The dog I adopted

[CountAllVotes]

Well I am back with the dog I adopted (a shetland sheepdog). I was told it had "mild hip dysplasia".

When I picked the dog up it had some food with it and was told it had been bit by another dog and had been given antibiotics prior to the dog being shipped and there were to be pills with the food (?). Never found the pills. (?) We are off to the vet ASAP (tomorrow I hope).

I looked at the papers after I got back to where I was staying with the dog and I have the papers which state the hip problem is 'MODERATE' - not 'MILD', the dog as arthritis, etc. etc. :( The dog is ~5 years old.

I'm so fricking angry I could spit. I'd never have surgery on this dog, not because of the money but because of the age of the dog and the extreme nature of the surgery it likely will need.

I suppose I have no options. I came home and was sent a bill from the breeder (located in another state) for the vet treating the dog for the bite that happened who knows when (a couple of weeks ago?) on the owner's property. I was also sent AKC registration papers to mail in with money. (?) I have no idea wtf to do.

SHIT. :grr:

Do I have any recourse at all? I LIKE the dog but ...

:grr:

I hate being lied to. :( :grr: :nuke: and oh yeah, the dog won't come out of this damn crate. SHIT@!

[Jo March]

1. I'll email a friend of mine and see if she can offer some advice

She rescues dogs. I don't know what to tell you to do!

I feel so bad for you. Hang in there and let's see if we can get some answers.

[CountAllVotes]

2. thank you, any advice will help

I have not spoken to the breeder since I found the record. I don't want to talk to this person. I'm afraid I'll tell this breeder to CHENEY OFF!

I am NOT answering my telephone. I am NOT replying to all of these damn emails wanting more money.

:grr: AH FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*WHEW* :nuke: I just HAD TO say this! :grr: AH FUCK!!!!!

[CountAllVotes]

3. P.S.

Don't feel sorry for ME, feel sorry for the dog! :(

Thanks again.

:kick:

[IndyOp]

4. CAV - I suggest that you pour yourself a glass o' wine...

and then maybe another. Being lied to infuriates me too. It is particularly nasty to have it happen when an innocent animal is involved (and a lot of $$, too).

I would not worry about the bite -- treating with antibiotics should take care of the problem without a whole lot of expense or stress and you were planning on a vet visit anyway...

Do you know that dogs with moderate hip dysplasia have to have surgery? Maybe there isn't a big distinction between 'mild' and 'moderate' -- the vet should be able to talk you through all of this tomorrow and come up with their own assessment of whether the dysplasia is mild or moderate. Maybe vets treating 'show dogs' use a higher standard than they would for 'pet dogs'? :shrug:

You do have a right to return the dog - and I don't recall where you left the negotiations about who had to pay to send it back or whether there was a 'penalty' fee for doing so - but I do remember that you thought this out pretty carefully, so I have faith that you can navigate these straights.

Let us know what happens as the dog begins to adjust to your house -- there is always trauma involved in change and this dog has been through a lot, so I would expect it to take some time.

:-)

[CountAllVotes]

5. Yes I have a right to return the dog

However, I do not intend to return the dog.

I drove over 800 miles r/t to get the dog and oh my god! What a hell. Hotel bills, eating out (one "dinner" was $100.00!), gasoline (!!!) and I am FLAT broke at the moment.

This was misrepresentation without a doubt.

I wonder if the dog is in any pain. I have no way of knowing. The dog is extremely shy and just stays in this fucking god damn CRATE and CRATES piss the shit out of me! I do NOT approve of EVER keeping a dog in a crate for most of it's life for any reason, not any reason EVER!

In the meantime, here is the dog in the crate with a bite on it somewhere that I can't see. As for the pills, they were said to be in an UNLABELED plastic bag. I betcha anything they were confiscated by the airlines being it did not state what the pills were.

Jesus H Christ I am so fucking pissed, I swear to god, this "breeder" has earned my personal very ugly CURSE and I swear to God, the curses I throw are bad ones and she will have hell to pay mark my god damn words.

KARMA IS A REAL BITCH AND NO, I AM NOT SENDING ANY MORE MONEY!!! And no, I am not sending the dog anywhere. I am not planning to do anything to the dog but try to keep it as comfortable as possible. The vet - ASAP as soon as I can get an appt.


:grr:

*grabs a Xanax quickly!*

:( :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[CountAllVotes]

6. damn fundie on top of it

and as we fucking know already they ALL LIE! That is all these fuckin' fundie Bullshit Christians do IS lie!!!

They will ALL rot in hell.

I wonder what their "savior" Jesus would say about ripping off a sick person? Huh? Hey Jesus! Whatcha think?

I want to know right now Jesus, what the FUCK DO YOU THINK and WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU JESUS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CountAllVotes]

8. there is a HUGE distinction between mild and moderate

If I had been told the dog had moderate hip dysplasia, I wouldn't have adopted it because I know what the future will hold for the dog as it ages. A life in PAIN, horrible PAIN.

Moderate is a mess and it will lead to the need for surgery most likely I can tell from the report. Poor dog. I can see why she just stays in the crate all the time now, she can't easily move I think and she is in pain is what I suspect, hence the reason she seems "sad".

There will be NO surgery. I cannot put an animal through it, it is cruel in my opinion. I wouldn't want both of my hips "fixed" if they were both out of the sockets (which is what the report basically indicates along with a multitude of other horrible problems).

I've done some research online and discovered that this breeder may very well be up the shit creek with the AKC. I printed out the page saying the dog is a different age than it was said to be along with the "mild hip dysplasia" statement. And I have the report saying "moderate" along with osteo-arthritis and some other very serious problems besides (like displaced femur heads and joint abnormalities). :(

I will pursue this, you damn right I will. I will do it not for myself, but for the next puppies to be born with the same awful deformities caused from inbreeding. I will also do this for the next poor person that comes along and gets ripped off and ends up with a dog that is a genetic disaster zone due to a greedy breeder.

