tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50584228610430433992024-03-13T14:23:32.765-07:00Save a PennyDonate Now to Help Penelope Get the Surgery She Needs!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-63354762269823815832011-10-25T23:37:00.000-07:002011-10-25T23:37:21.883-07:00It's Been Forever Since I Updated This!Penny is doing wonderfully. :)<br />
<br />
She healed perfectly, has recently been spayed, and we even have a giant yard for her to run around in now! We also got her a friend - a fostered lab named Lanie that became a pet.<br />
<br />
The only complication she's had was very recently, when I noticed her favoring that leg again. Terrified that something had gone wrong with her repair, we rushed her to the vet. Well, actually we checked her paw for burrs first, THEN we rushed to the vet. Anyhoo, the vet started at her toes and examined up - and as soon as he got to her knee there was a *pop.*<br />
<br />
It turns out that either the injury, or the surgery to fix the break, caused the tendons that hold the knee joint in place to slip a little out of place, allowing the joint to move in ways it shouldn't sometimes. It's good it isn't a dire, immediate fix, because Penny's scheduled to be my fiance and my flower girl at our wedding in November!<br />
<br />
It can be fixed, though, once we have a little cash saved up, and in the meantime she has painkillers for when it gets to really bothering her. Nothing stops her from tearing through the yard (or her dog beds), though! True to her pittie nature, she never really acts like she's in pain. In a few months, though, we'll have the moneys to get her in to the local ortho surgeon and get his opinion on how to best fix it up.<br />
<br />
I'm just so glad her leg is stable and she's doing really terrific! THANK YOU to everyone who helped out! Here are some pics/vids of Penny (and Lanie, of course, they go everywhere together!):<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">When they first got a GIANT yard (after our apartment flooded and we had to move out a little early)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2AtkY8BbES0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lanie taking Penny for a walk!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ijrLZhaRP38?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Penny's gigantic goofy grin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rl2OZWO1lkOnEo2Rk1LgJWu_o0654YDxzT5n4odZf1JjX6mK27TGSMbikwFuYV0UAx0lATVnxptrq23MEX2uCZeM0vRd4sBCr_p4KAr3TVmyyB30Dp1TVwqvWn4SZVBX8Pom61_J-Ro/s1600/2011-08-29_08-22-14_243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rl2OZWO1lkOnEo2Rk1LgJWu_o0654YDxzT5n4odZf1JjX6mK27TGSMbikwFuYV0UAx0lATVnxptrq23MEX2uCZeM0vRd4sBCr_p4KAr3TVmyyB30Dp1TVwqvWn4SZVBX8Pom61_J-Ro/s320/2011-08-29_08-22-14_243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah Penny, no one was sitting there, s'coo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0r00Hpz1gOpmLGMx1qps5Q1GbMp_3hfGo7xOJ49t0sFDDGx6JJl8t1wnxvG2_6QPjhe_ShdQta4tKXV36dD3G1Zvel3uK4QWlYnEZ893U_DoQWMCpCsOaFiSgWPFdwMnXUTwjvCFxRk/s1600/264369_540430077426_79501871_31083600_850865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0r00Hpz1gOpmLGMx1qps5Q1GbMp_3hfGo7xOJ49t0sFDDGx6JJl8t1wnxvG2_6QPjhe_ShdQta4tKXV36dD3G1Zvel3uK4QWlYnEZ893U_DoQWMCpCsOaFiSgWPFdwMnXUTwjvCFxRk/s320/264369_540430077426_79501871_31083600_850865_n.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Penny's pout - after our apartment flooded we spent about a week in a motel. She was not allowed on the bed...at first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCtqn8zXlhHZPbjuxxo-pmM7Bg8NYzyaCaG5TbtA07o2PHMlcPL1ipp2NCjMtwLa_Rd81gJ-qRkGxOmWVoGUTZB9IIj3i7sWp_Caaib9nYnzadWJHM9yCrmRflBB5PWbW8JK5aQn7EKM/s1600/247033_538824594826_79501871_31060101_811459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCtqn8zXlhHZPbjuxxo-pmM7Bg8NYzyaCaG5TbtA07o2PHMlcPL1ipp2NCjMtwLa_Rd81gJ-qRkGxOmWVoGUTZB9IIj3i7sWp_Caaib9nYnzadWJHM9yCrmRflBB5PWbW8JK5aQn7EKM/s320/247033_538824594826_79501871_31060101_811459_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And giving her a bed of her own was also not enough. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhHVqlBQXuJWD92VbEZzZWvoo0ry8TJ6URYT-QxcKf5Ey3k3DskhU9-vqKUjpGxaOMjTfJsGs97kJk-mZV_i1nkVhZzVtoc5xFGw5yHlhpEh7Qm9Qi17EVhndjsUGvHEe0Jho4PEKXiY/s1600/246676_538825038936_79501871_31060103_6670488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhHVqlBQXuJWD92VbEZzZWvoo0ry8TJ6URYT-QxcKf5Ey3k3DskhU9-vqKUjpGxaOMjTfJsGs97kJk-mZV_i1nkVhZzVtoc5xFGw5yHlhpEh7Qm9Qi17EVhndjsUGvHEe0Jho4PEKXiY/s320/246676_538825038936_79501871_31060103_6670488_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Chillin' in the yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vmPugk6z63T2VCpp1c_vMPY6SrUaSm74voWhqqzW0o3yx3wUewdGJSW3Ete38nqzFxyzw9AjCc_byiP7PZUOyC8kUfosOU1gSJ2HN0o1mDnAU8wxSUZ2HGLUUBGHpedhgSFJrSu666s/s1600/255646_540035128906_79501871_31077362_7049514_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vmPugk6z63T2VCpp1c_vMPY6SrUaSm74voWhqqzW0o3yx3wUewdGJSW3Ete38nqzFxyzw9AjCc_byiP7PZUOyC8kUfosOU1gSJ2HN0o1mDnAU8wxSUZ2HGLUUBGHpedhgSFJrSu666s/s320/255646_540035128906_79501871_31077362_7049514_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Glomping in the yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABU06_M9qF7yUFN1cfyanAh02BjAGIFF3CHKG0kldk7g0UiLfUVljNfflKxaVuzQbySC7KM07ckQDd5K5sedjX9qI7zA3XwKlCo5EL-zdb59fSrp1SJ3o5PfPxaX9aAZPpsMnWNMOcwo/s1600/254161_540034944276_79501871_31077360_7490291_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABU06_M9qF7yUFN1cfyanAh02BjAGIFF3CHKG0kldk7g0UiLfUVljNfflKxaVuzQbySC7KM07ckQDd5K5sedjX9qI7zA3XwKlCo5EL-zdb59fSrp1SJ3o5PfPxaX9aAZPpsMnWNMOcwo/s320/254161_540034944276_79501871_31077360_7490291_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Why, that's a Penny on a box! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVv_LfVuk5oNBLWJQhJ073gjGlT8_0ZVMka9qma1tJJYIFq3Bz8jk_yciwDH0fErMJxNAq8RN1_bjvEXMpkNleHcY8O3DAqLUYnha30NLxBPN5DBGtea45FLJVrGjB2HlMXcycijYtz4/s1600/282507_544234243846_79501871_31105844_5219504_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVv_LfVuk5oNBLWJQhJ073gjGlT8_0ZVMka9qma1tJJYIFq3Bz8jk_yciwDH0fErMJxNAq8RN1_bjvEXMpkNleHcY8O3DAqLUYnha30NLxBPN5DBGtea45FLJVrGjB2HlMXcycijYtz4/s320/282507_544234243846_79501871_31105844_5219504_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And that's a Penny on a car! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wu3xGMUCTf84t95eXSPtyrqIRNlJdpvzxcY4Ego2lXtbTpvY-6HjycSIP7irRVzm31gybQlGsnHCzKVzzEbz2frZJbFAoS4QkcAV82W9wiTOj5duoN2pTIqnwZdBy7Ia9mJtcbtqE_c/s1600/270339_543019009186_79501871_31087535_6353174_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wu3xGMUCTf84t95eXSPtyrqIRNlJdpvzxcY4Ego2lXtbTpvY-6HjycSIP7irRVzm31gybQlGsnHCzKVzzEbz2frZJbFAoS4QkcAV82W9wiTOj5duoN2pTIqnwZdBy7Ia9mJtcbtqE_c/s320/270339_543019009186_79501871_31087535_6353174_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And that's a Penny on a me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtsDjnWv_bY_tFN1xAwjDbk0poWiBJfdjYElTjqrWOdX9reCrO4q3rBDCTEmUoNNwEBKqX-9ujReYWBSXoHWsuRLWBQONnMblRjjgu8Uq2UB3RvsJlx2qbpAod9BVbOiTWq4-0Pwsiqs/s1600/285530_545263511186_79501871_31122591_3531848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtsDjnWv_bY_tFN1xAwjDbk0poWiBJfdjYElTjqrWOdX9reCrO4q3rBDCTEmUoNNwEBKqX-9ujReYWBSXoHWsuRLWBQONnMblRjjgu8Uq2UB3RvsJlx2qbpAod9BVbOiTWq4-0Pwsiqs/s320/285530_545263511186_79501871_31122591_3531848_n.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lanie chasing Penny around with a litter box. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34gnJsbdvf1nTm1ihnbfOWo-vad0v_eRBKFcR7m7QSjieqdM6OpJsKw1dlPEq-jff5OUdInc2ISNNh6QWabEEsGQxW39eKR4eTAYkW4DsFJZYW9zrPvRsml6T1yP4I6Vx4RDvwT-CUXQ/s1600/306731_547214132126_79501871_31145051_1020483534_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34gnJsbdvf1nTm1ihnbfOWo-vad0v_eRBKFcR7m7QSjieqdM6OpJsKw1dlPEq-jff5OUdInc2ISNNh6QWabEEsGQxW39eKR4eTAYkW4DsFJZYW9zrPvRsml6T1yP4I6Vx4RDvwT-CUXQ/s320/306731_547214132126_79501871_31145051_1020483534_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Rolling in the dirt after a bath is her favorite thing to do, hands down, I swear. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0KaooZOGOpJiWZyBgyXJgP8kXWLC9fUQ6TG3KuL7C9aejbTnu_OD3vhIqoJF2p7_zdgFRqNNlmf656L7ds1rTWOXpLaY1wrv60qRVSA5LCqnNtxa0WX6ocJXuAySptXvhyT75LUx4K4/s1600/318819_546552842356_79501871_31138339_963280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0KaooZOGOpJiWZyBgyXJgP8kXWLC9fUQ6TG3KuL7C9aejbTnu_OD3vhIqoJF2p7_zdgFRqNNlmf656L7ds1rTWOXpLaY1wrv60qRVSA5LCqnNtxa0WX6ocJXuAySptXvhyT75LUx4K4/s320/318819_546552842356_79501871_31138339_963280_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">New toy time!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJu4cZblzYcEsWjh-4ykbfflRKPHMsfOnesnugdkD4uVphcFZ5AdLubRqqf4sxn_teN68UJoNlkGeHuWX0xh0RGMyMKBIfn-_cDESUPrtljXd9H7WQLQ9bH9kHFN6Mc1Uz5yqqSFxaec/s1600/321194_547970840676_79501871_31149737_699733875_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJu4cZblzYcEsWjh-4ykbfflRKPHMsfOnesnugdkD4uVphcFZ5AdLubRqqf4sxn_teN68UJoNlkGeHuWX0xh0RGMyMKBIfn-_cDESUPrtljXd9H7WQLQ9bH9kHFN6Mc1Uz5yqqSFxaec/s320/321194_547970840676_79501871_31149737_699733875_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-72426814164717848592011-02-21T21:57:00.000-08:002011-02-21T21:57:55.664-08:00Recheck #1No pet heals quite the same, even from the same procedure, but it's always better to be safe than sorry if one suspects something's gone wrong. We chose not to take any risks with Penny, because this close to the finish line, nobody wants to hear that there were complications!<br />
<br />
Saturday afternoon we noticed Penny's leg had become very swollen - not at the site of the surgery (which was up near her hip), but further down toward her hock. It was very squishy, like it was built up fluid, but didn't feel hot or anything. We called the ATA right away and made an appointment to have her recheck one week early - Monday morning.<br />
<br />
So today we brought her in and they checked her out, and thankfully, it's not an infection! We just need to do warm and cold compresses on her until the swelling goes away, and she should be good to get her stitches out in a week (in town, thank goodness). In three weeks (March 2nd) we'll bring her back to Austin for x-rays to make sure everything stayed in place and is healing well, and we'll go from there!<br />
<br />
Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far!! I'll keep ya posted. :)Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-15002522062610221082011-02-17T22:02:00.000-08:002011-02-17T22:02:43.130-08:00Healin' upNow that it's been a couple of days, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of how her incision is healing up. The goof has decided that she's completely better now, and doesn't need to stay off the leg, be kept in a box, or not bounce around. We think quite differently! The silly girl's got no clue how close she came to being a tripawd!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbL3JiRSUINq2CPEFZcy9AKbXuYwoNZNitO38P8jqQgBhxyYMnD0WkmKcEFJHEfiAQaorjTKKKavI6iS_jnj0Szq435oft3hCvUFqELIJdarNZqEMX8ieTz64piU3srOYJoX937TwvOI/s1600/2+day+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbL3JiRSUINq2CPEFZcy9AKbXuYwoNZNitO38P8jqQgBhxyYMnD0WkmKcEFJHEfiAQaorjTKKKavI6iS_jnj0Szq435oft3hCvUFqELIJdarNZqEMX8ieTz64piU3srOYJoX937TwvOI/s400/2+day+old.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Day 2 - healin' right up!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We're having a lot of issues with the e-collar right now. The plastic one they gave us was fairly crude and kept her from laying down, using the restroom, eating, drinking, etc. To take her outside you had to help her out of the kennel, remove it, carry her outside and let her do her thing, carry her back in, put her in the kennel, then reattach the collar while she was in the kennel because she can't turn around once it's on. Or lay down. Or look side to side. I wouldn't wish that thing on my worst enemy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGblWs5zDiulh_HYD-9ps3W2gjStUc5mShu8unUmb6muvFalomOhyphenhyphenfPX53gI5-vCTRc-Sf6-Q3AALBzaaTbjFjKj-ldXLTd7MPwXPCNlNlmNFCgrkVvL8Z_HNTZdELHUIu4BV0OeTF_Ng/s1600/plastic+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGblWs5zDiulh_HYD-9ps3W2gjStUc5mShu8unUmb6muvFalomOhyphenhyphenfPX53gI5-vCTRc-Sf6-Q3AALBzaaTbjFjKj-ldXLTd7MPwXPCNlNlmNFCgrkVvL8Z_HNTZdELHUIu4BV0OeTF_Ng/s320/plastic+collar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Her best pouty face!