Long live Sig & Sip

Wow - I think it is a done deal. (-: I mailed Sippi's records to Sigrid's son on Friday. As you recall, he is a veterinarian. Sigrid has reported that Sippi woke up to a loud noise in the middle of the night. She barked a bit and did a perimeter check of the house. Sigrid was really pleased with that. It seems the two are hitting it off quite well. I can't thank everyone enough for everything they've done to help make this a success story.

Long live Sig & Sip

Sig & Sip (-:

Yesterday I took Sippi to meet Sigrid. Sig lost her dog BD to most likely a congenital heart problem. We have a mutual acquantance that suggested we meet. So Sippi is on a trial at Sigrid's house for the week! Word has it and I'm cautiously optimistic, that Sip is doing great and Sig is thrilled.

I couldn't ask for a better place for Sippi. She is the only pet so getting lots of undivided attention. There is a big fenced backyard full of native plants and hidy spots to explore. A couple of little ponds will make her feel right at home. Sippi gets full roam of the house and Sigrid likes the fact that Sip might be a bit of a deterrant as well as a companion. I think Sigrid would like it if Sippi took care of a couple of mice and maybe a squirrel or two in the backyard. A final plus is that Sigrid's son is a vet. The girls are in good hands.

Thanks everyone for helping give this girl a chance. She gave me lots of kisses before I left. I miss not having her down in the basement but am so glad she is in a good spot. It took a while, about nine months (funny time frame) but now Sip is on to the life of a kept dog.

Another call ... crossing fingers toes and paws

Crossing our fingers, toes, and paws ... Sip got a call tonight. Maybe a friend of a friend could be interested in her. That would be fantastic. Word sounds like the lady would be a great home.

It is sort of crazy in a way. Bally, my year old pup, is a wiggly and wriggly bad girl. She tries and has learned a few things but really, Sip is the laid back girl. I'm giving away the smarter, calmer dog.

More advertising

So, we are trying a new tactic. One of Sip's aunties is going to try to advertise her in another location. Sip's auntie is having trouble with her email. She did not get one hit at all from her recent post on craigslist or freecycle. This is making me nuts.

No luck

Picked up Sippi last night from being boarded for 7 nights. She was a little excited with all the commotion going on in the vet's office. Today she is back to her usual self. She is always happy when I come down in the morning to let her out and give her breakfast.

I've put a second notice on freecycle, another note in facebook, and two separate ads on craigslist. No luck. This is really not good. Everyone said she would have a better chance of being adopted if she were healthy and up to date. I feel duped. I will have to board her again next week for a meeting and possibly more after that if I want to visit friends for vacation. I can't afford all of that. Besides it isn't good for her. I don't know what to do with her. I think the vets just wanted the money. I should've had her euthanized.

Sip got noticed

Sip got noticed again when I took my car in for servicing. A guy was really interested in her but he has kids under the age of 7. I honestly don't know how she is with them. Probably okay but I can't say for sure. She has been sweet with everyone else so far.

I took her for a walk on the beach the other day. She was so cute. She loved running back and forth across the stream. She would actually try to launch herself across it, landing right in the middle then one big hop to get out. Sip seemed to really enjoy it. Girl is getting so attached to me.

So now starts a very long few weeks of boarding her. There is potentially a month worth of days she will need to go somewhere. She got no hits from the craigs list ad and only one from my freecycle listing. Now I'm gone too much to try to advertise. This is really eating my budget.

No go

No go. The potential interest decided to take their current dog to LSU for potential treatment. Talk about good dog owners! Anyway, not sure Sip would've been right anyway. Got another lead from freecycle but Sip is probably too big. She looks small but is really medium sized. ugh. I have to go out of town next week and wish she could be happy in a new home.

Got a call

Well! I actually got a call from a flyer that I left in my vet's office. The first one from the flyer ever. The guy wanted to know more about Sip and may meet her on Saturday. I'm concerned because he has a 12 year old female dog that is going blind. So I guess first things first, he meets her. If he likes Sippi then we'll introduce the dogs.

I'm sad about her leaving and worried the guy won't call back. What a mess!

Sip is ready.

Today I had Sippi's staples taken out. She is now ready. Sippi is up to date on vaccinations, has made it through her heartworm treatment, and is now spayed. Bring on the best family to treat her like a queen.