The AKC refers to what happened to me as being not only misrepresentation but also FRAUD.

I have also contacted my attorney. Believe me, I AM PISSED.

Hmph!! :D

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Damn lucky dog to have fallen into your hands!! You put its needs

above all else!!! :hug:

I say Cheney that damn breeder! Let her stew in her/his juices. S/he totally misrepresented the situation. See what the AKC has to say about
the situation, and meanwhile, I would bet that bet you and the doggie would enjoy some nice peace, quiet and simple comforting.

I would bet this breeder may have some previous complaints on record with the AKC or some other breeders' agency.

[CountAllVotes]

9. why thank you!

I really am a decent person. I hate being ripped off and I loathe people that do things like this.

I'm taking good care of the dog and I will do so for the rest of it's life however long that may be.

I think you are right about the AKC and prior complaints given what I know. :(

I do not want to talk to this person as I know I will lose it totally. I'm best to ignore this breeder because in reality, I have no real recourse and I do not care to send the dog back to this very disgusting excuse for a human being. The dog deserves much more, much much more. It has been used and used up apparently. :( Makes me feel very sick. I almost threw up after I found that report, believe me, I kid you not. Thank you again so very much for your very kind words.

CountAllVotes

:dem:

[Neecy]

10. A couple of thoughts....

First, if you don't want surgery, I'd put the dog immediately on a fairly heavy dose of glucosamine twice daily. If the hip problem has weakened his hind legs this should make him more comfortable, although it takes several weeks for it to kick in. You can get it for dogs almost anywhere, and I'd recommend Hartz Joint Therapy - it's not only less expensive than most but it has all kinds of other good stuff in it for joint care. It's lamb flavored and my dogs eat it like a snack so it's easy to administer. A lot of grocery/drug stores carry it so it's easy to find.

As far as the dog staying in the crate - well, it's a new place and it'll probably take him a few days before he's ready to explore. And some dogs can be extremely mood-sensitve, meaning that if you're really angry - and it's justified, given what you've written about this breeder - and you're venting this anger (even if not directly against the dog, which I'm sure you aren't) you might frankly be scaring it. At this stage, all you can do is roll with the punches and move forward and love the little guy.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Here are some links to natural &/or holistic sites about hip dysplasia

and canine arthritis.
Perhaps these will contain some info that will be helpful to you and provide alternatives to surgery that will make your new furbaby comfortable and provide some significant relief to both of you.


http://www.petcaretips.net/canine-hip-dysplasia.html

http://www.thedogscene.co.uk/articles/health/hd.htm

http://www.cyberpet.com/cyberdog/articles/health/vitc.htm

http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/muscle-joint-dog-cat-arthritis-treatment-medication.html

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/ahealth2.htm
(scroll down the page...)

[CountAllVotes]

12. thanks again

I'm taking the dog to the best veterinarian around where I live today. I'll let you know what he has to say about this. When I called to make the appt. and told them it turns out that the dog has "moderate hip dysplasia" the reply was 'OUCH!!!'. Ouch is right! :(

If the news is bad, I'll have the dog put down today, no question about it. I still cannot get her out of the crate, she doesn't respond to you calling her name (won't come) and does not respond to any of the basic things that a dog of this age should know, like "sit", "come", etc. The dog might be very sick I think. I've never seen anything like this admittedly.

I called the AKC and I have no recourse. FRAUD yes, but they do nothing. Figures doesn't it? :(

The breeder is in Ohio and they have the worst animal protection laws and policies in the whole USA I found out.

Great fucking luck I have. :grr:

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Well at least you can file a complaint against this breeder if no one else

has.

Worst case scenario, you can start some legal action for the financial loss you have taken. This certainly appears to be fraud. If this poor little furbaby was shipped interstate, perhaps there are interstate commerce laws that were broken and you can get Federal Authorities involved.

I hope that things will not turn out to be as bad as they seem right now, and your attention and affection will bring this pup out of her shell.
Right now I guess patience is the best, and perhaps, the only, policy.

Please keep us posted.

:grouphug:

PS. Wondering about Animal Defense Fund and other Animal Rights Groups that might be able to offer advice or access to legal help.

[CountAllVotes]

14. dog is in the hospital now

:(

and the veterinarian didn't like the whole story one bit and he's the #1 man here where I live. I kinda think she'll be hearing something ...

Dog is in rough shape. I'll know more tomorrow as after the surgery is done. Jesus.

Who takes these complaints? I have no idea what to do.

:cry:

:kick: HELP!@!

[bettyellen]

15. i don't know what to say, i feel for you, so have a hug

:hug:
that dog is lucky to find you. i hope she gets better, poor baby. i'm sure she will.
see what you can do with the better business bureau and also the breed groups on yahoo and google. responsible breeders might help you get the word out about this jerk, as well as give you some support. (the canine hip dysplasia group could maye help with that too)
at the very least, this guy ought to be shunned.
:hug:

[BrklynLiberal]

16. PLEASE keep us updated on her condition.

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Link to contact the AKC

http://www.akc.org/contact/index.cfm?nav_area=contact_akc

You can also contact the local consumer affairs dept where the breeder is located.

http://www.essfta.org/BERP.pdf This is a PDF of a complaint form for an English Spanial group but perhaps you can use it as a template for your complaint.

http://www.breeders.net/FAQ.html

An example of a complaint given to consumer affairs.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/canine.html

Puppy Mill complaint form from the HSUS
http://files.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/puppy_mill_complaint_form.pdf
Here is part of the instructions from this form:(I would mail it to the BBB in your state and the breeder's state)

Once this form is complete, make six copies:
Send one copy to The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. (Please include a hard copy of all relevant documents, e.g. medical records, breeder papers, receipts, etc., with this complaint form.)
Send one copy to the Department of Agriculture for the state in which the breeder does business.
Send one copy each to the Attorney General of the state in which the breeder resides and in your state.
Send one copy to the Better Business Bureau.
Save one copy and all originals for your records.
Contact information for these above agencies should be available in your phone book (state agencies) and on the Internet (federal agencies and Better Business Bureau).

