Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - update - our dog rescue visit (LONG)

We had our appointment at the dog rescue this morning and met five dogs! It was so much fun. ALL of the dogs we saw were really sweet, and any would probably be a great dog for us. So, since we can't have five dogs we had to be ruthless and eliminate some of them from the running. We decided against Vega, my favorite going in. While being an absolutely gorgeous dog, she was shedding quite a bit - one of the things we wanted to try to minimize this time around. Also, we were seated on a couch and she was climbing all over us and getting in our faces, while some of the other dogs we saw were much more calm and well-trained. Being part Australian Shepherd, we felt she was probably too energetic for us...but we were happy to hear there are three other families who put in an application for her. I'm sure she will find a wonderful home soon - she is a very sweet and beautiful girl! Red, the other dog we were highly interested in, was awesome and we loved him. If I had to guess right now, he is probably the one we will end up with. :) We both clicked with him right away. He's a medium sized dog, but on the larger side of medium, big enough to make me feel secure when I am home alone. He was very smiley and happy but sat politely and did not try to climb all over us. He was very loving, and obviously enjoyed being petted and receiving treats from us. :) The only question mark on him is whether he would be OK with our cats. Here's his profile if anyone wants to check him out: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15982166 At the very end, the adoption coordinator brought out a dog named Melody, a lab-pitbull mix that she felt would be highly compatible with us. Melody is a year old but looks to me like a chocolate lab puppy. :) She is cute as a button, super smart, and probably the best trained of all the dogs we saw. (There is a link to a video of her below and she was much calmer with us today than she is in the video.)She sat nicely and did not crawl all over us. She is also known to be very good with cats - we have two - so that's important. I liked her very much but have questions about whether she would bark if someone came to the door or would be intimidating enough. I am home alone a lot when my husband travels. My husband liked her fine but did not bond as immediately as he did with Red. He also prefers a larger dog and Melody is on the small side. There is not a profile online of Melody here is a video of her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn3v9Q00jfY So, it is between the two dogs - Red and Melody. We are required to go back for a second visit, which is on Wednesday. We will have more time to interact, walk them, and throw the ball, etc. (Everything today was done inside in an interview room.) We have a few days to think it over before our next visit. Also the adoption lady clearly LOVED us and gently suggested that two dogs could be fun. :) We arrived home and Riley's beads were waiting for me in the mail. I felt the timing of that was fantastic. Tomorrow we plan to work on making sure that our fencing will be secure enough for a new young dog, and will scatter the rest of Riley's ashes in his favorite spot in the yard. Thanks for reading and following along on our adoption journey.

Jennifer

Jennifer, Having four dogs myself I of course say take them both. LOL! I think Riley will help you with your decision. Whatever happens there is going to be a lot of love going around. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Haha..if it weren't for our two cats and the fact that we live in a 1000 square foot house, we might. :) We have pretty much made the decision that it's Red. We both really like a larger dog.

Jennifer

They look gorgeous so good luck in choosing.

Sue Cambs UK

They are both sooo cute!!! Good luck with whatever dog you choose, let us know how it goes on Wednesday. I have 3 dogs and would never go back to just having one, but I think it would be best to just take one at a time and see how that goes and perhaps add one in the future. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile Pa

Hi, I would go with two if you can. I have a pitty cross plus a shih tzu x maltese and lots of cats and the two dogs both sleep together and are best mates. Two dogs are great company for each other but I can understand if one is enough. Good luck.

Julie Australia

Thanks all for your thoughts. I wish we were equipped for two dogs right now, but just don't feel like we are. It's pushing it to bring in even one young dog with my two elderly cats in the home...but I've said that when they pass on, we will add a second dog instead of getting more cats. I would really like to get a Greyhound as a second dog.

Jennifer

Jennifer, Although you have two dogs you are thinking of it sounds to me like you made your decision - Red. have you thought of planting a tree in your yard and putting Riley's ashes in the hole? Friends of our did this when they lost their dog, and the tree is a nice reminder of their dog. They planted a flowering tree so every spring they think of her. Our house is a mere 750 sq. ft. and having two dogs inside is tight, especially since these days all they want to do is wrestle and play! With our yard getting ready for sod it has meant lots of bumping into things in the house and more walks. Wishing you continued luck in your adoption process. Jessi & Toqua