Sip was a little sick

Hi All,

Sippi came home in fine shape. She seems to feel well though had a bout of diarrhea yesterday and last night. What a mess! I had to completely clean out her cage. I'm not sure what the source of it is so put her on rice and pumpkin. It doesn't seem to be bothering her though. But overall, she seems to be in fine shape.

Sippi is spayed!

Hurray for the girl. Today she had a very successful surgery and did just fine. I pick her up tomorrow. Sippi had shots, medicated bath, toenails trimmed, and a spay. Fine day at the spaw (-;

New Sip pic

Sip after a nice walk to the beach. She is feeling pretty well and enjoys getting back out there. Today she got to spend a couple of hours in the yard with Sandy.

Foiled again.

Foiled again. I have long days for a meeting next week and thought it would be a good opportunity to spay Sip while she boards. Vet won't do it for a full eight weeks. It is really pushing it for me because I have a week long meeting the third week of July. I just can't board her that entire time and don't expect to find her a home right away. This is really stretching my limits.

She is definately feeling better, wanting to play with a lot of dogs she sees. She gets excited. With feeling better she needs more stimulation. Chewing on her bone is good and she likes a kong I gave her. But that just isn't enough for the long times that she spends in her cage by herself.

Good weekend

Sip made the big time! She actually got a comment on her blog from a spammer (-;

Anyway ... she is definitely feeling better, rolling in the grass, and skipping around. Last weekend was good for her. I started taking her on walks to the beach. She doesn't go in the water so I'm not worried about the oily water, sheen, or anything else. She also got to have some yard time with Sandy. They played a game of chase. The Sandman is such a good sport. Sippi had a little coughing from that but was okay. She was soooo happy to be in the yard with him.

I'm going to try for spay again next week. I really think she is strong enough for it. THEN it will be time for re-advertisement.

Next month & close call

Well ...

Sip is doing well and I thought I could have her spayed this week. But while one vet had told me a month following her last heartworm treatment a different one said we needed to wait yet another month because her lungs had been so bad. I was realllly wanting to get that out of the way. With the spay finished, she'll be clear for new advertisement. I'm also concerned because as a result of the oil spill, we think, adoptions are way down at a local no-kill shelter.

Sippi is starting to roll around in the grass now. I don't think she could breathe well enough to do that before. She is also getting perky and wanting to run and jump a bit more. I let her off leash a little this past weekend and she loved skipping for a few feet. She also coughed up a bit of foam. So that activity still has to be closely monitored.

Last Friday the air con guy was at the house. I was closing things up after he left and unbeknownst to me, one of the cats had slipped into the basement. One of my worst fears and the very cat I worry about. Sip went straight for him but the cat was behind a couch which gave him a reprieve. It would've been toast for Ash. I got Sippi back into her cage and then carted his majesty back to safety. I wasn't even sure what she was after at first.

Just another reminder that she needs to go to a home with no cats.

Sippi is doing well

Hey Everyone -

Last Friday was three weeks post the mega dose and Sippi is holding her own. I gave her a last dose of prednisone yesterday and am going to see how she does without it now. Later in the week I'm going to see if we can make an appointment for her spay and then, wow, it will be time to put her back out there again.

I took her to Petsmart on Sunday when the store was quiet. She did pretty well walking around. I kept an eye out for other pets and she behaved herself. Sip did a nice job sitting for a treat at the checkout. She does take those very well. It was actually fun to give her medication.

Thanks Everybody - Sip sends lots of toe licks (-;

Sip has a smile

Not sure if I've mentioned it before or not, but Sippi has a noticeable smile. She really turns on the charm when she is getting a nice rub down or tummy pat. I added up the tentative cost of that smile, $1498.76. This doesn't include her food, collar and leashes, jacket, sweater (heh! It was 25F outside), and the metal cage she is in that I had intended for one of my other dogs. I still have to finish her spay and shots.

Sippi is a good napper. She likes to snuggle up and prop her head on you.

Sippi breathing easier

Well ... Sip spent the weekend at the vet while I visited my nephew's family near Atlanta. We, my Sister-in-law and I, didn't get back in time to pick her up yesterday so I retrieved her this morning. She chewed on her bone a little and then went into an easy sleep in the back of the car. I think there is a lot going on there so she doesn't rest as well. It has been about 11 days since the treatment and she seems to be doing well. Don't want to jinx things, but I think she is breathing easier.

