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Corinne
 
November 18 at 09:17
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I left her behind today...
Got a call from Wendy at the shelter.. They have a cairn.. shes 14, and she needs your help
So I said, I needed to check... tell me more
She looks healthy.. at least for 14.. she's very friendly, we need to test her for heartworm and give her her rabies...Her family said they are moving overseas... They dont have vet records.. they're leaving her behind.
I ask if she's sure its a cairn.. and she said.. wanna bet.. how about a hundred.. She could use a hundred.... and I laugh..
I checked.. Monika said... go take a look.. i agreed to keep her thru Thanksgiving.. but she would need a different long term foster home....
so... I picked up Jack after school and drove to the shelter... its about 40 mins away..I realize that if I pick up a dog.. we get to name it.. He votes for Eowyn.. I want to call her Precious...We arrive and Wendy's still there
I tried to reach you, she says, ... she's heartworm postive... very high positive.. that means there are heartworms you can see in her blood...
I say, well, we have treated some heartworm dogs.. but not all make it.. and she's 14.... can I see her...
I leave Jack in the waiting room.. I'd planned to have him see what a shelter is like.. then have us take a dog home.. a positive end.. but this isnt looking good now....
I go back .. yep its a cairn and a pudgy one too... been groomed badly...
We go into a room.. a schnauzer nearly opens a cage on the way.. but Wendy doesnt even miss a step as she hip shuts it as we walk along..
I sit on the floor and say hello.. Her eyes not only show her age.. they are gunked up badly.. and when I remove the gunk, I see that one is very infected and nasty looking.. She seemed thankful the gunk was gone. She may be groomed..but the family probably hadnt done it regularly.. there are dirt chunks still attached to some of her hair.. her feet hair color shows the red of being licked... she has little lumps.. did my vet call those 'skin tags' and some real bumps all over the place.. her teeth make Frankies look clean.... But that isnt the real problem....Heartworms.. HIGH POSITIVE heartworms....
CPCRN has had heartworm dogs they'd helped before.... but even then... not all made it.. and she's 14.. with other infections... no shots.. I COULD WRING HER FAMILY'S NECKS..
If I took her and we treated her.. at her age and real health.. its very unlikely she'll make it. By wanting to take her... am I helping her, or condemning her to a slow miserable death? Why does it hurt so bad to do whats right..
Wendy has Monika's number..we call to make sure I should leave her.. Monika and I both know what leaving her means.. and what taking her means... Long life isnt in this dogs future.. its a choice of deaths.... a quick merciful one or a slow hard one... we agree, the dog stays at the shelter.... and both of us know what that means... and both of us know.. it really is for the best.
I left her behind today.. I'm calling her Precious anyway...
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Corinne
November 18 at 09:20
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To Honor Precious
If you want to honor Precious.. here is what I would like..
Tell her story to SOMEONE who is NOT a rescue person.. and hopefully they will think twice about making sure their dog gets their heartworm treatment...
and second convince them to buy a raffle ticket when the New Leash opens up on Friday.
it was not the price of heartworm treatment that stopped me from getting her.. but had I taken her in.. it would have been expensive to bring her to health... we have OTHERS in similar boats.. and we need to help pay for their treatment....
so .. starting Friday.. flog raffle tickets and tell folks to care for their pets.
thats my opinion
corinne
New Leash fundraiser
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Lynda and the Minkies
 
November 18 at 10:11
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Re: I left her behind today...
What a very sad story, Corinne. What a rotten family she had that never took good care of their old girl. Sorry you had to let her go....
XXX.
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Anouschka, Keira & Indy
November 18 at 10:14
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Re: I left her behind today...
That is a very sad story Corinne. So sorry you had to leave her behind.
xxoo
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Susan & McDuff
 
November 18 at 10:37
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Re: I left her behind today...
So sad Corrinne - I know that it broke your heart to have to leave her.
Susan & McDuff
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Princess & MacDuff
November 18 at 11:19
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Re: I left her behind today...
That is so sad. My heart aches for that poor baby. 
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Pam and pups
 
November 18 at 13:16
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Re: I left her behind today...
Yes, it is so sad. I hope the family that left her in this shape gets to realize what they did to a wonderful creature.
May she rest peacefully soon--in a place that was far better than she has been and know love as she should have while here.
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Angie
November 18 at 22:50
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Re: I left her behind today...
I hate that story.. and yet one we hear over and over. Will someone kind and loving be with her in the end? I'd hate to think of her as just another number in line.
Ang
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Angie
November 18 at 23:31
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Re: I left her behind today...