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So we tried something called a procollar, and it seemed to be working a lot better. She could go everywhere without having to remove it, and it seemed to keep her from messing with the incision without seeming to destroy her hopes and dreams (she gets oddly melodramatic about the collars, more than her leg!). Just this afternoon, though, I caught her licking the ouchie! Drat! So she's back to the yucky plastic cone until I can rig up something more comfortable but effective. With no bandaging on her leg, it's extremely important to keep it clean. I don't think she'd be so happy if we let it get infected and she had to go back to Austin early!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBokti8_BLGOaWqkLmPRq5ehDCF37PvLVJePCAxgUEZUOGup8vKil9MFA2ZTT81GnLCqQmp-3ThZ67aZDroIIWQFQV17Y4j2Yx2lt6-rGLl8zk28FW1zUOBQIQZ02O2m66K6V0a7V-Dc/s1600/Procollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBokti8_BLGOaWqkLmPRq5ehDCF37PvLVJePCAxgUEZUOGup8vKil9MFA2ZTT81GnLCqQmp-3ThZ67aZDroIIWQFQV17Y4j2Yx2lt6-rGLl8zk28FW1zUOBQIQZ02O2m66K6V0a7V-Dc/s320/Procollar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It sure is pretty, just not very effective right now. Lookit those perky ears!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In the meantime she's a very enthusiastic, happy girl. I can't wait to see her when we finish with our last checkup appointment and she gets a great big thumbs up!!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-66968872980445756602011-02-15T22:59:00.000-08:002011-02-15T22:59:37.558-08:00Hmm.That did not go as anyone had planned.<br />
<br />
We drove Penny up to Austin bright and early in the morning, and got her in right on time for drop off. We filled out her paperwork, gave them her x-ray from back in November and rabies certificate, and discussed with the vet what exactly was going to be done. The surgical assistant actually came back out before we left and expressed to us that amputation was going to be the only option because of how bad the injury looked, and that they wouldn't do a spay at the same time. I was really, really bummed, especially since they'd already taken her back, but I know the vet doesn't amputate lightly. We headed out to our friend's apartment to wait out the surgery.<br />
<br />
A couple of hours later I got a phone call saying how surprised they were to see the film was from a few months ago (seriously? I thought we did this whole consultation thing over the phone before, and guess how long it takes to raise $900). They said they had to redo the x-ray and discovered that an FHO was still impossible, but that they could do just a plate for, oh, between $900-$1,000.<br />
<br />
I had a mild heart attack, quickly asked my fiance if we could find $100 somewhere, anywhere, and gave the go-ahead to save the leg. Of course, what else would you do? Electing for an amputation when fixing it was only $100 out of reach would be plain cruel. We wanted to do anything we could to keep her on all four legs - that is the whole reason we're here. Yeah. Do it. We'll make it work.<br />
<br />
I did ask her, though - why did it get more expensive? Our first quote was $600-900. The woman said, and I quote: "That was from back in November. That was a <i><b>'guess-timate,'</b></i> not a real estimate." We will encounter difficulties with this definition later on, too.<br />
<br />
Apparently just doing one piece of hardware was more expensive than doing...more...things...I'm not entirely sure how she managed to word that, but it sounded ridiculous even from her. So I asked - this is our quote, then? It's going to be $900-1,000? Yes. Yes, it is.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I go to take a 2-hour nap (because at this point I've been up over 24 hours and I simply need to get things straight!), with visions of scary bills but a happy, four-legged Penny dancing over my head.<br />
<br />
I wake up to find I've missed a phone call (Doh!), but that they called my fiance and said that Penny was all done. He had apparently asked for the total bill, to which they responded...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>$1,140.</b></span><br />
<br />
Wow guys. You thought an extra $100 was going to be hard for us to pull together, I had a breakdown when I heard we were $240 over the initial quote, and heck, $140 over the NEW quote. I tried calling them, but apparently during pickup hours they just let their phone ring. I'm not being snarky...it rang the entire time we were there picking her up, too.<br />
<br />
I knew this was going to be expensive, and I completely anticipated some extra costs (although I was initially told that $600-900 included followups, drugs, aftercare, etc.), because no estimate is spot-on. But we did not COME with an extra $240 in our pockets. After gas to Austin and back, $240 was more than we had in our combined bank accounts. We could eat cardboard for the rest of the month and still not fill that gap. I was extremely unhappy, and frankly, I felt let down. I felt...well, lied to. It took us months to raise that money. We didn't even raise it all, half of our goal came from the amazing work of God's Little Creatures. It felt like we were being told AFTER the fact that all of that generous giving, all of that pulling together, was not enough and now we were cornered. Because they weren't answering the phones, and apparently the woman in charge of debating charges had gone home, GLC couldn't even call and dispute them, let alone pay them. The person I spoke with kept pointing out that the new AND the old "quotes" were not real "estimates," and that they didn't include everything. She insisted she hadn't spoken with me before when we did the consultation over the phone in November...it was just all extremely frustrating.<br />
<br />
And you know, don't get me wrong -<i><b> the vet did everything right</b></i>. Yes, I wish the tech had reviewed Penny's file and information before we got there (so they'd know we set this all up in November and what the problem was), but at a low-cost clinic you roll with the punches. They did EXACTLY what we asked them to - they fixed her leg. They even managed to keep all four paws - something we didn't have high hopes for.<br />
<br />
But what do you <i><b>do </b></i>when you arrive with emptied pockets, excited that you finally made it, to be told that they did the work but it'll cost more money?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You let your fiance take the care instructions, you put GLC on the phone with them, and you go outside and you have yourself a little cry. Then you go back in, you pick up your little girl, and you take her home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