Came home to find a big thunderstorm took out my bedroom TV, computer cable modem and wireless router as well as a phone. Bleh.

So, what's next?

So far so good and Sippi is feeling better since last Friday. She was pretty wiped out but was perking up on Sunday. Right now she is sitting in her cage chewing on her bone. I'm working on the computer and she self selected her cage, occupying herself. Such a good girl. Sippi just doesn't want to be alone.

So I hope she continues to do well over the next few weeks. Then she'll be spayed and we'll start looking for a new home again. ... hint hint hint ... new home.

Sip is back

She is pretty wiped out but so far has handled the treatment well. Sip is eating fine. I let her sleep on the couch in the basement last night. So far she is being a good girl down there. I think she is too tired to get into too much trouble.

Sippi is done with heartworm treatment now. She just has to stay really quiet for at least a month. The vet will test her in six months because that is how long it takes for the antibodies to leave her system.

In about a month Sippi will be spayed and then we'll start looking for that furever home again.

At the vet

So far ... no word from the vet. Sip is there tonight so I'm assuming no news is good news. The mega treatment must be going down. She is handling the treatment well and this is it for her on the heartworm end. She walked in this morning and everyone said hello to her. A tech came out and said, "She's so sweet. She needs her nails cut, can we do that?" No wonder she likes it there (-:

On the other hand, dog number two was incredibly bad last night. It is mostly chalked up to owner error, but sheesh!

The big day. Again.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Again. Sippi is still coughing a little bit. There are no big slugs of blood or nasty stuff coming up but she still coughs. I suppose we'll see what Dr. Bill says. I really want to get on with this but at the same time we can't do anything if she isn't optimum for it.

I took her briefly in Petsmart this weekend. She did well. I made sure she didn't get too up close and personal with any particular dog. A little distance sniffing was okay. She was sweet to all the people and enjoyed herself. One man took his little Pomeranian out of a grocery basket and then proceeded to shew everyone away. He didn't say anything, just used his hands to wave us away. I'd been standing in one place for about ten minutes when he showed up. Ticked me off. If he's worried then don't put your dog down next to mine. Strange people.

Saturday

Sitting here on Sip's couch with her tonight. She had to stay home today and was pretty vocal about that. She likes to be with you. Sippi does a good job of waiting in the car and not yapping about that. But leave her in the basement and she has something to say about it.

Sippi still has her cough. I think she is actually sicker than I originally thought. Apparently, pneumonia can be a secondary problem with heartworms. So we'll just keep up her meds. That is about all we can do.

Took the other two down to Mobile Bay twice today. Soon we won't be able to do that anymore.

No treatment today

Sippi was supposed to have her mega treatment today and tomorrow. She started coughing again yesterday, no blood, but Dr. Bill decided to hold off until next week and give her a new antibiotic. He says she has some pneumonia looking spots (via x-ray) on her lungs. I asked about her big gut and he said it is probably because of the prednisone, which we'll continue. I was really hoping to make this milestone today but have to wait a little more. At least she gets to enjoy the vet's office.

She's got a couple of new uncles out there too.

I've been writing a couple of mega reports while getting distracted with the oil spill.

Smart Sip

We had a really bad storm this weekend. It was particularly bad in Mississippi. While we escaped the worst of it here, we still had a good thunderstorm. Miss Pris doesn't like to get wet. She took one look outside and turned around to go back inside. I have a large umbrella and she did her best to stay under it! Smart girl.

The mega treatment is this Thursday. She spends the night. Since her coughing spell with blood last week, she has done much better. I haven't seen even phlegm since last Monday. She is back on doxycycline twice a day and I've cut back her prednisone to half a pill a day. I also think I need to cut her kibble back. She is getting fat. I'm sure the peanut butter bones are not helping. But she really likes them.

Good girl Sip

Well folks, Sip is doing just fine. That full prednisone pill she got a couple of days ago helped her. She has been back on that and doxycycline every day again. So no more blood or coughing.

She is such a good girl taking her pills. I put a dab of peanut butter on my finger, stick the pill in it, and she licks it all right off. Good girl Sip.

Bloody cough - darn it

I took Sip out of her cage this morning coughing. She hacked up a good sized blob of bloody slime. So she is back on a prednisone a day. Her tongue and gums probably are not as pink as they should be but otherwise she is her usual self.