American Dog Owners Assoc(This may be just about laws for "vicious" dogs)
http://www.adoa.org/

A case involving a breeder and the Interstate Commerce Commission
http://www.nabr.org/AnimalLaw/CaseLaw/KerrvsKimmell1990.htm

[IndyOp]

19. Did the vet suggest surgery to repair her hips or something else?

:shrug:

At the very least, consider suing the breeder for all expenses. :(

[CountAllVotes]

20. here are some details ...

The reason the dog is in the hospital is for multiple reasons.

First, the vet told me that bite wound (which I could not find) had never been treated by a veterinarian and he shaved the fur off of the dog where the bite is and removed the scab revealing a large gaping wound that was semi-healed. He said it was a good thing the pills were lost being I had no idea what they were.

Secondly, he looked at the hip papers I have and what the breeder had claimed (I have print-outs of the documents). He said that the only way we can find out how bad the dog is afflicted is to x-ray the dog's hips under anesthesia. This will be done today.

Thirdly, the dog had never had her teeth cared for and the vet suspected some may need to be extracted.

Fourthly, the vet was very worried as it had been being fed this dog food called "Diamond Dog Food" which was recalled and apparently many dogs have died from eating this stuff. He threw the food and the flea/tick treatment I had found it the garbage can in his office.

He is an old man but this didn't slow him one bit. He went from the examination office back and forth to his typewriter (I could hear him typing) several times to make notes.

Fifthly, he told me that there was a 99% chance that any siblings to this dog were also afflicted. Seems a very rich man not too far from where I live has the brother. He told me to contact this man after we know the results of the x-rays for certain and advise him that my veterinarian told me to contact him (he was given as a "reference") to let him know that the dog he has is also likely in the same shape as this one is.

Sixthly, the vet found a crude tattoo on the dogs rear leg with a driver's license number on it! It is ugly.

Seventh, the dog has recently had the puppies as the nipples are still erect and it appears she gave birth to them within the past few months. The vet said that all of these puppies should have never been born and that they were all afflicted with the same hip problem. He was totally disgusted.

In any event, a very sad situation at best. I am very angry and so is the vet. He told me not to give her another cent (she sent me an "invoice" demanding more money for the bite that the dog has that she claimed was "treated" but in fact it was not).

So as you can see there are many problems here. I wrote to the American Shetland Sheepdog Assn. last night and received a reply. This is it in part:

>>I am very sad that you had an experience like this. Unfortunately, as I'm sure any lawyer could tell you, we are not an organization with rights to do anything to anyone in these types of civil situations. It burdens me; but there are just no laws we can use. Here are some suggestions;
Call animal control or the SPCA in their area. Give them their address and say they should check them out and give them the details of your experience. Have your vet call too.

Have your Vet call the vet organization in their area and ask for information on them (if they are anyone's client). Then inform their vet what they have done.

If you have a friend that is a lawyer, have him write them a letter that is "threatening" to press a lawsuit unless they refund your money in this obvious abuse situation.
Good luck, and I'm glad you have the dog. <<

So as you can see they will do nothing. I called the AKC and they will do nothing either.

In the meantime I have this extremely shy/traumatized dog now. I'm supposed to get her back this afternoon.

I'll keep you posted. Any more tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks friends - any lawyers out there that might care to help me and most importantly the dog?

[CountAllVotes]

21. and also ...

The owner of the sibling as I mention is a rich man. He loves the dog he got from this woman but sort of mentioned to me that it has been abused and returned to her and then he got it from her.

What I am hoping as that when I get the results on the hips (I must wait for this before I contact him) that he will be as angry as myself and the vet. He has something called "money" - big bucks.

He has the money to likely put this breeder out of business. Maybe he'll get pissed off enough to simply call his lawyer and tell the lawyer to get this breeder I hope.

This rich man may turn out to be MY ace in the hole so to speak.

Money talks, bullshit walks - this was an old saying of my late father's which is sadly true.

:dem: :kick:

[BrklynLiberal]

23. If this dog had puppies perhaps this is an indication that this is a

puppy mill and you can use that puppy mill complaint form that I linked to in post #17 and REALLY start some trouble for this SOB!!!
I would guess that there are many dogs that are suffering under this breeder's misuse!!!

Again, please keep us updated as to how your baby is doing.

[CountAllVotes]

24. I was just reading all of your links

Being the dog is not a puppy, I thought I was out of luck. However, before I discovered the condition of this dog (my last conversation with this breeder), I was told that another 8 puppies had been born the night of March 31st. Probably another batch with bad hips and will suffer the same destiny (kept locked up in a crate and fed once a day).

I'll pursue this ugly individual, believe me. Eight puppies at ~$1,000 each = $8,000.00. An easy 8 grand and likely the puppies will not be cared for properly.

Thank you.

[BrklynLiberal]

25. This definitely sounds like a puppy mill ot me!!!

I am sure there are many resources available to complain against puppy mills.
I will get additonal links for you. You can still send the forms to the various places named in th ePuppy Mill complaint form in the meantime. Having your vet's statements and the other pup's owner's statemetns included will be very valuable as well.