GLC will call them tomorrow and see what can be done. Maybe the price can be negotiated, or maybe it doesn't have to be paid all at once. All I know is that I owe God's Little Creatures and all the pets there somewhere in the ballpark of $700. I wouldn't feel right still asking people for Penny's surgery after it's done with, so it's going to be a lot of hours finding ways to raise money and supplies instead of sleeping. It's not like I would have stopped talking to them anyways, but Penny and I pretty much owe a lot to them right now. They are...simply <i><b>amazing </b></i>people.<br />
<br />
I don't honestly know how all this will work out, but I'm glad to have my girl home and through the worst of it. She is in a lot of pain right now, but it should get better over the next few days. She's in strict kennel confinement and is only allowed out to go to the bathroom, which is just fine by her so far because she's in so much pain she won't move unless you make her. The sweetheart still does her best, though. She's wearing an e-collar, and it's simply pathetic on her. I think she thinks it's an added torture. She gives you this look of "Seriously? Whyyy? I don't feel good, and you're putting this pokey plastic thing on my head?"<br />
<br />
It beats pulling out her staples, though!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So what exactly did they do to her?<br />
<br />
Penny got one plate and six screws. The vet had to re-fracture and re-set the bone to make it work, but it looks loads better than it<u><b> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYISTBRIVyYmSsPpCKhkvnpdGJu3qrJVkuYIsOGf1m8MKwo1CYFdMQNobSTS0ue-PxVacGtirgYGclDteSaeh1-ghaSAG0FRp43Hu5oemUZQlhWzpGNf0_zcHBvD8v_TLCC21iKWv4rk/s320/X-ray.jpg">used to</a></b></u>:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSKmHnRjfnFK4Dv2advDY9fhOxTiuU4rx7NRe4JxnZTMEKTs1fvv_HpllfeNq7HoNi0T_R6C4NBcPrna2RFZV9ODc7ZJf5XP_hCkdrDTwMehGLbP1UZqxWpMs_7tfolA3XQSz5dqk-es/s1600/Penny+xray+-+postop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSKmHnRjfnFK4Dv2advDY9fhOxTiuU4rx7NRe4JxnZTMEKTs1fvv_HpllfeNq7HoNi0T_R6C4NBcPrna2RFZV9ODc7ZJf5XP_hCkdrDTwMehGLbP1UZqxWpMs_7tfolA3XQSz5dqk-es/s400/Penny+xray+-+postop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>P.S. - Usually the film is the property of the vet and goes in the medical record...apparently in this case we just got to keep it. I'm not arguing! I'm happy to be able to maintain her record for myself, with all this craziness!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>It should be very stable, but in the future if the plate causes any problems it can always be removed. The spring-lookin' thing along the side are her staples. They said she might have a limp, and I think it was the only time I laughed around them - if they could have seen her when we first got her!<br />
<br />
She has a few more visits to them, at least two - one in two weeks to remove her staples and check the healing, and another two weeks later for checkup x-rays. Hopefully these checkups will be our only other day-visits to the ATA! Penny still needs a microchip and to be spayed to be completely done with her vetting in my book, but that's an issue for a later time - and in town, where the drive to recovery is 5 minutes, not 2 hours!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Despite how frustrating this day was, I'm happy that her operation is DONE. I cannot wait for her big, ugly, painful ouchie to become just a scar and a memory.Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-20648079948801588332011-02-14T14:38:00.000-08:002011-02-14T14:38:52.621-08:00Almost Surgery Day!It's one day before Penny's surgery!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning I'll be getting off of work a couple of hours early, picking her up, and driving her out to the Animal Trustees of Austing. Drop-off is between 7:30 and 8:30 am, and pickup is between 3 and 5 pm the same day. She probably won't feel too nice, but there wouldn't be any supervision there overnight, so taking her home the same day will be our only option. I may have to discuss with them again what exactly is going on, since hers is sort of a special case, as is the payment (since all we have to go on is an estimate, and we aren't even sure what procedure will be done!). Hopefully they will have the heart to put off spaying until another time... because I'm not particularly thrilled about the idea of having two separate surgeries with their own aftercare to address. We'll see...we'll see.<br />
<br />
As soon as we pick her up and get her home I'll give you guys the FULL update - what they decided to do, where we go from here, etc. In the meantime we're just trying to give Penny as much love and freetime as possible, as well as completely reorganizing our living room to make getting around easier for her post-surgery. After 10 pm tonight she won't be allowed to eat anything, and after midnight she won't be allowed any water.<br />
<br />
Ahhh...I'm so nervous! She doesn't seem to have any idea. :pMiss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-2689565475961654262011-02-05T14:39:00.001-08:002011-02-05T14:39:34.214-08:00They called me WAY early...And it looks like her surgery date is February 15th! It sounds like they might require she get spayed the same day? I'm not thrilled about being told that so late, especially since that means two surgeries at once, but we'll see if it even comes up.<br />
<br />
I'll let you guys know how it goes!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-39900279644700321852011-02-05T10:50:00.000-08:002011-02-05T10:50:41.845-08:00We All Did It!!!You guys are amazing!!!<br />
<br />
Thanks to God's Little Creatures, the amazing community, and everyone who knows and loves Penny online, we have reached our goal of $900!<br />
<br />
I've taken the donate buttons down, but if you would still like to donate you can give to GLC, who always needs supplies and donations to help other pups in need. You can contact them to arrange a donation using their <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX697.html">Petfinder site here</a>.<br />
<br />