I was really hoping we would get through April without an episode. But she has weathered these well before. Just means more rest for her.

To answer my own question from the last post, no, Sip didn't want me to sleep in LOL.

Today was a typical Sunday. Sip went with me to get a coffee and then the grocery store. She won't be able to do that too much longer because it is starting to get too hot. I take her for lots of rides and places with me because otherwise she is stuck by herself in the basement. The other pets get to be with me in the house. Sip is isolated. I want to make sure she gets good stimulation and socialization.

Bark bark ... and by the way good morning

First things first!! Sip has another benefactor!! She may actually be able to make a donation in her own name by the time this is all over (-:
Thank you to the "Sues"!! You guys know who you are!

The last few days Sippi has started barking early in the morning. In the past, I'd learned that meant she was about to mess up her cage, but not so lately. I'm wondering if she knows it is time to get up and go to work? Hearing no stirring in the house, perhaps she is telling me to hurry up or I'll be late? It could also mean, "I'm sick of being down here by myself. I'm awake already. Come get me!" LOL

The rest of the herd knows they are to behave themselves until I wake up. The Sandman stays true to his name until I say, "time to get up." Bally, one year old this month, watches quietly until she sees me open my eyes then I get a good licking. The cats know if they bug me too much (digging in the covers) they'll get squirted.

The test will come this weekend when I want to sleep in. What will Sip do? Hmmm....

14 days post shot

Sip had her first immiticide shot on April 1, no foolin'. This morning I got her out of her cage coughing. I haven't seen any foam or blood like the last times. This is probably somewhat normal as the worms are breaking up in her. Yuck.

We took a short walk at lunch. She got a burr stuck in her paw. You would think she was a dainty little chi the way she stopped and held up her foot. She waited there while I got it out for her. The bottom of Sippi's paws are cute. All four have little white patches on them.

Hunger subsiding

The ravenous beast is starting to subside. Sippi is on 1/2 a pill of prednisone every other day now. This morning was the first time in several weeks that she didn't devour her kibble and go looking for more. She actually left some which is more like her normal self. Sip also likes a little bit of something special stirred into it. Maybe a teaspoon of canned food or a smattering of peanut butter. She gives me this funny look when she doesn't get it (-:

So we are back the usual grind. She barked for me this morning as I guess she was ready to get up and go to work. Knock on wood, she has not messed up her cage in weeks. We are just now waiting out the days for the mega heartworm treatment the end of this month. So far so good.

Good weekend

Hello All -

I picked up Sippi from the vet Saturday. Someone passed by as I was paying the bill and said she was a happy girl. She definitely likes to be in the middle of things. Sippi enjoys being part of the action. Then I took her with me as I went around town on errands.

Today, I took her to a plant sale. It was pretty low key so there wasn't anything to get her too excited. She got to meet some people who gave her good rubs and she returned some kisses. Out in the open she was a little more nervous. Outside she does seem to be a little more jumpy. She lives a very sheltered life now. I expect when she was 'on her own' whatever that looked like, she always had to watch her back.

So far her health seems to be doing pretty well. I'm hoping the worms are dying a peaceful death in there. We've finished the doxycycline and are down to half a prednisone pill every other day.

Sippi back in boarding

Hi All - I would say poor Sippi she is back at the vet, but she likes it there! I have to travel for work so she is back in boarding. I'll pick her up Saturday morning. She likes watching everything that goes on there. I know when I get her she'll be tired and stimulated.

So far her treatment is going fine. A little coughing here or there, maybe a fever once or twice, but she is actually doing well. Cross my fingers and all the paws out there. The big bad treatment will be the last week of this month - 29th or so.

Sip has two more Aunties in the Northeast - thanks Lisa and Terrie (-: It is really nice to know that there are folks out there who are helping. I don't feel quite so alone in the little predicament into which I've gotten myself.

Sip has a benefactor!

Happy Easter Everyone!

This morning was a little overcast. But it was warm, the birds and squirrels were chirping, and things were peaceful. I checked the mail from yesterday and found this fantastic note from a great friend. Perfect thing for Easter Morning.

A couple of days post-immiticide shot and Sippi seems to be doing just fine. There was a little coughing yesterday but that is to be expected. We had a nice sit outside, a massage after dinner, and Sippi will get one more tummy rub before bedtime.