Jessi BC

As someone who has dedicated my life to rescue and adoption (I work for Best Friends!), I say BRAVO, and rescue dogs heal the heart like no others. My vote is for the lab-pittie mix because in any given shelter, 50-80% of the dogs coming in are pit mixes and most never make it out. If one is lucky enough to get into a shelter that actually adopts them out, or better yet, sends them to rescue, they are oft overlooked. Great, great dogs, highly misunderstood. But, either way, they will love you forever! I just made a poster to help with some of our rescue projects that I help with, check it out :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/dzinelvrslc/ Best of luck in your decision, I hope that you find the perfect fit that will help complete your family! melissa and tiggs (IMHA and ITP survivor, pit mix, and rescue dog extrordinaire!)

melissa slc

I agree with Melissa, pitties are hugely misunderstood. In Australia, shelters are not allowed to adopt them and they must be put down. I have a pitti x and he is a lovely dog who is completely devoted to us. They are so often overlooked as being too big, too strong, etc. Looked at the video and she looks like the most adorable dog ever. Julie.

Julie Australia

Melissa, I just love the posters!!! They are awesome! A friend of mine that used to volunteer for Best friends gave me a membership when Kahlu died. This is sure a fantastic organization and well worth supporting! How is Tiggs? I have been thinking about him and hope he is on the mend. Best wishes, Brigitte & the poodle boys

Brigitte BC Canada

Tiggs is doing amazing Brigitte, thanks for asking :) He's Mr. Happy Pants, one of his many nicknames. When people meet him, they can never believe that he is 6 and a half, and nearly died from all of his trials with auto immune blood diseases. He's a giant, happy-go-lucky puppy, and we are so happy he's feeling good. Thank you for supporting Best Friends too, I remember that you said that your friend had given you a membership, what a lovely tribute for Kahlu. Some day, if you are in the States, you'll have to pay a visit to the Sanctuary in Southern Utah, volunteer with the animals, and visit Angel's Rest, it's an amazingly beautiful, healing place. I've said many prayers there for all of the dogs that I have known and loved, and worked with, including many on this forum. My best! melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Jessi - thanks for your idea on planting a tree w/ the ashes in the hole. We received a red fern as a gift from a dear friend when Riley died...as a nod to the book "Where the Red Fern Grows" which is a story that details a Native American legend of the sacred red fern that grows of the graves of the main character's dogs. (I've not yet read the book; she warned me to wait a few months as it's apparently a tearjerker). I've not yet planted it since it's been so cold but will make sure some of his ashes end up in the hole. :) Melissa - you work for Best Friends!? How cool! I wonder if you have heard of Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary, where we are adopting our dog from? They claim to be the largest no-kill dog sanctuary in the Midwest. It is truly something to see!! They are big proponents of the pits & pit mixes. Melody (the pittie mix) is an absolutely wonderful dog, and clearly one of the adoption coordinator's favorites; I'm sure she will find a fantastic home soon!

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, It's Wednesday a.m. and I just read your thread about Red and Melody...they're both adorable!!! So I think you're going back today.....yeah!!!I know you'll post as soon as you've decided...Good Luck today and I'm glad you received Rileys beads......I hope they warm your heart like all of my Cody memoirs do...Tammy

Tammy/Cody N.J.

Melissa, Very sad statistics about pits/pit mixes. My Jacob was a lab/pit mix and he was a gentle boy-- good with everyone, even better with small children. My cousin does pit rescue in PA and I just read on her facebook page how a few pits had to be put down, simply because they came from "terrible circumstances" and I guess the shelter thought they could not be trained. :(It breaks my heart. I kringe when I hear people say," you should never leave a pit around a child unattended because they can snap at any moment". Hello people......any dog can do that, any breed any size.

Teresa va

Yes...we are very excited for our second visit!! I will post with details. Red needs to have a second cat test (he passed his first one but they are being very cautious) and I am anxious to find out if that's been done yet and how he did.

Jennifer

Jennifer, Congrats on your soon-to-be new addition. Red is a beauty. Hi paws and hugs to you for opening your heart and home to a rescue. My AIHA boy passed back in January 2008 and I had another 14yr old non-aiha boy pass in Jan. 2010. I havent adopted another one yet but I do plan to in the near future. We have tons of dogs over in our complex so they are my "fix" for now. I hope I can stop at just one. I think that is what is holding me back. I could easily end up with a few. :) Cannot wait for you to bring Red home and post an update as to how he is fitting in with you and the kitties. I hope all works out. I am so excited for you and Red. Take care and once again CONGRATS! Teresa

Teresa va

Thanks! As for adopting from a rescue...we wouldn't have it any other way!! :)