We WILL get this heartless abuser!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

26. links The HSUS seems to be leading the movement. Those forms

will be a good start.
http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/get_the_facts_on_puppy_mills/index.html
(this includes a link to those forms at the bottom of the page)

http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=45

http://www.stoppuppymills.org/

http://www.nopuppymills.com/

How to stop a puppy mill ********
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/stopmill.html

Doris Day Animal League
http://www.ddal.org/puppymills/

http://www.helpinganimals.com/petstore_pupmills.asp
contains:
Lobbying Factsheet
USDA Information Sheet
PETA Guide to Letter Writing

[radfringe]

53. File a complaint

with breeder's local animal shelter, also with AKC -- although the AKC probably won't do anything about it - my mom went through similar situation when she adopted her new daschund...

also - file a complaint with the breeder's Attorney General's office, if they multiple complaints about the same problem they usually do something about it

that you are in a different state from the breeder may be an problem - might want to write a LTTE to breeder's local newspaper stating what's going on -

or a more subtle approach would be to contact that newspaper and ask if they know if there are any organizations/agencies you could call - this may "tip" them off to a local story and they will run with it

[BrklynLiberal]

18. Maybe you should send a note to PETA. They are good at publicizing

animal abuse.

Bringing the media into a situation like this is always a good idea. It is always fun to see these assholes trying to avoid the cameras and the microphones.

Just a thought. :evilgrin:

[CountAllVotes]

22. good thought

This "breeder" not only breeds dogs but also children. She has several children, all being "home schooled". :grr:

I don't approve of home schooling because the kids aren't exposed to other children. Maybe a child's rights organization might be another place to perhaps contact (?).

I suspect if the dogs are being treated this way, so are the children!

I'd love to see a microphone shoved in this person's face on television! :evilgrin: is right!!!

[IndyOp]

27. CAV - You might want to check out this site about

Adopting a puppy mill survivor
<http://www.ilmorescue.org/adopting_the_puppymill_survivor.htm>

Here are the 4 'best' paragraphs...

Terror of humans hands: The only time most mill dogs are removed from their cages, it's a painful experience. The dog may be grabbed by the first reachable part of it's body: tail, leg, scruff, ears. This takes lots of patience and non-threatening touches to overcome.

You may have to lie on the floor face down with your eyes averted to get the dog to approach you at all. Let him come near you and sniff. It may take an hour, or days for this to happen. You can sometimes begin by holding the dog, petting him gently for a few seconds, speaking softly, then place him carefully down. Let him know you do not wish to restrain him. Lengthen the time for this ritual each day. Never raise your voice, clap your hands, or allow loud noises in the home during this adjustment period. You must strive to create a totally non-threatening environment. Behave as submissively as possible. Build trust slowly.

Aversion To Eye Contact: Many puppymill survivors refuse to make eye contact with humans. This indicates fearful submission which decreases as the dog comes to realize he will not be harmed by you and begins to trust. Talking to your dog in a soft, calm voice helps speed the process. A dog may not speak English, but the gentle tone of your voice and the fact that he is the focus of your concern will be understood.

Marking/Housetraining: No puppymill survivor comes housetrained. Some never grasp the finer points. Most males will mark, and many females, too. Crates are useful in housetraining. Belly bands (a cloth band which wraps around male dogs covering the ureter) will help prevent marking. Nicely fitted doggie diapers are available from Foster and Smith. Human diapers can also be used - just cut a hole for the tail. Put your dog on a schedule. Take him outside first thing in the morning, at lunchtime whenever possible, after dinner, before bedtime. If you see him lift his leg in the house, a shaker can (jar filled with small pebbles) or clicker can distract him long enough for you to get him outside. Never raise your voice. Never hit a dog. Take him outside and reinforce by saying, "Potty outside", or something similar. Use positive reinforcement when the dog does his business outside..."Good boy! Potty outside! Good, good boy!" Lots of petting must follow. : )
------------------------

Also - when I got my Golden (from a rescue who got him from a shelter where he had been dumped by a puppy mill) - I gave him Rescue Remedy by mouth at least 4-6 times a day. You can put it in your new girl's water to start. You can buy it at your local health-food store/co-op...

http://www.bachshop.com/image.php?productid=43

[CountAllVotes]

28. update!

I'm back home with the dog now. The hospital bill was close to $400.00.

The dog seems to be ok. I have two different RX's to give the dog, antibiotics and another one is drops for an ear infection. I picked her up some new treats and a dog bed as now she is not in the crate anymore and I got her a bed to lie on under the table where she now is hiding. At least she is OUT of the damn crate! :bounce: :party: Maybe she will now have a life!

I looked at the x-rays and the right hip is especially bad but it is in the socket but obviously displaced; the left one isn't that awful luckily.

I called up the owner of the sibling and that went over like a hot load of sh*t with them! Whoa! They are very upset and told me that they'd noticed that their dog was limping at times and are now in a state of absolute shock. My vet is the best in the county where I live I told them and a conservative old man and he told me that to a very conservative "guess" on their dog having the same problem is about 50/50. He said an un conservative "guess" would be 90%. :( I told them I hope this is not true for them. They've only had the dog for about 8 months I found out and they just love the dog.

It seems that when they got the sibling to my dog it only weighed 18 lbs. and had also been horribly abused. How awful!

I've been advised to go to the local Humane Society and sick the Sheriff on these people. Where I live, they don't look kindly on animal abuse and the vet said, this dog has been abused no doubt. The ugly tattoos on the dog are an example of some stupid idiot doing this to the dog for no good reason as it provides no way to track the dog. Seems the dog has been owned by more than 2 people and the microchip doesn't match up either. Hence, I must take the dog to the Sheriff and report this to him and get the chip corrected so this bitch of a woman cannot try to claim the dog back or try to pull some more crap on me.

Right now the dog is eating some of the new food I just got for her with glucosamine in it and I have the vitamin treats with the joint vitamins in them to give her as well (NutraMax for overweight dogs with glucosamine added is the food - I must keep her weight down). I have 2 cats and they are both are thriving on NutraMax regular and senior foods for cats. My old Sheltie that died was doing well on NutraMax "light" so I went with the same food type again. If the NutraMax with the glucosamine doesn't seem to be tolerated, I have a bag of "Science Diet T/K" that the vet gave me for her to try also.

Anyway, so far - out about $1,000 on this deal. *ouch!* ... and to add insult to injury my damn hot water heater just went out earlier today (another ~$500-700 tomorrow). ugh.