Sip at the vet!

Okay, this morning I took Sippi in for her first immiticide shot. She pranced right in as though she owns the place. She is a social girl in some ways. I have not heard anything yet. No news is good news.

UPDATE: She's home and took things pretty well. I think she might be a bit tired. But she knocked over her kibble can so she must not feel too bad (I moved it). Now we'll just have to take our time through the month of April. Her next treatment will be on the 29th.

She totally wiped out her fund today. I so hope I can get her a home.

Sip goes for first shot tomorrow!

Wow! Tomorrow Sippi gets her first immiticide shot. I called to find out when I needed to bring her in next week and found it is tomorrow! Good thing I called. Dr. Morrison doesn't want to wait. So she'll go in early in the morning and I'll pick her up late tomorrow evening. The serious stuff starts now.

Had friends in town and they have three dogs. Sippi definitely could feel the excitement. There was a lot of coming and going, in and out, dog craziness. Sip had to stay quiet. When I took her out she was sniffing the air and couldn't get to business. With the herd around here, there wasn't a lot of sleeping between the woofs, barks, and howls. Even the cats were meowing it up. I guess everyone had a good time. Looking forward to Sip having a home where she can be involved in her family.

We are down to prednisone every other day now. But Sip is still pretty ravenous. She is still taking doxycycline twice a day. It is good she has the appetite because it shows the doxy isn't bothering her tummy. Which, is getting bigger hahaha.

Peanut Butter

If anyone has ever had a dog on prednisone, they've probably noticed several things. The dogs usually feel pretty good, they are thirsty, and hungry. Well, Ms. Doodles knocked over some things to get to the peanut butter jar. It was about 3/4 full. She was pretty stuffed when she rolled over to have her fat little belly rubbed. Sippi isn't normally like that though. She usually only eats what she needs. Silly girl.

She had a good day though. Sippi went with me on a car ride and then got to stroll the yard while I went on poopoo patrol.

About a week to go before the first immiticide shot.

The lonely road

Coming back from a meeting in Mississippi Friday I made a detour to Sippi's road. I thought maybe I might find something that would give me a clue to why she was there. The road is about a mile long. It runs into railroad tracks and a few homes. It also runs into Highway 90 and there isn't anything there. Nothing looked too good so either she wandered away from one of the homes or was dumped there on the road.

She went with me to my brother's house today. We were spreading dirt for concrete prep. Sip waited in the truck as usual. She was just down in the basement barking. I think because I gave her a little snuggle time and then had to put her to bed.

Been having modem and cable trouble. So getting online has been a mixed bag.

Someone is spoiled

For a road dog, Sippi has gotten pretty quickly into the 'kept dog' syndrome. It is raining today and I realized that I had the windows partially down for her. Yippee. I went to take her for a quick walk and roll up the windows. She jumped right back into the car! I've been lifting her up every single day. First time she's ever put herself in there. Someone doesn't like getting wet (-;

What do I do with this dog??????

Wow, the prednisone has really turned Sippy into a pig. Before she just ate until she was full and now she cleans the bowl. She has a little fat belly now. And she highly enjoyed a good tummy rub tonight before going to bed.

What do I do with this dog? Any suggestions?

Call it quits?

Is anyone reading? Is anyone following? I'm thinking I need to give everyone's money back. I don't think that people are really paying that much attention to this. After all, what's one more staffordshire terrier in trouble? Right? Who's going to adopt this dog?

Sippi's Warning

All I can say is that if you hear her barking, you better get there. Or she is going to leave you a nice surprise! She's not kidding (-;

Sippi got me up this morning barking. That usually means, "I have to go out right now or I'm going to mess up my cage." Good girl she held it. Then I spent some time cleaning up the mess she'd made the day before. I'd forgotten what prednisone was like and it really makes them have to urinate. That is a problem. It's tough to get her out regularly. SHE REALLY NEEDS A PERMANENT HOME.

Tomorrow we go back to the usual routine. I'll load her up in the car and she'll go to work with me. She hangs out in the car and I walk her during the day. I don't think it is good for her to be left long hours by herself. The other two have each other and can roam the fenced yard.

She's been taking her pills like a good girl. It doesn't appear very many people are following the blog. I'm worried she is not going to get a home.

BC

Today was a great day in South Alabama. I tied Sippi up outside near where I was cleaning out my brother's truck. Wanted to make sure she got to enjoy a little bit of the day.