Jennifer

Jennifer, The Red Fern. What a story. I saw the movie when I was a teen. And of course I bawled and sobbed through the whole thing! Very touching story, though. I had totally forgotten about it until you mentioned it. What a fitting gift from your friend! I too am a huge believer that pit bulls are not the monsters people make them out to be. It is the owners that typically cause the problems. I have never met a pit bull that has done anything but soak me with kisses, tail wagging so hard their whole bodies are bending. The one dog that I have been badly attacked by was a lab!! My previous two dogs were both rescues, Toqua from a city pound (Squamish) and Bear (flat coat cross who went with my ex) from the SPCA. I had a really hard time deciding to deal with a breeder (not only because of the cost) when getting Fin. But because of Bear I knew I wanted another flat coat. Their personalities are great. I looked all over the northwest of North America to find one, nothing. Maybe because the breed is so unknown most people think they are crosses? I don't know, but I do know that Fin is great, and I wouldn't trade my Ever So Clever (reg'd name, and it fits because he is anything but clever!). I have since discovered that there are FCR rescues. So, the next one will be a rescue. Keep us posted! Jessi & Toqua

Jessi BC

Our second visit with Red went great! They had given him a second cat test and felt he did just fine, so that hurdle was cleared. We had a really nice visit and was able to play with him unsupervised and walk him outside. He is just a beautiful dog. He is very loving and gave us lots of kisses. Toward the end he was rolling over for us and showing his belly. :) A good sign, I think! So, the decision is made! We do have to wait about 10 days to get him due to our schedule. They want to finalize the adoption on a Friday or Saturday so you will have the whole weekend to devote to getting the dog settled, making sure he knows where to go potty, etc. We have a commitment this Saturday that will have us out of the house for most of the day, so unfortunately we have to wait until the following weekend. The plan is for the rescue will bring him to us on Friday, May 21 and provided they don't see anything "bad" at our home they will leave him with us at that time. For those of you wondering about Melody, the pittie mix, the adoption coordinator said he had 3-4 other potential adopters very interested in her and she is confident she will be finding a great home soon. We are very happy, excited, and looking forward to Red's homecoming!!

Jennifer

Jennifer, Congratulations! You must be so excited. I am sure the sound of clacking nails on your floors will soon fill your house with a new happiness. A familiarity you must miss. So happy for you guys that it has all worked out! Jessi & Toqua

Jessi BC

Woo hoo, congrats!

melissa slc

Congratulations!!!!! I have a feeling it is going to be 10 l o n g days!!! Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Cheryl - lol - YES IT IS!! We wanted to steal him out of there somehow yesterday!

Jennifer

Wow Jennifer....I'm so happy for you and your family and of course RED!!! There is nothing like the joy of adopting a new family member...it's meant to be this way to off-set the pain of our losses. The life-cycle continues and GOD does a wonderful job of playing "Match-Maker". RED doesn't know it yet, but he's a VERY lucky boy to have a new home with you.....my heart is warm right now with the thoughts of happiness and Love you'll be experiencing with RED when he officially "moves in". When I realized back in November that Codys chances were slim with the AIHA, that's when I got Chrissy my lap-puppy....I have to admit, having her here and my other 2 dogs helped ease the pain, at least alittle. Thank you for taking the time to share your journey with us....it's good to support the good things as well as the sad stuff. Best wishes, Tammy

Tammy/Cody N.J.

It's amazing how excited we feel! Yesterday I went and picked up some things for Red - we'll be reusing a lot of Riley's things but we need the proper length leash for obedience class, and we are going to try the Gentle Leader headcollar on him. Also got him a beautiful new collar and ordered an ID tag online. Last night we were hanging out at our friends' house watching their dog run and play and fetch a ball. They are excited for Red to come home too. We are hoping he will get along with their dog so they can be playmates (Riley was not friendly with other dogs so playtime will be a new experience for us!). We used these friends as a reference for the rescue and Melissa was telling us some of the things they were asking and some of their "doubts" about us that she reassured them on. I know the rescue is only doing their job but geez...it makes me wonder how they adopt any dogs out! Oh well, we are in like flynn now... just need to make sure the house and yard looks nice for when they come to visit and drop him off. :) Friday can't come fast enough...

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer I do home visits for my rescue and I bring a dog with me and I am always impressed with the families who have a bowel of water out for the dog I bring:) If you ever need a second collar please check out http://www.thetrumancollar.com/home.php as 25% of every Truman Collar purchase will be donated to the Morris Animal Foundation to help fund research on Hemolytic Anemia. I can't say enough about these collars and leashes they are the best!!! Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile Pa

Jennifer, Looking forward to seeing pictures of Red in his new home!

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2010 and 15/05/2010

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