I guess it is a run of bad luck. "Funds" are running very low as anyone might guess. *eek*

So, it seems I ended up "rescuing" an abused animal even though it was not my intent. I guess this was all for a reason, what reason I don't know, but I suspect I'll find out. I have noted that the breeder has emailed me. I created a special email box for her called the "shit" box for her mail from her to go to. And it will stay there too without any reply and I plan not to reply at the moment as I am too angry to even read the damn message. :nuke:

Thanks to everyone on this thread for your support/advice, etc. during this horribly stressful time and believe me, I WILL pursue this!!

CountAllVotes

P.S. I noticed my star had expired earlier when I logged in. I thank whoever the very kind person was that got me another one. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU! :grouphug: :D

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Glad to hear all the good news. Thanks for the update

You have to come up with a name for this little girl. ;)
It is good that she is out of the crate. Perhaps now she will feel more comfortable and secure. Maybe if you have the time you can just sit near her and let her get used to you being nearby and she will know that you are not a threat to her. It would seem that her previous life was not one of peace and security.

The Rescue Remedy is a great idea. A few drops in her water bowl is an excellent way to keep her on it.

I am sorry this has become such an expense for you, but somehow I believe that you will be repaid tenfold.

Make sure you print out all those emails that this horror of a "Breeder" has sent you so can include copies when you send out the Puppy Mill complaint forms to all the appropriate authorities.

I know that the universe is smiling down on you for this wonderful good deed that you are doing. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals:

[CountAllVotes]

30. I've come up with a new name

It rhymes with the name she already has. :D

She seems better this morning. I brushed her and fed her a little bit of food, not much though and all the drugs, anesthetics, etc. had her pretty sick to her stomach last night.

However, she has NOT gone back into the crate thank god for that! :D

[bettyellen]

31. aww. your misfortune is a happy turn for this poor baby.

it's good to know she won't be bounced back again to that asshole breeder.
you're a good egg.

[CountAllVotes]

32. yeah I'm a good egg alright ...

until the revenge starts and it is starting right now. :grr:

My goal is to SHUT THEM DOWN and SHUT THEM DOWN NOW

and ... I will.

:dem:

[bettyellen]

33. hopefully, you'll help get justice for the animals and those that love

them (because that breeder sure doesn't) and if you enjoy it, well there's nothing wrong with that.
go get em!

[Branjor]

34. More power to you....

Go for it!

Sending love to your precious pup...

[CountAllVotes]

36. I've already started ...

The records from the vet saying the dog was abused and not treated properly are en route. I just dealt with her ear problem and WHEW does it EVER stink (the odor from the ears). I put drops in after cleaning them out with cotton balls dipped in alcohol. It is brown, stinky, and ugly stuff which begins to drain after the drops go in, luckily only once a day. I gently dried her ears with a tissue on the exterior and very lightly on the inside so the drops will still be in. I hope this sickening problem goes away soon for her, as I'm sure the cats can smell the sickness a lot more than I do and it is likely the reason they aren't getting too close to her. And I'm sure she doesn't feel so great either because of it. The vet said this problem was caused because she was left outside in the cold too much and wasn't cared for and was left to live in filth and god only knows what else. :(

Hopefully the antibiotics will help the heal the ears too.

They shaved off the fur where the dog was bit and that is healing ok it seems but it is a HUGE bite, not a small one as I was told by this "breeder".

Her teeth were very bad and she has gum disease. They show no sign of ever being cared for at all and the food she was being fed was really bad for her being and it was recalled last year after a whole bunch of dogs died from eating it (this was late last year going into January - do a search of Diamond Dog Food ... jesus!!). Because of that food, the vet had to run a bunch of blood tests on her to see if the food had damaged her liver. :puke: Luckily, it did not hurt her!

I've found the local animal shelter that is a few miles from where this "breeder" lives. I left a message on their machine and I called another humane society place about 20 miles away from this one and left a similar message.

I've also contacted the Dept. of Agriculture - no luck with them.

I'm now searching for the Better Business Bureau in OHIO and I cannot find a phone # for them either. I'll keep looking.

As soon as I get the records from the vet stating the dog has been abused, I'm going to the local county Sheriff nearby to have her scanned for that damn chip and file a complaint if possible for "dog hoarding" (same as puppy milling) and abuse; albeit in another state. At least a report will be on record as being filed even if ignored and deemed to be something that is out of their jurisdiction (very likely the case but nonetheless, a report will be on file).

You only need to take one look at the huge ugly tattoo which covers her entire hind leg to know the dog was abused. It is so sickening! :( I'll have the vet's records with me when I go to the Sheriff's office (also the local humane society), but I'll wait until the dog is through taking her medications and the ears seem to be healed up. I do not want to stress her in any more than necessary ever again!

She could have likely gone deaf very soon had I not
"rescued" her and probably would have lost many teeth too soon due to the gum disease. In fact she'd probably have died soon given the situation and I found a bunch of huge mats on her today while brushing her. I just cut them off and a lot of the other hair on her butt too being she has diarreha right now.

She seems to be enjoying her food today being it is much easier for her to chew now. I'm not feeding her much (one handful at a time) as she was passing blood last night in her stool. :( This is from the surgery yesterday (I called the vet and asked first thing this a.m. because I was really scared when I saw this bloody diarrhea ... :scared: ).

She is a very sick dog and I will do everything I can to help her get well.

Thanks again for your support. This is far from being over, but the dog is safe now and seems to know it.

She is now making eye contact with me and also is now responding to her "new" name as well and as for the crate, it sits empty and unused in my living room. I washed all the blankets inside and cleaned it up. Right now she is out in the back yard barking and running around the yard happily at someone passing by the house, so she is assuming her "role" around the house now which is good! :) She likes it here and was "smiling". :)

I'll tell you, I'm exhausted from all of this, but I will get that breeder or whatever you want to call this bible thumping HYPOCRITE! :grr: :argh:

My anger about this is what is keeping me going. Maybe it repulses some people (my anger and the way I deal with it), but it is the only thing that is enabling me to deal with this awful nightmare!