When she isn't with me, Sippi spends her time in the basement. A junky, moldy place, that I live in denial it actually exists. But it has served its purpose for other strays that have come this way. BC started coming around I'm not sure when. I found out about him one day when my Mother said, "Don't tell Daddy but . . ."

But what? She had been feeding a feral black cat in the carport. BC, or black cat, came and went, often gone for weeks. My Mother was taking bowls of dog kibble smothered in milk to him. I think the raccoons enjoyed it too. Somewhere along the way, I started to feed him as Mother wasn't able to do it anymore. Over the weeks and months, I could touch him, then pet him, then lift him up briefly.

He had big fat tom cat jowels. There was a scar or two on his ears. One day his face was swollen with a terrible bite. Long story short, I caught him and took him to the vet. An even shorter story wound up with BC moving into the basement. It turned out, that after $500 worth of treatment, he had FIV or feline aids and had to be quarantined. Hurray for me.

What I had once thought was a mean, untrustworthy cat turned into a sweet, purring, drooling, kneeding kitty. I found out that my Mother was going into the moldy, stacked up environment to take a nap on an old wicker couch. She and BC were having bonding time. Eventually, he moved into the main house and followed her around like a dog.

My called me one day saying something was wrong with BC. It was terrible. I came into the kitchen to find him splayed out. He was hassling and a bloody foam was coming out his nose. I scooped him up and headed to the vet. But he died on the way. They tried to intebate him when I got there but his lungs were too full of fluid. The vet said that often heartworms can do that to a cat. He was fine one minute and gone within forty-five. I read the symptoms and they matched BC pretty well. After all the years outside, he must have been harboring a worm.

I'm still pissed about losing that cat. He turned out to be such a good companion for my Mother. Some of his black hair is still on the cushions on that couch. The couch that Sippi likes to sit on.

Back in the basement

Sippi fund is up to $325!! Thanks y'all (-:

Back from my week of meetings and workshops, I picked up Sippi this morning from the vet's office. She came prancing out, wagged her tail to see me, but seemed more excited with the general scene than me. I mentioned to Dr. Dixon that I thought she liked being at the clinic. She said, "I think she LOVES being here." Apparently, Sippi likes watching everything that is going on and seeing the other dogs.

Sippi came home with doxycycline, prednisone, and carafate. She is to take the carafate before the doxy. The doxy is to kill the bacteria that live in the heartworms. The prednisone is to help the inflammation from the worms. She has stopped coughing up blood. Her coughing has never effected her attitude, moxie, or appetite. We are tentatively looking to the first week of April to start the shots.

Sadly for Sippi, is the problem for all heartworm positive dogs, she has to stay on leash walk only. This means no backyard time with Sandy or even wandering there by herself. She'll have to be stuck in the basement, with the radio, her peanut butter bones, and tearing up stuff. In fact, I'm not 100% sure she is glad to be back as the other two dogs are.

Traveling back

Leaving late today for home. So I should be able to pick up her majesty tomorrow and find out what our next steps are.

Fund up to $300

Hi All,

Still on the road for work. The Sippi fund is up to $300 and I should be able to update the graph on Friday. This should definitely cover her pre-treatment costs with hopefully some left over for the next step. I didn't speak to the vet today so I'm assuming that is good news. They would only call if there were a problem.

Lee

On the road . . .

I'm on the road and out of town. But I feel like Sippi is in good hands at the vet. She did some more coughing up blood after I dropped her off yesterday. So Dr. Bill did a CBC which was 35 and he'd rather it be 40. He has her on steriods and doxycycline. The doxy is part of the protocol for heartworm treatment anyway. He did say we wouldn't be doing immiticide just yet as it would be "a train wreck." Hopefully she can get through this spell. It hasn't bothered her though.

Charleston is lovely. Has a New Orleans feel. Off to work -

Lee

Going out of town this week for work, I boarded two dogs this morning because I have to leave so early tomorrow morning. I decided that would give me some extra time with Doodles this evening. But she was still coughing blood today and it had me a little worried. I took her in early. Pending what they do for her, pre-treatment in her condition could very well wipe out the existing fund. Anyone that has picked up a stray animal knows all the costs that stack up against them. This is why so many shelters have a hard time taking in more animals. Not only are they already full with healthy pets, their financial resources are stretched thin.