I tried to arrange a surgery date to reserve today, however, the vet and vet tech who arrange the special surgeries won't be in to help us set a date until Monday. They'll call me, and we'll get that date set in stone! Exciting! She's almost there!<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures of Penny playing in the snow we had this week:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTj6Zc3urEZV8dqhMXPGRLS5wCtCFA5iHLB4V27vOZKvoqYdxVkE_C5Hg-xfpleaPGjCjiyJRWUcTs2pq9Y4d6WDqIgVCTd53jQrbgeUCPxb2zD_UtetyYsRuEwToSTWyLw9ErI8sVUc/s1600/penny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTj6Zc3urEZV8dqhMXPGRLS5wCtCFA5iHLB4V27vOZKvoqYdxVkE_C5Hg-xfpleaPGjCjiyJRWUcTs2pq9Y4d6WDqIgVCTd53jQrbgeUCPxb2zD_UtetyYsRuEwToSTWyLw9ErI8sVUc/s320/penny1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRjvkcMDAqUQ6uDdbgjNJGMX7ehkgU7f3O2OlxtKunwS1owZc6Pa_Bnw9TggiTa7AQQqs_FwJtPPVs98yS26SPHXW7_9Sq7R8jVVNgGE-WxgWrGzZXLoBC0h3w6ucavtWbeHFoesGrA4/s1600/penny2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRjvkcMDAqUQ6uDdbgjNJGMX7ehkgU7f3O2OlxtKunwS1owZc6Pa_Bnw9TggiTa7AQQqs_FwJtPPVs98yS26SPHXW7_9Sq7R8jVVNgGE-WxgWrGzZXLoBC0h3w6ucavtWbeHFoesGrA4/s320/penny2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHNoEXmxb0D36Bi-uG2_2k5DFZprEmSBNpH3i_X1m8PuhQy54m6brArrQ2SKXzgR8UuXjgqk6dOATFHgkPyAhe7eWZTQm9r9H6jBoQHTXhlBACjkhril_I66gyPxMOGnOxdwi0hFnAB8/s1600/penny3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHNoEXmxb0D36Bi-uG2_2k5DFZprEmSBNpH3i_X1m8PuhQy54m6brArrQ2SKXzgR8UuXjgqk6dOATFHgkPyAhe7eWZTQm9r9H6jBoQHTXhlBACjkhril_I66gyPxMOGnOxdwi0hFnAB8/s320/penny3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOBlHFq3jpkeND6AyAKHNxKaUS8KBqbwhJvirXrz4JYVx70g1WDX2F9MINB4XwPF1xxE1ZQAJIdQBWiOlYj2Fo78q8apec_TWC_sETcT7KSR4RqUvkOFYE6xfaZguVa5udfSZqaMUX6A/s1600/penny4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOBlHFq3jpkeND6AyAKHNxKaUS8KBqbwhJvirXrz4JYVx70g1WDX2F9MINB4XwPF1xxE1ZQAJIdQBWiOlYj2Fo78q8apec_TWC_sETcT7KSR4RqUvkOFYE6xfaZguVa5udfSZqaMUX6A/s320/penny4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
She loved it! It was actually hard to convince her to go back inside, despite the fact that we couldn't find her sweater before going out! What a goof. :)Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-63055787631022257372011-02-01T22:03:00.000-08:002011-02-01T22:07:00.648-08:00YES!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things have been very hard on everyone lately; it seems like it's going around.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>But not Penny!!</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have had an AMAZING outpouring of help here just in the past couple of weeks, and now...we are only <strong><em>$70 short of our goal!</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a few extremely generous personal donations, as well as a TON of aid from a project God's Little Creatures has been working on for a very long time! Saying that I owe those amazing people is a bit of an understatement.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not all of the aid is in one place right now, as some of it is in Paypal, some of it in her literal folder, and some with GLC, but as soon as I can get enough of it in one place I will be able to pay her deposit ($450) and secure a surgery date. Hopefully that will be somewhere in the next couple of weeks!! :D</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regardless of our good fortune, I am still organizing a Pizza Hut night for GLC's benefit and planning on working several days out in front of our local Kroger. Those may be after the surgery, depending on how schedules fall, but rescues give so much that any time is a good time to give back. I'll let you guys know when those are scheduled so you can come out and enjoy some yummy 'za for a good cause! ;)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how is Penny doing, anyways?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Penny is doing pretty good. Except for her leg, every other normal I-was-a-lost-dog-now-I-need-tests-and-shots need has been covered. The goofball even thought her heartworm preventative pill was a treat. Hey, I'm not complaining! She's got all her records down pat and is ready for that surgery whenever it comes!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, at one point last week I came home from work and let her out of her kennel to find her not using her hurt leg at all. She had been working up more and more to using it all the time, even standing on her hind legs sometimes when she wants up (not by encouragement - all her own stubborn doing). Now, however, she's back to lifting it when she runs and favoring it quite a bit. I don't know if she rolled over wrong in her kennel, or what happened, but I'm enthusiastic to get that leg fixed up ASAP. Since that day it seems like her activity level has really gone down, except for when she's visiting her new bestest friends, which could be a very likely sign of pain. It'll be good to get this out of the way and start the healing process and a brand new life.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, because you people are all so <strong>ABSOLUTELY AMAZING</strong> and have been here, with Penny, every step of the way, here are a few more goofy pictures. :)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq2Ia-r-uaOU5XJJaUn12m_P9mHCnLEAvPbbk_ve3YXDF98zfbVIaCTdwSrB1ayEZO_p04kC-F9wpcpjGEJl1_n9L8u_Pg9kXnyMZDoZnHDeZA_l_hftCKMntN4pHuvksMJMYeNYMlP4/s1600/penny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSq2Ia-r-uaOU5XJJaUn12m_P9mHCnLEAvPbbk_ve3YXDF98zfbVIaCTdwSrB1ayEZO_p04kC-F9wpcpjGEJl1_n9L8u_Pg9kXnyMZDoZnHDeZA_l_hftCKMntN4pHuvksMJMYeNYMlP4/s320/penny1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a little dark, but here we see the creature Pennicus Bobennicus in a bright, pink feather boa performing the classic tongue-to-the-nose maneuver.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDcVNkSaYtqHvjrHaxbJ24VgVHn5GEUH9_tcPiZg1RO2SuxeFI6tLZraZKyCLsstLpw9u2YFmuoB4DKabiXek5oCuwPbSikuW9XK1D6rN6b5YMi4TlL3sv4NrPt0SHrkmSIYiVsD0UvQ/s1600/penny2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDcVNkSaYtqHvjrHaxbJ24VgVHn5GEUH9_tcPiZg1RO2SuxeFI6tLZraZKyCLsstLpw9u2YFmuoB4DKabiXek5oCuwPbSikuW9XK1D6rN6b5YMi4TlL3sv4NrPt0SHrkmSIYiVsD0UvQ/s320/penny2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this oh-so-flattering shot is Penny climbing on my shoulders, pretending to BE the feather boa. We were in a rocking chair. Wooh!