No one is taking this dog from me ever! I'm in it until the end, however bitter it may be.

And now for the GOOD news: I called up this man I know and he came here and installed a new hot water heater for $470.00 total, labor included. If I'd called a plumber, it would have cost me over $1,000 easily so this man that came today paid for the dog! :)

CountAllVotes

(and once again, I say thanks to everyone that has been following this horrific situation and I appreciate the messages I've received privately as well :) ).

[GardeningGal]

38. Sounds like you're doing the right things, but one suggestion.....

Get some pictures of the bite wound and the tatoo if you can. Pictures can help tell the story.
Good luck with her and keep us posted!

[CountAllVotes]

39. thanks for the tip!

I have a digital camera and will take pictures today. The ears look awful now too from the drops (all greasy, etc.). The bite has a ways to go before it will be "healed" no doubt.

The dog slept well last night on a bed I got her at KMART for $20.00. She seems to be feeling better today and was eating her food without the sign of pain so I think her teeth feel a lot better. :D

[peacebuzzard]

42. Hi bettyellen!!

:hi:

[hippiechick]

35. all I can say ...

... is that this doggie came into your life for a reason. You're her hero - you rescued her - intentionally or not - from what was obviously a miserable situation; and the longer she is with you, you'll likely notice her personality and outlook change.

When I adopted Ray LaBeagle last summer, nobody really knew his story -- he was found wandering in a state park in TN. The family that found him 'planned' to keep this cute, lost little Beagle but must have taken him to a vet and got an assessment of his age, his health issues and lack of training, etc and dumped him at the Humane Society here in Indy - some 500 miles away where they found him ! He's old, has trouble with stairs, very very bad teeth (we've had 12 pulled already), and almost no socialization/training.

Folks who saw him when I got him couldn't believe the difference just a few months later; he'll walk up to you wagging his tail now & make eye contact - looking to be petted, he's put on weight, learned how to play with little stuffed toys, knows some basic commands, and nuzzles with Hank.

Please do sic the authorities on those breeders/abusers; but remember, it was them who tried to pull one over on you, not the doggie. She's never going to completely forget where she came from, and at times is going to drive you to the brink with the bills and the behavioral issues, but in the long run, what you did - and are doing - is amazing - and in some way, she knows it and will love you immeasurably for her new life.


:loveya: :hug: :toast: O8)

[CountAllVotes]

37. I consider this to be an example of God working in my life

I am not a heavily religious person, but I do believe in something called GOD.

Why all of this has happened I do not yet know. What I do know is that I likely saved the life of a very sick dog that has been abused.

I don't want a reward for it, I want revenge at this point which is good in a bizarre way because it means I will continue on and pursue this horrific situation.

Thanks for your kind words.
:)

[Carla in Ca]

40. hippiechick is right

and I appreciate what you are doing for this dog. I've told the story many times here about our Beagle Jean that we got from a 'reputable' (NOT!) breeder. She has cost us thousands of dollars because she hasn't much of an immune system. Her on-going care and meds are expensive.

A journal entry from March 7 details how we almost lost her (ruptured gall bladder) and what it took to get answers to save her life. The final bill was outrageous and we are lucky that we have a savings account to have been able to afford it.

There is never a moment my husband and I ask ourselves "Why us?" All you have to do is look at her to get the answer.

[hippiechick]

52. Your beagle is a sweetie!

:hi:

Here's my Ray Charles ...

[Carla in Ca]

62. Hi fellow Beagler!

I'm sorry I didn't see your post sooner. I haven't been on line much lately. Your guy is totally handsome! And I see he is not the only one that likes to dive under the covers. I can't tell you how much I love hearing about dogs that have been rescued.

Although our Jean is only five, her medical records folder is almost as thick as War and Peace! But she is priceless to us.

Thanks for posting his picture:hi:

[peacebuzzard]

41. The best advice I was ever given came from an old country vet....

and, I have had and do have many rescued dogs.

The advice: "It is best to leave the dog alone" . It is traumatic and stressful enough what the dog has been through and yourself in trying to obtain and care for a fellow creature. In first place, thank you so much from the world of abandoned and abused critters for taking the important step in taking in a four legged friend who needs a safe and comfortable place in this insane world.

If you consult many vets and worry too much about this or the other you are taking energy away from what should be a pleasurable transition time for you and the pup.

Also, a fantastic book is Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide for Natural Health for Animals. A very in depth subject that will save you lots of frustration and expense.

Just my .02 cents on a subject I suffered on for many, many years.

I wish you well with your new best friend. Thank you for your kindness to animals.

[peacebuzzard]

43. P.S. I have a feeling w/ a low stress life, and the good food you bought

for her will work a rebirth.
NutraMax gave my dogs good results ( the Senior formula that has Glucosamine and Chronditin). My dogs that were afflicted w/ various ailments, including joint pain, are now acting more energetic and have better skin after they were on this for several months. Plus the tartar on the teeth of my Katrina dog ( & his bad breath virtually disappeared) -- I also bought them the same formula in dog cookies.
...I heard about the recall on the Diamond foods and of the dog deaths as a result

[CountAllVotes]

44. thanks for the advice & I do have an update

Thanks for the tips. I am more or less leaving the dog alone. I was told to keep the dog on a leash at all times 24/7 right next to me which simply is not possible (nor to I necessarily want it nor does the dog). Anyway, I have the leash on her now and she is sleeping at my feet on a blanket and I covered her with another one. However, she can leave any time she likes as the leash is a short one and I'm not holding on to it. I don't like this "pinned up" crap on any level, even if by a leash next to me. It is her life and I am helping her to recover and have a better life, not another new restrained life.