People complain about veterinary costs, but those doctors go through rigorous training. They don't just know one species or specialize in one body part, they know multiple species and have to work with patients that can't tell them what's wrong. They are also using a lot of techniques and medications that are used in people.

Sip walked right on into the vet's office and wanted to say hello to a large yellow lab. He was as equally excited to say hi to her too. She wags her tail for all the techs and tries to be a good girl, doing what they tell her. To anthropomorphize her, I think she likes watching everything that goes on there. Hopefully, Dr. Bill will call tomorrow while I'm in my meeting (-;

Sunday a good day

Sip had a good day today. She got to hang out in the house with me while the other dogs were outside and the cats were put away. Then she went for a car ride and later today she got to roam the yard with my big dog Sandy. She likes him and will go with enthusiasm to the gate to play in the yard with him. I think it is too much for her though. She is still having bits of blood come up with her cough.

I say these are good things for her day. Otherwise, she spends a lot of time to herself in the basement. I have a radio playing but it isn't the same. I knew she'd always been a yard dog when I first brought her inside. She was scared of the TV, tucking her tail and always glancing sideways at it. She needs the quiet time but she also needs her own home.

Sip needs a home where she can come inside with the whole family, all the time.

Not the first time

Brief note - Sippi has been coughing the past few days and hacked up a nice lump of blood this morning. That has me worried but this evening she seems to be breathing better. So perhaps a worm died and it is working its way out of her system.

Now ... it is not the first time I've picked up a wayward animal. My last venture had me prying up cast iron storm drain lids to climb down inside after a kitten. My big dog Sandy and I heard it one night. We then spent the next four days tracking the little bugger. It was a tiny, fluffy, yellow tabby kitten. I was pretty outrageous - covered head to toe, gloves, hat, and a long straw I stuck into the cage. That kitten could be dangerous you know. With the straw I started to scratch the kitten's back and it purred ferociously. OC (orange cat) was a Santa surprise to three little girls.

My friend Marcy and I found three puppies at a boat ramp up the delta. One had a horrible wound on it's paw. It was severed all the way across save for a tendon holding it on. We spent a Saturday afternoon going from vet to vet until we found one that was available. The injured pup was put down right away. The other two got into a shelter and we worked to get them on TV. Before their big reveal we learned they had parvo. That was all she wrote.

But the one I keep thinking back to is Honeysuckle. She was half mean and half ugly, afraid of men except for my Dad, and barked incessantly at night at who knows what - shadows, bugs? My friend and I were on the way back from school and there she was on the side of the road. A bunch of trash was strewn along the woods and we found a package of balony that we used to coax her. I don't recall the conversation but somehow when we got to Susan's house, suddenly she couldn't take her. Honey was in really bad shape. She had two forms of mange, a malformed leg probably due to malnutrition, and we learned most of her internal organs were up in her thoracic cavity requiring surgery. She made it through all of it and including heartworms later in life.

So I kept thinking of Honeysuckle as I took Sippi to the vet. I thought that perhaps there would be something too bad to overcome that would be the definitive reason to let her go. But she wasn't aggressive with me and her food nor did she have any health problems that were insermountable.

The more I knew her the more she trusted me. She propped her head in my lap as I read a book. She looked up at me and I could see, "thanks."

Finding another home

I chickened out and Sippi went home to my basement. She was riding around with me during the day while I was at work. I didn't think it was good for her to spend really long hours by herself, isolated, in a crate.

So I started looking for a home or at least a foster one. Craig's list, petfinder classifieds, freecycle, no-kill shelters, rescue groups, friends of friends, and email lists pretty much came back with the same thing: no room, no money, no response, here's another contact to try. In fact, I'm now on a listserv for a group out of Utah that asks for my help. I didn't ask to be on the list but they want me to help Haiti animals.

If someone was interested, they didn't understand heartworms, didn't have a vet, or were scam artists. Crazy right, scam artists in the pet adoption business. I even stood outside of a weekly pet adoption event a couple of times. People were interested but ultimately decided on something else.

The bottom line and the revelation, Sip was like thousands of other dogs. Not the greatest and not the worst. She was just another sick dog, not good with cats, that was left to fend for herself. Thousands of better dogs than she never make it out of shelters every year. Thousands of really good dogs, beautiful, young and healthy, never find good homes. So here was Sip, average among thousands.

You ever feel average? Wish someone would pick you up?

A terrible night

My initial thoughts had been to let Sippi go when I first found her simply so she wasn't suffering on the side of the road. Now, money and time later, I brought her to my house. I have an extra large crate that was used with my big dog when he was still a very big puppy. So that became Sippi's new abode.

I kept vascillating what to do. I put out some feelers with rescue groups that might could take her. No luck. I waited several days while a volunteer for one local group tried to reach someone that could help. Nothing came through. In fact, I feel pretty positive they didn't contact her back.

It was a Wednesday night. The sun had already set and the rural road was dark as I drove home. I put in a call to the vet with whom I'd already spoken and was aware of the situation. The tech on the phone informed me that she was having a really busy night so she wasn't sure if the vet would call back.

As I was driving, teary eyed but resigned to suck it up and do it, a little dog came bounding along side the road. There was a car behind me and one coming toward me. I started to put my foot on the break. The little pup hopped playfully right into the road, in front of my car, and there was nothing I could do. My left front tire bumped right over him. I was horrified. I had to turn around and find the owner.

The little guy had gotten out of his pen and followed someone across the road. No one knew he was loose. He was on his way back home. I wondered about the karma of the situation. I was worried my phone would ring while I talked to the family. It didn't. The vet didn't call the next day either. I chickened out.

First Step in Treatment

Talked with Dr. Morrison today and the first thing we are going to do is give Sip a little extra care for her cough before starting the immiticide (shot to kill the heart worms). This will probably include a steriod and antibiotic. We'll start this next week when I have to go out of town and she is boarding anyway.

More on her history later . . .

Sippi's new home

The next day, after discussions with her potential new owner, I picked up the brown blob and delivered her. She climbed into the back of the woman's car and looked scared. But she had gone from the road, to the car, to the vet's office, to the car, and then another car in about 24 hours. I was informed, upon inquiring, that things had not gone well after her first night. She had lunged at a way-ward indoor outdoor cat, climbed up onto the dining room table, and left a rather large bowel movement in the middle of the floor. The next day I trudged off to pick her back up.

After more discussion it turns out things had gotten better, she would be staying, and I borrowed a crate to help with her training. Over the course of three weeks it became clear that the woman wasn't the proper home. The lady was having her own health problems and couldn't afford Sip's care despite additional vet appointments I tried to support. A visit to the spay and neuter clinic was turned down.

The final straw occurred when Sippi attacked a young stray kitten in the woman's backyard. This was followed later in the day, when a jubilant dog, jumped through an antique glass window of the woman's 1890s era house to greet her at the car. This I didn't learn until weeks later.

Sippi moved into my basement.

The first vet visit

A woman I called said she would take the brown blob from the side of the road. That was the only type of dog she ever wanted. The discarded, sick, and fore lorn that would be grateful and happy the rest of their lives with her. A vet clinic was in a perfect location on the way to my office. I had been a little teary eyed thinking I would have to let this poor creature go. But there was hope. I dropped her off with the instructions to tell me what was wrong and if the woman changed her mind, I would pay to have the animal humanely euthanized. "What is her name?" the tech asked me. Found in Mississippi and sippin' from a drainage ditch, the name sealed her fate. As anyone knows, once you name them, well, you see Sippi is still around.

The vet returned my call late that day with the news. Sippi had internal and external bugs. I'd seen the fleas mass on her side when I'd used a spare jacket to lift her into my car. She had a terribly swollen wound on the side of her face that the vet was unsure if it would abscess or not. This needed immediate attention. It was definite the dog had puppies in the past and needed to be spayed. She weighed around 37 pounds. And, she had heart worms. A pretty good case the vet said.

The next day, after a bath and $225 worth of treatment, I picked up Sippi on the way to a better life. I thought.

So . . . it was a sunny morning back in September 2009 that I traveled down Pecan Road, a swamp diversion, on the way to a meeting. As I dodged the pot holes I noticed a brown blob curled in the weeds by the drainage ditch. On the way back, it was standing in the middle of the road as someone in a truck threw biscuits out of the window to it.

I stopped. I helped the flea infested, emaciated, worm filled, wound infected, coughing blob into the back of my new SUV. Five months, fifteen pounds, and $700 later it is still being lifted up into my car. Her name is Sippi.