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk79vnweJ0G_TzwioGYvgJ8Y6D1A8L28ZWpisLdJWMj7MHw-VfnakoIoWxBsgvk3cW5lHmPa4hpnIjZrtVZUnvcUuK-XIUgmD0hQ9jvA-EUcALwHS5CkdOWQhV5Dm6Gz3GKReYsUfAtI/s1600/penny3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk79vnweJ0G_TzwioGYvgJ8Y6D1A8L28ZWpisLdJWMj7MHw-VfnakoIoWxBsgvk3cW5lHmPa4hpnIjZrtVZUnvcUuK-XIUgmD0hQ9jvA-EUcALwHS5CkdOWQhV5Dm6Gz3GKReYsUfAtI/s320/penny3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And these would be home-baked doggy treats. Guess which one is Penny's? ;)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I promise this isn't the end of Save a Penny. I'll post as soon as we know more and all throughout the healing period, right up until my lil girl is back to full puppy-health!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you guys soon!</span>Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-16370834665804730502011-01-07T15:40:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:40:44.882-08:00It's January!Unfortunately, I don't think this is the month. My new personal goal is the start of February! It would have been really nice to do her surgery right now, but it also would have been very difficult, and I know we're on our way even if it's a couple of weeks later. We still have about 2/3 of the money to raise for her surgery, and to help it along I'll be working booths this month (I'll give you dates when I know 'em!) and offering handmade doggy sweaters, treats, and other crocheted items in exchange for donations at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElusiveThings"><u><b>Etsy shop here</b></u></a>. Everything I raise on Etsy goes right into her fundraising folder in its entirety, same as paypal donations here.<br />
<br />
You can special request something in exchange for a donation by leaving a comment here or emailing me at twsquirrels@gmail.com. However, please keep in mind that it may take me a couple of weeks to make it, and definitely talk to me <b>before </b>donating<i> if you wanted something to be made</i>. :) Our most important fundraising tool, though, is word of mouth! Please pass this website on to everyone you can! We're gettin' there. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We took Penny into the vet today because it seemed she was going into heat - she spent several days spotting around our home despite the scar on her belly that we thought was from a spay. The vet (a wonderful man named Dr. Bond at Southwood Valley Animal Hospital) suspected that the long mark we thought was a scar might only be from her umbilicus. He weighed her in at 51.8 pounds (<i><b>yay! Finally at a perfect weight!</b></i>) and thankfully didn't even charge us for the short visit. He warned us that she was definitely in heat, but we don't let her out unleashed anyways and don't own any other dogs, so she should be just fine.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I don't think the clinic she'll be getting her surgery at will do two different types of surgeries at once, nor do I think it would be wise anyways. Since getting her leg fixed up is my priority, I think we're going to tackle that first, then get her spayed after she is fully healed, recovered, and active again. In the meantime, she's scheduled to get her rabies vaccination and heartworm test (so I know it's safe to put her on preventative regularly) next week, which is a good next step. All that's left after that is microchipping...and fixing that leg, of course! Then she'll be all caught up! :D<br />
<br />
We put up a baby gate in the hallway to move along introducing her and the cat, too. So far she's being a very good girl about it, but the cat has a deathwish. First thing Basement Cat did was jump the barrier and sneak up on the back end of the dog. I can't do my part if she doesn't do hers! She hasn't tried anything since and we've done a little reinforcing to the barrier to prevent future mischief. Penny's doing great - it's just that darn cat. ;)<br />
<br />
Here are a couple vids of Penny being Penny!<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wb0sBQFWWxw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wb0sBQFWWxw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
Penny hurled in the car ride back from the vet's office, so I was trying to wash off her paws with the watering can. Of course, she thought I was watering her. :p<br />
<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nh4Xn27uI4g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nh4Xn27uI4g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
And that would be Pennybobenny trying to open her tennis balls all by herself. She was so excited about them!<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay guys, I'll give you more updates when I have 'em! In the meantime, spread this site around and let people know about Penny and her leg surgery. Remember - every single penny helps, so tell as many folks as you can!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-43738508896473392872010-12-13T03:53:00.000-08:002010-12-13T03:53:53.710-08:00Getting ThereWell, we're still in fundraising mode here. Saturday Penny got to go see Della of God's Little Creatures to talk out a gameplan and her options. We will be working together every day possible between now and her surgery to raise what we need. I'll be baking doggy treats non-stop and crocheting warm, cozy sweaters for donations, and Della will be finding us spots outside of local businesses to sell them over the next few weeks. Della also said she had a friend who was willing to give <i><b>$100</b></i> to the cause, so we're that much closer to our goal!! Yay!<br />
<br />
Penny got her first distemper combo vaccination, which is GREAT, and will hopefully have all her other general health needs knocked outta the park this week if we can afford it. We're switching her off high-protein now that her muscles are developing wonderfully, if I haven't already mentioned that.<br />
<br />
Hmm...what else? I think that's most of the news. I don't think we'll be making the January 3rd date I'd hoped for (they want half of the surgery cost to reserve the date - the higher surgery cost. We don't have that $450 just yet!), but that's fine as long as we get it done soon. :)<br />
<br />
We're getting there! Thank you all for your support and remember to tell everyone you can! This is mostly being spread by word of mouth, so we really appreciate your help in getting the news out! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV0LN4OA2UMuiFqPDV9SWLa8ihUffBoI-qNp2jOgUB4gkePDKsAXyDL39V2tB7Z4CnbNBq8e9omYDrMyWvAbqriRS0QXT370LgzX9Pzb6nv_tKbhgrBqlXvsBgqDyOefQOxuX3k3isWc/s1600/2010-12-11_13-23-35_979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV0LN4OA2UMuiFqPDV9SWLa8ihUffBoI-qNp2jOgUB4gkePDKsAXyDL39V2tB7Z4CnbNBq8e9omYDrMyWvAbqriRS0QXT370LgzX9Pzb6nv_tKbhgrBqlXvsBgqDyOefQOxuX3k3isWc/s320/2010-12-11_13-23-35_979.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penny modeling! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-73671205707255770602010-12-08T08:14:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:14:23.028-08:00Update TimeSo!<br />
<br />
Fundraising lately has been slow, which is mostly my fault. I had my finals last week and kind of dropped the ball on a lot of opportunities. The rest of this week and next is going to be fundraising on hyperdrive! I wish I hadn't lost that time, but hopefully we'll still make enough in time to get Penny's surgery January 3rd, which is the first Monday after we come home from Christmas vacation (and the first one of the new year!). Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully.<br />
<br />
We're still at $171.04, so if you know ANYONE you can pass this website on to, or anywhere that might put up a little sign for us or something, we'd really appreciate it!<br />
<br />
I called the Animal Trustees of Austin today to find out what the deposit would be that's needed to reserve her operation date. They told me I needed half of the surgery cost - but there's no knowing until she goes under whether it will be 300 or 900. I asked which one to go with, and they guessed to just provide half of the largest sum - which would be $450. Welp, we don't have that yet, so I can't reserve her date just yet. Kind of a depressing thing to hear, since the operation might only cost 300, but if it does that just means we can give the rest to God's Little Creatures. Wouldn't that be an amazing holiday gift? :)<br />
<br />
Here are a couple of photos of Penny I took recently that I just can't get enough of, they're so cute!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyeAsfAW5oTloCmAWVbk2PUo3hTsl79DRbWGVndjP8mOmBXnZKBe-Oi-T3FmtraJEAViM1bG6d2JdQstkLuWkdkfinlhTQyiFa8zX8TA8ErW8SKgj1OJY24-h8tQaeHeECN1ljYT5sTk/s1600/2010-12-02_10-08-46_615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyeAsfAW5oTloCmAWVbk2PUo3hTsl79DRbWGVndjP8mOmBXnZKBe-Oi-T3FmtraJEAViM1bG6d2JdQstkLuWkdkfinlhTQyiFa8zX8TA8ErW8SKgj1OJY24-h8tQaeHeECN1ljYT5sTk/s320/2010-12-02_10-08-46_615.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i54.tinypic.com/iq8rpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://i54.tinypic.com/iq8rpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And here's a video of her on one of our runs. She LOVES to run, believe it or not! She waits until I'm on the opposite side of her injured leg, then looks up at me and waits for me to go, then she dashes ahead! At the beginning of the video she's looking at the dude who's chopping down all the trees outside of our place (uncool). I think it freaks her out. Here it is:<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Z3jWrHSv1g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Z3jWrHSv1g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Okie dokie, I've got a great many things to attend to. I'll let you know when there's more news! Until then, tell everyone you know about Penny! :DMiss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-81262479077391308352010-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:002010-11-22T10:09:38.109-08:00Great News!!I just heard back from the Animal Trustees of Austin, and it turns out they'll be able to do the surgery for a lot less! Our new estimate is between $300-$900, plus followup costs over the next six weeks after the operation.<br />
<br />
The low end is if it has to be amputated, which, although a last resort, sounds kind of likely due to how old the injury appears to be. They'll try to repair it, though, if it looks like they can once they open up her leg - due to the equipment needed (a plate and an FHO) this would be the more expensive option.<br />
<br />
This means our new goal is <b>$1,000</b> - much better than that first number! Thank goodness for shopping around and awesome recommendations! If you can donate anything at all, please do on the right hand side of the page. Anything we raise above the ultimate price of the operation will go fully and directly to <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX697.html">God's Little Creatures in Bryan, TX.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>About her surgery:</b></u></div><br />
They won't know which option to take with her leg until they actually do it, so we will all have to be mentally and financially prepared for either direction. If it can be repaired she'll receive a plate in her leg and an FHO - something to do with the femoral head (I really don't know much about that at all - but <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=578&q=FHO+for+dogs&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Google </a>does!)<br />
<br />
She'll need six weeks of strict confinement after the operation, with followups at 1-2 weeks, 4 weeks, and possibly 6 weeks. She won't be allowed even short walks until one month! For this reason we have to plan when to do the operation carefully, so that at all times one of us will be present to care for her. The soonest we can do it is December 6th or 7th, but for fundraising and care reasons we may have to wait until the first Monday or Tuesday after Christmas - we haven't yet decided what would be best.<br />
<br />
Since the clinic is in Austin, we might have to make special arrangements to figure out how to best make the appointments, and how to get her home again afterward. We have a little time to figure it out, though!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Some new pics and vids of Penny:</b></u></div><br />
