Back before Labor day weekend we made the decision (ok my other half really wanted the puppy) to adopt a little puppy. We had seen this puppy since before her eyes were open and my other half fell in love while trimming nails, giving puppy baths, etc.. for the rescue. She like the last 3 we have taken home is from the Indian Reservation that is probably an hour or so from us. We really like and try to support a local rescue group that rescues the dogs from the near by reservations. We can't do a lot since we already have our plate full, but we try when we can. Animal rescue is a very important part of who we are. My other half was an ACO for 10+ years and then worked in the shelter for another 5. I worked in the animal control field both in Anchorage, AK and here where I was an ACO for a short time. We are not the typical animal people, animal rescue and a life long commitment to our animals is who we are. For us making the difference in the lives of animals is our purpose for being on this earth. We try to speak for the little critters (well big critters too) that can't speak for themselves. Many people call us crazy and don't understand why or how we can own as many animals as we do. Yes, currently we have 6 dogs and 5 horses. Ok, 7 dogs now if you count the puppy. I prefer to think that the puppy is really only worth 1/2 dog status since she only ways 4 or 5 lbs. I don't think you reach dog status until at least 10lbs right, lol?? Anyways back to the story of Peanut the puppy. Peanut came home on the Friday before Labor day. We spent the whole 3 day weekend out playing and having fun. She was 6 weeks old (Mom had already weaned the puppies and had to go back to the res.) We knew she was going to go get fixed the next week. (Yes, they get fixed young, no it isn't a problem. Not debating it. ) Well come vet day her brother tested positive for Parvo virus. So the rescue gave us the option of taking her or leaving her until quarantine was over. We made the choice to take her. We knew our adult dogs would be safe from the virus and we had gotten quite attached to her. So she came home Wednesday evening after surgery. She was in perfect health, until Saturday night. Just as we thought we were out of the woods. As the days went by we were feeling hopeful. But then Saturday night at 8pm she had her first bout of diarrhea and then vomited 30 minutes later. She came down with a fever and we knew parvo had hit. My other half has seen more parvo cases being in animal control for 15 years, I have only seen a few and not really been involved in their care. Parvo used to be an automatic death sentence for puppies. And truly it still is without proper care. We watched her Saturday into Sunday. Saturday night we got some meds into her,but knowing that was just supportive care. Sunday she was doing okay, but we knew the worst was yet to come. So we made the decision to have her hospitalized. There are only 2 vets in town that do emergency care and that are open 24hrs a day. We don't really like the one closer to our house, so we drove across town to the other vet. We met with the vet, did the parvo test which was positive, and made the decision to have her stay. Now of course this vet doesn't know us as we are not regular clients so they politely pointed out numerous times that treating parvo is expensive. She talked about the care needed and gave us a general quote of 800-2000 dollars. Stating really they only reach the 2000 dollar mark when the puppies have to stay 5-7 days. Well regardless of price we knew she needed to stay. So we put down an 800 dollar deposit and left our new baby at the vet. She went on IV meds and fluids. The next day we had a great report from the vet. She was being super spunky and loud, lol. Monday night they transitioned her to oral medications and they had said she could probably go home Tuesday afternoon. (I was kinda of excited, our puppy was only going to be a 2-3 day puppy, lol, yes I was thinking money. ) I was excited to have her home for other reasons than money also! Tuesday morning came around and I called for an update. The news was grime. She took a turn for the worse in the night. Wasn't eating, was vomiting even water up. Ok time to go back on IV meds. By Tuesday afternoon we went to visit and we left thinking Peanut may not ever be coming home. She was so sick. But yesterday (Wed) she started to feel a little better. We went and visited her last night and she was sitting up and eating a little. We are still guarded in that we don't want to get our hopes up, but our fingers our crossed that little Peanut will come home. She will be a 5-7 day puppy at the vet at the min. Yes, you can venture a guess how much this little 7 1/2 week old puppy is currently worth. Truly it isn't about the money, we will find it somehow. ( The rescue she came from made a big donation to her vet bill, and I can't thank them enough!!! ) So now we wait...
UPDATE: Peanut came home last night (Thursday 9-14). She just kept doing better all day and she was more than ready to get out of that small kennel. She is doing well and only hit the 5 day mark at the vet ;)