At night I let her do what she likes. She likes sleeping on a dog bed I got her at KMART for $20.00 in the kitchen where she can look out the sliding glass doors and keep an eye on her new backyard. :)

She is getting along very well with the 2 cats and they are playing a bit in the yard when I can let them all out. There is still lots of rain here for this time of the year (when will it ever stop?).

She was very sick yesterday and had thrown up in the backyard. I think she ate too much perhaps. I had her on a bland diet of rice and eggs for a few days after I saw that blood in her stool. That is now gone luckily and she is eating normally again.

I found another bite wound on her and it had just about healed up and the large wound is almost gone now too. She finishes her antibiotics today.

The ear problem is a lot better. That vile putrid odor is gone and it was coming from her ears! I'm still cleaning them every day with alcohol and cotton balls and putting the drops in each ear. The right ear is much worse than the left one. I'm wondering (given all the ugly stuff that I've cleaned out of her ears) if she could even hear much. However, now she can most certainly hear very well.

So, she is on the mend but she is still very shy but the crate is now out of the living room (she never went back in it) and it is now in the garage thank god.

She nuzzled my hand with her nose this morning for the first time :D , so she is coming around and I heard her outside barking this morning too (a sign of life and a sign of getting used to her new property). I think she likes me being she did this. She likes her new home and I've caught her smiling more than once.

I just hope I can get the ear problem cleared up because it is messy and the she hates the drops and so do I.

I think your advice to leave the dog alone is a good one but a few pats and hugs sure don't hurt either. She likes being brushed and combed too and wow, what a load of fur I've gotten off of her!

Thanks again to everyone!

CountAllVotes

[IndyOp]

45. All signs looking good!

Pats & hugs are wonderful! Especially if she is approaching you to nuzzle. Chances are that as soon as you get past having to be a doctor to her several times a day your relationship will improve quickly -- though I think they really do know when what you are doing is in their best interest. ;)

It is really nice to hear she is enjoying her yard and her cats -- I am betting that 'retirement' will agree with her as you sound like you have a great home for pets. :-)

Does she have yeast in her ears? My golden had that when I got him and it took us quite a while to fix the problem. Our vet suggested that I treat him well past the point when the ears looked & smelled better. The problem with yeast/bacteria infections is that you kill off the least resistant buggers first and the most resistant are left alive even when the ears start to look and smell better. Good luck with getting that bit of nastiness out of your lives.

:hi:

[CountAllVotes]

46. ears ,,, seem better but ...

:hi:

The ear thing is not at all good. It says on the vet's record the her ears are "very waxy and abundant debris". It goes on to say "ears cleaned per SLS" (what/whoever that is?). I have to put 8 drops of this stuff called "Zymox" in each each every day after cleaning them with cotton balls dipped in alcohol.

Today was much like yesterday. The left ear is cleaning out with the alcohol/cotton pretty clear now but the right ear is still bringing out some brown scabby looking debris and also a few drops of blood show up on the cotton ball itself.

I clean the entire outside of the ears after wards with more alcohol dipped cotton balls. It says that this may need to be done for as long as 14 days. It it an infection no doubt.

Luckily, I only have 3 pills left to give her of the antibiotics.

I hope her ears clear up soon. It seems the main problem was just plain filth and dirt and failure to care for her, hence a horrible problem has manifested itself.

I noted some questionable things on the blood work too. It says the blood panel should be repeated in October. I hope nothing is horribly suspicious and that a good healthy diet along with good care and love will resolve any problems with her blood work. (???) :scared: admittedly. I'm thinking maybe that being she had more than one infection going, it might have thrown the blood work off a bit (I hope!).

However, now I've got this idiot breeder emailing me almost every day. I have all of her mail going to a special box I created just for her (the * box). She called and left a msg. on my machine. I did not even bother to listen to it - just erased it and I will not read any email she is sending to me. I am too angry to deal with any of her crap. She knew and I know it!

I really do not want to talk or communicate in any way with this "breeder" (aka dog hoarder, dog abuser, one that runs puppy mills, etc). God only knows what I might say to her. I am still incredibly angry about this breeder and all of the animals she has. I haven't felt well enough to do anything yet.

However, once I snap out of a bit I suspect she will have hell to pay from me as I don't let things like this just "go". NO WAY. She has also called my in-law's house (he won't answer the telephone either luckily).

What a hell huh? Any tips on how to rid myself of this person/dog abuser quickly? I've got people really mad at me because I have not answered my telephone for over a week as *ring* *ring* *ring* is all they get and no, I don't have a cell phone (never wanted one and don't want one). I figure if it is something that urgent is up, they can send me a telegram.

In the meantime, all is better here with our new dog and us fortunately. It is very quiet around here and we are all resting and trying to recover from this horror of an experience. We are all very exhausted and tired needless to say and also very broke now too.

The good new is that I went out a little while ago and when I came back, the first face I saw when I came in the door was her face. She got up and came to wards me and looked very happy to see me. :D

Thanks for your most kind reply. Let's keep hoping for the best! This poor dog deserves it I think! :)

:dem:

[peacebuzzard]

you are an angel in heaven for this baby,

and I have enjoyed this story. I am so sorry for all the drama/trauma, I can surely sympathize. I have in my home 5 rescue pups (actually they are all older--the youngest is 3 yrs) and all came from horrific sets of circumstances. The last one I adopted was a Katrina dog, his pic is in the link in my sig line (I did search & rescue there).
I have one pup that had a very bad issue with his ears which my old country vet prescribed a solution for, but my pup wanted nothing to do with the cleaning procedure. You are lucky your pup is compliant. Mine would wriggle away and run to a far corner to get away from me when he saw me with the solution bottle. He really hates being touched on and in his ears. However, since I changed him to the Nutro after reading some posts here on DU about the commercial pet food industry (and the rendition process which comprises some of the ingredients in animal foods) he seems to have improved with the ear sensitivity.
I also hope you have an opportunity to read Dr. Pitcairn's book, it was really an eye opener for me.
I will be checking on this Pet Forum again, to see if you have more updates.
My first thoughts were when you mentioned him getting sick outside is that your pup may have been grazing in the grass. For some reason, my dogs do that as well (maybe when they have an upset stomach??) and it appears they want to purge themselves on purpose? But I have heard from various pet owners that their dogs do that as well.
Blood in the stool can be a sign of worms.