Where is this dog located? Isn't there anyone who could take her home, bathe her, love her a little but be there when her breathing becomes labored? If she isn't uncomfortable, can't she just go into rescue or a special needs home that can just love on her until she is no longer comfortable? It just seems so unfair - I just can't shake this poor little girl from my mind. She should at least be given a week or two of a family. She needs to feel a supportive 'pack' around her. :(
Angie
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Katie & the Gang
November 19 at 08:34
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Re: I left her behind today...
CORINNE, WHERE IS THIS DOG? I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST LOOK INTO HELPING HER. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, BUT I'D LIKE TO TRY. I HAVE A SISTER-IN-LAW WHO'S A VET TECH IN THE DC AREA, AND I KNOW YOU'RE IN MD, SO I'M ASSUMING SHE'S AT A SHELTER IN THAT VICINITY. AT THE VERY LEAST, I'D LIKE TO OFFER HER A MORE GENTLE PASSING THAN BEING PUT DOWN IN A SHELTER.
Katie, Chelsea, Cubby, Misty, Sammy
Cairn Rescue League
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NH75.html
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Corinne
November 19 at 09:33
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Re: I left her behind today...
Katie, she's already gone.. and on behalf of Wendy, who was really very nice and caring to Precious, I think that this shelter took very good care at having her pass.
corinne
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Angie
November 19 at 10:10
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Re: I left her behind today...
This makes me very sad. :(
Angie
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Corinne
November 19 at 10:14
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Re: I left her behind today...
I know.. what made it hardest for me was coming home to Frankie..my 14 yr old rescue boy.. I looked at him..and saw what could have happened....
its just so easy to give them the medicine..to have them checked..
corinne
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Katie & the Gang
November 19 at 10:27
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Re: I left her behind today...
Corinne, if Col. Potter ever decides not to take a dog, would you please let me know? I will generally be willing to take it. Thanks!
Katie, Chelsea, Cubby, Misty, Sammy
Cairn Rescue League
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NH75.html
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Lynda and the Minkies
November 20 at 09:01
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Re: I left her behind today...
That's a nice offer, Katie.
XXX.
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Corinne
November 19 at 11:22
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Re: I left her behind today...
Katie,
Precious had heartworms - a very strong postive heartworm with moving worms visible in her blood, probably had skin cancer, and had a badly infected eye. The shelter had called me BEFORE they had even done a health check.
As you know, Col Potter does take in heartworm dogs that have a chance to survive the heartworm treatment.. had I thought she could, I would have taken her in.. I'm very persuasive..but if CPCRN had refused, I would have taken her myself. I made the decision to turn her down AS A MERCY TO HER.. I felt the quick stick of euthanasia was an easier death for such an ill dog than the poisons used during heartworm treatment..
Wendy at the shelter and Monika at CPCRN intakes agreed with my assessment. It wasnt that CPCRN refused her.. it was that we realized that her life was no longer ours to give or take, it was the manner of death we were discussing. It wasnt her age, or the cost of treatment to CPCRN.. it was the PRICE OF TREATMENT to her.. that she would need confined and poisoned enough to kill the worms and that in her weakened state it would be enough to kill her as well. If I didn't beleive she was at deaths door already, she would be in my home now.
I am truly not SAD about Precious. I am FURIOUS with her family.. but for her, the torment is over. She now lives in the glow of God's goodness.. she is whole and healthy again.
corinne
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Angie
November 19 at 11:46
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Re: I left her behind today...
Hi Corrine,
I don't think anyone is updset with you - or Col. Potter. I believe what Katie is getting at is she would have taken her and given her a little bit of a 'home life' until she needed to be put down - sure it would cost to treat her eye and such, but until she was uncomfortable, I believe Katie is simply stating that she would have brought her home and been with her until... well, you know. Treating a dog that old for HW is dangerous - I don't think Katie is meaning she would have done that either.
We all know Col. Potter does such wonderful work. You guys rock in getting dogs to safety, but sometimes the smaller groups have the room to take in the ones that don't have much time with us. We even have two foster homes that only take in the old ones until its their time to leave. :(
I really don't think Katie is upset with you, but wants to know she is there for back up in case anything like this occurs again. I know I would have offered the same thing if I were closer.
Please know we can see how hard it was for you to leave her there. We all have big rescue hearts that want to be there for each other and the dogs. I'm betting Katie just wanted to get her home, bathed and snuggled warmly into a fresh bed for her old bones and in a few days or even weeks if she had it in her, help her on over when it was time. That is all. :)
I'm just writing what I 'see' in the posts. :) I may be completely wrong - but I don't think so. :)
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Monika
November 19 at 13:44
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Re: I left her behind today...
I have to jump in here. Did any of you have there hands on the dog, to know what condition she was in? NO. So why are you second guessing the hardest decision a rescue worker has to make.
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Angie
November 19 at 16:57
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Re: I left her behind today...
