Comments on: Saturday reading round-up

By: Martha M.

Martha M. — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:27:46 +0000

Who is that lovely liver and white tri-colored English Springer Spaniel in the photo?

And thanks, Lori, for the dog stretcher website. Our club could keep one on hand for emergencies at agility trials.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:55:36 +0000

This was recently posted on our dane rescue list, be sure to check out the other products they offer
http://www.bellaspainrelief.co.....1-prd1.htm

By: georg

georg — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:38:35 +0000

Our 70-pound basset collapsed on one of his walks. Fortunately, my husband and I team walk - he has the basset on his lead and I have the mini schnauzer on mine. So he was able to stay with the basset while I ran home with the schnauzer and brought the truck and the dog’s bed. His bed is an old sofa cushion. We’re able to get him on the cushion and then carry it like a stretcher to lift him into the truck and carry from the truck to the vet’s office. We’ve done it twice now. Both times he was carried into the office - both times thankfully he’s walked out on his own power.

By: Colorado Transplant

Colorado Transplant — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:38:00 +0000

What a helpless feeling—seeing a loved dog suffering yet unable to lift the dog up so that you can get to the vet!

By: Eucritta

Eucritta — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:18:36 +0000

I wonder if there are portable dollies that owners of large-breed dogs could use? Not the spidery fold-up metal ones, but … I saw some in passing awhile back that were flat platforms with wheels that could snap together to form a larger surface. Not ideal, but broken apart they would’ve fit in a backpack.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:50:22 +0000

It’s an issue I actually bring up to owners of large and giant breed dogs. The very first dog I rescued under our own rescue group went to a woman who had two golden retriever sisters. Each were 80-90lbs, and she was barely physically able to lift even 40lbs.

One day she was out walking them and one had a stroke. She still sends a christmas card to the man who picked her up on the side of the road to drive her the ten or twelve blocks back to her house.

The dog passed away later that day, but at least they were able to do so in a more dignified way than simply losing her on the street. Poor her, the dog was only 7. She adopted the Golden we had rescued as a companion for her remaining girl.

We lost our male retriever much the same way. So terribly sudden - but thankfully my husband was there and it happened in our hallway. I don’t know what I would have done away from home or on my own. He was only 10, it was awful. My heart will always ache when I think of him… I don’t think you ever stop missing them.

By: donna

donna — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:33:10 +0000

I am very sorry for your loss, Christie.

The lifting dilemma has been in the back of my mind for a number of years. My last dog was outside the limit of what I was capable of lifting as a “dead lift” from the ground. Since then, I’ve gotten older and weaker, so my current two dogs are probably ALSO outside the limit of what I can lift from the ground.

By: FrogDogz

FrogDogz — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:15:24 +0000

we don’t always ask ourselves what we’ll do when we’re alone, far from home, with a dog who can’t walk and we can’t lift.

My Murfee girl suffered from severe HD. We kept her going for as long as she was comfortable - mainly because I couldn’t bear to lose her.

One mid January day, I let her outside, and she went down on the ice. I was home, alone, with a 240+ pound dog that couldn’t get up, and blizzard setting in. It took me an hour of frantic phone calls to get someone to come and help me. With their (reluctant) help, I was able to get her into the car, and to our vet for her final visit.

I’ve had one Mastiff since then, Skye Girl, who died of bloat on New Years Eve - something I’ll never forgive myself for.

I haven’t had a Mastiff since. I don’t know if I can bear it.

By: Becky

Becky — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 05:56:30 +0000

I think the HSUS/Vick non-event in Atlanta deserved the entire article coverage. Ugh. I just keep holding out hope that no NFL team is desperate or depraved enough to sign this sick piece of sh*T excuse for a human being. And Wayne Pacelle, he is the absolute bottom feeder that a catfish wouldn’t share the same garbage field with. Ugh! Just ugh!

By: patricia

patricia — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:59:47 +0000

I’m sorry for your loss of Rebel. No one can know exactly how you feel, but I would bet that all your readers can sympathize with the pain of losing a loyal friend.

Now, on another note . . . I think you ought to reread #4 on Terrierman’s list of lessons learned. There are crazies on both ends of the spectrum. it is not something unique to the far right wingers. I can think of conspiracies that far left wingers have been responsible for. And Gina, you ought to read all 1017 pages of the health care reform bill facing the house before you pass judgement on the stupidity of the elderly for being concerned about health care rationing.