by D-2gsds, a newbie foster parent. He was very ill with a respiratory infection and active lyme disease when he was pulled. He had been integrating into the two dog household for about a week when I received and inquiry on him.

The story continues:. Steve was on his way to recovery, he was eating and had put on a few pounds ... its amazing what being out of a shelter environment, and a decent diet can quickly do for a guy... when I received an adoption inquiry. A family with several children, not too young, not too old, and was interested in more information. They had a home near a metropolitan area, but had a weekend/summer place in the country with lots of room for a dog to run.

I promptly emailed them back that Steve was a wonderful dog, but that he had several more weeks to go in foster care before he would be available for adoption. OH NO!! I knew this day would come, but not so quickly. Now I faced a huge dilemma, for years, I wanted to foster, I finally got my chance. I had lucked out with an incredibly easy first foster dog. He got along so very well with my two GSD's Harley, my female, and MacGyver, my male problem child. In the short time he had been with us, I had noticed improvements in MacGyver's behavior; perhaps he was concerned he was being replaced by a new younger model; though more likely it was because he had someone to run off his excessive energy with, and someone who also enjoyed barking at bugs and peeing on all things green.

I knew going in that the point of fostering was to be a temporary home for orphan dogs. But, how could I part with Steve? He was the best dog ever; or at least one of the best 3 dogs ever, Harley and MacGyver not withstanding. Well, I told myself, it doesn't matter as GSR-SP requires that dogs remain in a foster home for at least 30 days before placement into a permanent home. Surely they will forget about Steve, and I won't have to make a decision to let him go, right? Wrong!!

Over the 2nd and 3rd weeks, Steve was here, I had at least 2 more inquires about him. The days sped by so quickly, It was all such a blur, other than the information that GSR-SP posted from the original kennel listing, I honestly don't remember doing a web post for him, and I couldn't understand how all these people knew about Steve and what a great dog he was.

I imagine it was due to our "handholding network". These volunteers identify available dogs in shelters as well as in foster homes and notify potential adopters who have contacted GSR-SP looking for GSD's with specific requests such as dogs in a certain age range or color. Now as his foster days were winding down, and Steve was definitely going to get a home, what should I do? Give him up, or keep him?

What an agonizing decision! I laid awake at night going over what to do. On the plus side, Steve got along so well with everyone, on the minus side, I'm a single parent of 2 dog children. If I bring another dog child into the mix will I be able to continue to foster, something I had wanted to do for years? There are so many dogs that need homes, was I being irresponsible to adopt my foster, especially the first one, when there were other available adoptive homes out there ready for him.

Since I have experience with problem dogs, maybe I should let Steve go because he was taking up a foster space that could be used to rehab a dog with issues that might not otherwise get adopted.

There was also my uncle to be considered; he had broken his foot early in the year and hadn't been to see me for several months. Although it's my house, he stops in to let the kids out for a pee on the rare occasions that I need to do something after work and can't come right home. I'm pretty sure he would pitch a raving hissy fit if he came by and found I had another dog. I sort of conveniently forgot to mention that I was going to start foster.....So many things to consider. What to do, what to do? I'm going to keep you in suspense a little bit longer....

When I first started volunteering with GSR-SP, I bet it's been 7 years ago now, I talked with one of the volunteers, Ranganath and asked him how he was able to give up his fosters. What he said stuck with me to this day, and I think it's a good guiding principle: Each one you adopt out, makes room to save another.

As a newbie foster parent, let me tell you what I've learned. I've learned that 3 dogs isn't generally much more work than 2. That even with a king size bed, 3 dogs will work together to ensure you only get the very edge, oh they'll move to accommodate each other, but I think it must be that herding instinct that kicks in to herd you off the bed. With organization, you can give morning pills to 2 dogs and treats to a third and still make it out the door, mostly dressed, in time to meet your carpool. 3 barking dogs isn't much noiser than 2, but it's good to live in a neighborhood with several multiple dog families so the racket can't necessarily be pinned on you. As long as someone gets to ride shotgun, Your car does have enough windows to allow everyone to stick their heads out. It is hard to say no to one dog that wants to be on the furniture when everyone else is allowed up. Unless there is blood, most dog arguments will work themselves out, and the pack will align on its own, so don't interfere, but be there just in case. It's very important to make sure that you maintain your position as the alpha. MOST IMPORTANTLY, Foster dogs are really really hard to give up.

I, as happens with many new foster parents, was unable to give up my first foster. I adopted Steve. After discussion and input from other GSR volunteers, the most frequent advice I heard was you have to do what is best for you and your own dogs. Ultimately, although there were several great families that probably would have been wonderful homes for Steve, he was such a good fit here that I couldn 't let him go. I can't imagine being without him. He is such a great dog, he just vibrates with joy.

But what about more fostering? After a couple of months, and my uncle warming to the idea, I decided to try again. GSR-SP was notified of an older dog in danger of euthanasia. I decided to try the foster thing again. #4. Bob is a piece of work! Check out his profile on our website.

Given that Bob is an older dog, he'll probably be here for a while. One of the unwritten rules of fostering, besides foster families frequently adopt their fosters, seems to be that ultimately you end up with a dog that stays. I'm ok with that. I sometimes think that maybe I should have let Steve go. But as he's laying here in bed keeping my feet warm as I type this, I know it was the right decision for us. 4 is my limit; so I might not be able to have a new foster for a while. And I know that they won't all be as easy as Steve. However, I pledge to hold at least one spot for a foster - long term or short term. And I'll remember what Ranganth said: EACH ONE YOU ADOPT OUT MAKES ROOM TO SAVE ANOTHER. It's important. We'll definitely do it again.

d-2gsds, Harley, MacGyver, Steve and Bob the Foster

so that's the start of the story.... I have some pictures that i'll be posting soon. ( oh, and yes that's why the name is 2 German Shepherds but the photos are of 3 German Shepherds!)

Bob is something to behold. We call him Bob the Faker! His full name is Robert Watson XXX - till he gets adopted and a new last name. I 'd like to add some more things to that list of stuff of I've learned... we'll get to that... Anyway, it's late, I have to get up early, and the group is outside barking at invisible pink elephants in tutus.

Check back soon for more!