Monika,
No one is second guessing anything here. Really - we trust Corrine - Katie was simply saying she could have taken her home. That is all. Corrine is a good rescue person - we have GREAT rescuers and pet owners on this site. Please know that no one is picking on Corrine. We simply wanted to know if there was anything we could do to help.
:)
Ang
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Taffys Mom
November 19 at 14:00
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Re: I left her behind today...
If her conditions were deplorable.....I'd want to think her last breath was taken in 'freedom' with someone showing her some love as she crossed the Bridge..... :(
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Beth & the Herbs
November 19 at 14:18
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Re: I left her behind today...
Everyone, I understand all the points of view expressed here. From what I have read, Wendy at the shelter DID care and to make the automatic assumption that this poor little one was left there to die unloved seems to me to be an insult to Wendy. Just because she was in a shelter does not mean that she was not being well cared for ... just the fact that the shelter called rescue in the first place tells me that they are caring.
I think it is a wonderful offer that Katie made. I commend Katie for making the offer as so many others in this world would not have even bothered.
Hugs,
Beth & the Herbs
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Corinne
November 19 at 12:13
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Re: I left her behind today...
Angie,
Had I brought her home.. the shelter would have been required to give her shots before she left.. AND even then, I would have been introducing a heartworm positive dog with LIVE HEARTWORMS IN THE BLOOD into my area.. which could easily been bitten by mosquitos here at my home.. and passed the disease on to other dogs living near me.. I dont know for sure that all the dogs in this area are on medication..and i would never want to possibly get one ill. (I live near DC.. we have tons of mosquitos)
Believe me when I say WENDY CARED.. she was so disappointed about the one she couldnt save..
and btw.. I am one of the CPCRN homes that does take in the oldies.. I got my 14 yr old westie from the DC westie rescue last year.. and most of the CPCRN fosters I've had were over 10.. including 12 yr old Ben... it wasnt the age. it was the level of illness..
corinne
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Taffys Mom
November 19 at 12:47
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Re: I left her behind today...
I can see some issues here from both sides......but NO dog should have to take it's last breath in a shelter, let alone a Senior dog that gave its life and asked so little in return....As for your statement about bringing a dog into your area with live heart worms.....ANY heartworm positive dog would fall under that statement!....Heartworms do not lay eggs like other worm parasites; instead they give live birth and the baby worms are called Microfilariae. Microfilariae are released into the circulatory system in hope that they will be slurped up by a mosquito taking a blood meal and carried to a new host. Microfilariae may live up to 2 years within the host dog in whom they were born; if after this period a mosquito has not picked them up, they die of old age.
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Pam and pups
November 19 at 14:47
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Re: I left her behind today...
Corinne knows what she is doing folks--you all KNOW her. You know she would not have left Precious there if there were any other choice; given the circumstances.
It sounded to me right away that Wendy was a caring individual. You don't really have to be part of a rescue or terrier group to love dogs. I work with a shelter that has wonderful placement specialists and I know it breaks their hearts when they have to do this. I am sure that Wendy did hold Precious as she went to the bridge.
Let's back off this before the loons that watch this board get on the bandwagon again. You have to put your trust in other folks sometimes and I know the rescuers that post regularly here. I trust them to do what they have to do even if it is difficult for them.
How about we make it a general rule that unless we were there in PERSON, that we just support the person that had to make the decision? Sound fair?
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Eileen
November 20 at 13:49
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Re: I left her behind today...
Let's back off this before the loons that watch this board get on the bandwagon again.
And what loons would that be people who do not always agree with what one rescue feels is right. Maybe another Cairn rescue or Small breed rescue might have wanted to try , all rescue groups have taken sad little dogs and have givin them love and a little more time.
Cairn Rescue USA
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Pam and pups
November 20 at 19:12
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Re: I left her behind today...
No, not the rescue groups. There was a small band of folks that caused quite a stink here a while back---none of which were associated with any rescue group that anyone knows of. They made false statements and attacked people personally.
Sorry if you thought that I meant any of the respected groups here!
Pam and pups
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Katie & the Gang
November 19 at 16:09
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Re: I left her behind today...
Angie, thank you so much. You are absolutely correct in terms of the meaning behind my post, and you put it much more eloquently than I would have been able to.
I would like to clarify in terms of bringing HW positive dogs into a home. I have discussed this extensively with my vets, and they have assured me that the risk of another dog getting HW from a HW positive dog in a rescue environment is infinitesimal, and nothing to worry about.
Not trying to be contentious, but I would hate for potential foster homes to think twice about fostering a HW+ dog because of this.
Katie, Chelsea, Cubby, Misty, Sammy
Cairn Rescue League
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NH75.html
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Terrier Club Rescue Forum