She's really rounding out nicely! She's only a few pounds shy of being a good, healthy, normal weight, which is important both for building up compensating muscles in her three good legs, and for better health during anesthesia and recovery! :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhecyjiqPuEEB0YCMNEmIMTQyEwphyphenhyphenULaKGM-uxnxxpEo1nXM5MTkVD9rPFu_whlPCfd3-wB77j4O2Y2bqbVzTLjCp8XwSddLHOWPyg_B3lU0OPYf_ztIMNAZmc2Kl2qKuPlBcU-FQzE/s1600/IMG_3546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhecyjiqPuEEB0YCMNEmIMTQyEwphyphenhyphenULaKGM-uxnxxpEo1nXM5MTkVD9rPFu_whlPCfd3-wB77j4O2Y2bqbVzTLjCp8XwSddLHOWPyg_B3lU0OPYf_ztIMNAZmc2Kl2qKuPlBcU-FQzE/s320/IMG_3546.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Playing with AJ while we fished at a local river</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TaZlhVSUEYtlOocGP7aG4h0Jd4puUrUezTSE4rdOWtER1hfrKX_llgvbr6fmMC01QT3iIBXJm6bR6XhJ1ABa10ataSK6exq2WpIYhBxgCkffiYjXut4VdW6i572bXwTcBX2zI_2IPAU/s1600/IMG_3549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TaZlhVSUEYtlOocGP7aG4h0Jd4puUrUezTSE4rdOWtER1hfrKX_llgvbr6fmMC01QT3iIBXJm6bR6XhJ1ABa10ataSK6exq2WpIYhBxgCkffiYjXut4VdW6i572bXwTcBX2zI_2IPAU/s320/IMG_3549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTpCnJc8K4n63P_k2yCnyLS0AU5XrcrMuhA5zBym11CNqBkvUT3YafO-0yjZRbpLnT8WiKS0ou4KP3MtlHIQWCIuJDcOtwLwnmzdWMI8sWYyWzeF-qCrysvOiGHQ-yk2DMhOxNcmeKuA/s1600/Pennysmile%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTpCnJc8K4n63P_k2yCnyLS0AU5XrcrMuhA5zBym11CNqBkvUT3YafO-0yjZRbpLnT8WiKS0ou4KP3MtlHIQWCIuJDcOtwLwnmzdWMI8sWYyWzeF-qCrysvOiGHQ-yk2DMhOxNcmeKuA/s320/Pennysmile%2521.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm happy because I'm getting my surgery sooner!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherpWXBUuHEJw4Xz4WkDaYL-jnmHHYYs70-Xm92gKJLMv4-tEqodBRI-JVo3cf2GKca0BRSdHgNRsQvmpz7ymZvG4-vLv-HS_hds7NqklBpl5lOrMWfnolZmA8oy_uTbncI0tYRGlhcM8/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherpWXBUuHEJw4Xz4WkDaYL-jnmHHYYs70-Xm92gKJLMv4-tEqodBRI-JVo3cf2GKca0BRSdHgNRsQvmpz7ymZvG4-vLv-HS_hds7NqklBpl5lOrMWfnolZmA8oy_uTbncI0tYRGlhcM8/s320/IMG_3541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If that isn't the goofiest face, I don't know what is!</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<i>Penny's favorite thing to do is chew!</i><br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TB6Ji5BHlB8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TB6Ji5BHlB8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-52827462581820213632010-11-12T01:04:00.000-08:002010-11-12T01:04:04.080-08:00Smiles!Here are a couple somewhat-blurry phone pictures of her pretty smile:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS-JofluYSC6RFeHARcBHE6pA5Qp3gNbDvKPSfsjjVAtTdmfKDwGfkHuDwwwd9qKs1boDcElGRgPPX0kSEUZgosQBk-z2sIhAkIKrD10p14vqq9gYnMgZqhhCBXrS2Co73R3ZX5JasJI/s1600/face%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS-JofluYSC6RFeHARcBHE6pA5Qp3gNbDvKPSfsjjVAtTdmfKDwGfkHuDwwwd9qKs1boDcElGRgPPX0kSEUZgosQBk-z2sIhAkIKrD10p14vqq9gYnMgZqhhCBXrS2Co73R3ZX5JasJI/s320/face%2521.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4rUndUHqwSmlgcTjIJbxOy9w-kyIsYJ6ONjWHFkMiQ6upbyMN9oVlMOfwOwV-tlOU5U49vbUTqvYk_NHnEB_1qvwa45hnFYOd7jpofAcGq0VfJKCCxEAA3RNglq19PNyAP1ZlH0sppA/s1600/face%25212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4rUndUHqwSmlgcTjIJbxOy9w-kyIsYJ6ONjWHFkMiQ6upbyMN9oVlMOfwOwV-tlOU5U49vbUTqvYk_NHnEB_1qvwa45hnFYOd7jpofAcGq0VfJKCCxEAA3RNglq19PNyAP1ZlH0sppA/s320/face%25212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
She's such a happy girl!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058422861043043399.post-24603659015181194932010-11-11T01:48:00.000-08:002010-11-11T01:48:20.014-08:00About Penelope!Penelope, or Penny for short, is a beautiful, year-old pit bull who was found wandering around half-starved and limping. The awesome woman who found her took her in, fed her, got her scanned for a microchip, and posted ads to try and find her owner - but no one claimed her.<br />
<br />
She took her in to a local shelter, God's Little Creatures, to speak with the owner about getting some help finding her a home and fixing her up. That's when my fiance and I met her for the first time. She was so sweet and so perfect for us - we knew right away we were going to help her.<br />
<br />
Step One was getting her to a vet for an X-ray. We needed to know what the problem was in her leg. They took her in and called us back several hours later. The vet said she'd been shot. The bullet went in her right hind leg, shattered the bone just below the hip joint, and scattered pieces of bone and bullet all over the place. Luckily no vital organs seemed to be injured!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYISTBRIVyYmSsPpCKhkvnpdGJu3qrJVkuYIsOGf1m8MKwo1CYFdMQNobSTS0ue-PxVacGtirgYGclDteSaeh1-ghaSAG0FRp43Hu5oemUZQlhWzpGNf0_zcHBvD8v_TLCC21iKWv4rk/s1600/X-ray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYISTBRIVyYmSsPpCKhkvnpdGJu3qrJVkuYIsOGf1m8MKwo1CYFdMQNobSTS0ue-PxVacGtirgYGclDteSaeh1-ghaSAG0FRp43Hu5oemUZQlhWzpGNf0_zcHBvD8v_TLCC21iKWv4rk/s320/X-ray.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The vet said there were two options. First, a surgeon could try to pin the bit of bone that is still in the pelvis joint to the bone below the break, but he didn't seem too optimistic about it. The other option would be to remove it.<br />
<br />
No matter which option she has to have done, she now has a <b>TON </b>of love to help her get through it - both from her new family and her wonderful rescuer. One way or another we're going to fix that silly leg, forget about gunshots and hunger, and make the rest of her life the happiest any dog's ever had. Great big pit bull smiles from here on out!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The estimated cost of surgery is somewhere between $1,900 and $2,600. I would like to humbly ask your help in raising this money with us. Anything you can spare will help Penny get her leg fixed up and start a new life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
If we are very fortunate and manage to make our goal, extra donations will be passed on to<a href="http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX697.html"> God's Little Creatures</a>. She's been the most extraordinary help, and is the most giving person. It would be the absolute least I could do.<br />
<br />
I'll be posting photos of Penny as we go, and news on how she's doing. Hopefully we'll be able to afford her surgery sooner rather than later!Miss Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692653356775272248noreply@blogger.com0