[peacebuzzard]

47. you are an angel in heaven for this baby,

and I have enjoyed this story. I am so sorry for all the drama/trauma, I can surely sympathize. I have in my home 5 rescue pups (actually they are all older--the youngest is 3 yrs) and all came from horrific sets of circumstances. The last one I adopted was a Katrina dog, his pic is in the link in my sig line (I did search & rescue there).
I have one pup that had a very bad issue with his ears which my old country vet prescribed a solution for, but my pup wanted nothing to do with the cleaning procedure. You are lucky your pup is compliant. Mine would wriggle away and run to a far corner to get away from me when he saw me with the solution bottle. He really hates being touched on and in his ears. However, since I changed him to the Nutro after reading some posts here on DU about the commercial pet food industry (and the rendition process which comprises some of the ingredients in animal foods) he seems to have improved with the ear sensitivity.
I also hope you have an opportunity to read Dr. Pitcairn's book, it was really an eye opener for me.
I will be checking on this Pet Forum again, to see if you have more updates.
My first thoughts were when you mentioned him getting sick outside is that your pup may have been grazing in the grass. For some reason, my dogs do that as well (maybe when they have an upset stomach??) and it appears they want to purge themselves on purpose? But I have heard from various pet owners that their dogs do that as well.
Blood in the stool can be a sign of worms.

[japple]

58. Any updates? About the ear problem: my best friend has a dalmation

who had a yeasty ear condition for a long time. After my friend changed her dog's diet to Beneful (salmon dog food made by Purina), it has completely cleared up.

[CountAllVotes]

48. oh great!

I was cleaning the dogs ears again just now.

I just had a knock on the door. She called the county welfare dept.! It was the Sheriff! I told him the story and he said, "Oh. Don't get stressed out about this. I tell her that everything is just fine." I replied yes and you can tell her to go to hell for me if you like!

:grr: What the hell next!? :grr: :argh: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IndyOp]

49. You might consider drafting a letter to her...

Just a suggestion...

You might consider drafting a letter to her explaining what you have seen, what you have done, and what will or won't come next.

I would suggest that you not allow any emotion *at all* to come through. Make it bone dry -- just the facts. Don't tell her anything you don't want her to know -- about your contacting her state to report her, etcetera. Just give her the dry, dry facts...

You've taken the dog to the vet who agreed with the vet records that came with the dog - the hip dysplasia is on the right side is 'moderate' not mild.

The dog arrived with an ear infection.

The bite wound was in terrible shape and the fur around it had to be shaved to treat it properly. If there were pills they did not arrive.

The vet found a crude tattoo on the dogs rear leg with a driver's license number on it.

The vet indicated that the dog has recently had the puppies as the nipples are still erect. You were not informed about this and you should have been informed.

You've now spent over $400.00 for vet care.

You will be keeping the dog and taking very good care of her. You will not be paying the breeder any more money for any reason as the dog did not arrive in the healthy condition the breeder advertised.

[CountAllVotes]

50. that my friend is a great letter!

I hope you don't mind if I *borrow* it and make a few changes to it. I'll mail it to her certified mail.

I won't mention that I contacted the owner of the sibling. She'll find out about that soon enough I bet.

Email: Goes in the * box. ;)

You are so right - bone dry alright! I need to detach from this emotionally!

THANK YOU!!!!! :hug:

[IndyOp]

51. Glad you liked it - You deserve a break!

:hug:

[peacebuzzard]

54. I love happy endings!!!!

she looks so much like a collie!!!

I just love your Molly!!!! (hope you don't mind me posting this!)

[IndyOp]

55. Isn't she gorgeous? All vetted and groomed and with toys? :-)

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Grateful for Hope]

56. She is definitely gorgeous! n/t

[CountAllVotes]

59. thank you and everyone else!

Yes, she is much happier but still has a long way to go but obviously is now making eye contact.

No more signs of sickness at all.

My groomer did a nice job on her and told me that she got a huge load of hair off of her. She advised I have her groomed every six weeks as I did with my other Sheltie. He had a beautiful coat!

I don't think she'd every been professionally groomed before. I'm very lucky to have this groomer as she groomed the dog, sold me some food for my cats and also the little stuffed toys for Molly. Total cost was $27.00! :D Can't beat that!

Molly doesn't know how to play with toys and has never had one before. She uses them as little pillows for her head and likes to hold them between her paws. She also likes having that leash on her even if it detached. She wraps it around her torso or paws. I think it makes her feel secure.

I'm giving her "Dancing Paws" for the hips. I haven't noticed any effect yet from it but I realize it will take some time.

However, she is very happy now I think. She loves to make the rounds in the backyard and if she wants to go outside she starts to shake her head so the tags on her collar *jingle*! How is that for smart?! :D

Thanks again everyone and I'll keep y'all posted as things develop.

CAV

[peacebuzzard]

61. That is a great price!!

wish that was what it cost me to groom my newest little rescue.
That pic of your baby was soo beautiful! Too bad it went into the virtual space somewhere. What a pooch!!!

[BrklynLiberal]

57. She looks like the happy, beautiful girl she deserves to be...finally.

:D

[LisaL]

60. I am glad you decided to take care of the dog.

People have to be really careful when adopting animals. There are some bad breeders out there.

[CountAllVotes]

63. yes you are right

Sorry friends. I had to remove the picture. It ain't over yet if you know what I mean ... :(

:kick: