Readers' Tips and Heart-Tugging Tales

Jewel the Border Collie – Friend, Protector, and Dancer  
By Robyn Broadbent

Our Border Collie, Ettrick's Jewel, has always had a keen sense of where things belong.  On our small farm in Oregon, just point her in the direction of a goat or a chicken and she'll clearly make certain she communicates where it should or should not be.

One day a few years ago, our large horned ram, that I thought was grazing, walked up behind me while I was feeding our horses.  Suddenly, as he reared up on his hind legs to attack me, Jewel came out of nowhere, grabbed the ram’s belly and forced him to the ground.  Then Jewel looked at me as if to say “Well, how did I do?”  I yelled at Jewel to run and we both fled into the house before the ram knew what had happened.

Jewel was my first attempt at training for titles in AKC Agility, Obedience and Rally. She was working on her scent articles when we discovered that she had some hip problems and had to stop jumping. After surgery and a short recovery period, I discovered a fun sport that we both could enjoy -- Canine Freestyle Dancing.  I have always loved to dance, and Jewel never wanted to stop moving, what a perfectly fun thing for us to try! 

We joined the World Canine Freestyle Organization (WCFO) and trained diligently with a wonderful trainer, Julie Flannery.  Jewel and I entered our first competition in Corvallis, Oregon, and earned our first title and high scoring award in Freestyle.  Then we went to the WCFO Nationals in Seattle and received a title in Heelwork to Music.  Now we are working on the next level -- we may even become brave and try Canine Dressage. 

Jewel will be ten in March and I just turned fifty-one.  Although I suffer from Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, Jewel has kept me up and moving in body -- and spirit -- through many tough times. I am so very thankful to have her in my life as such a wonderful friend!

The Dangers of Macadamia Nuts
By Pat Finnegan

My Boston Terrier, Bubba, recently spilled my wife's bag of Macadamia nuts on the floor and immediately got into them!  He ‘vacuumed’ up at least five nuts as I dove to grab them away from him.  A few hours later, after sleeping awhile, Bubba awoke and seemed lethargic. It was about midnight and I assumed he was just sleepy.

By 6:00 am the next morning, as I prepared him for his morning walk, his front legs were shaking noticeably and he still seemed sluggish.  Bubba’s normal morning routine is to walk and run and playfully tease other dogs in the neighborhood, just being very jovial and animated.  This time he didn't bark or do anything but ‘shuffle’ his feet.  By 8:30 am, he could not move. His hind legs were paralyzed.

I called the vet and explained to him what had happened and he said Bubba should be fine in 24 to 72 hours, depending upon his weight and how much he had eaten. He also mentioned that if Bubba began vomiting or having breathing problems that this was a more serious reaction.  I did some research on the Internet and learned that an unknown chemical in Macadamia nuts can cause paralysis in dogs (and some humans) but that it usually goes away in the same timeframe our veterinarian had projected.
  
By that evening -- roughly 24 hours after ingesting the Macadamia nuts -- Bubba was back to being himself and ready to terrorize the neighborhood again!

Although Bubba’s experience with Macadamia nuts was not fatal (this time), I wanted to share my scary experience with other Barking Bulletin readers.

Coquette and Mrs. B: a Special Patient and her Owner
By Barry M. Baum, DVM

Mrs. B. was a client that I inherited when I bought the Center Sinai Animal Hospital in 1979.  She was an elderly woman who owned an ancient apricot poodle named Coquette that she adored.  Mrs. B lived within a few blocks of the animal hospital and, since she was too old to drive, she would walk to the hospital pushing her personal shopping cart that was specially rigged to carry Coquette. It was quite a sight to see Mrs. B. pushing the cart which was piled up with pillows and Coquette perched on top!  I always imagined the cart to be Coquette's personal and portable throne. 

It is often said that owners and their dogs often resemble each other and that was certainly the case with Mrs. B. and Coquette. Both shared an off white and rust hair color – and Mrs. B.’s hair was pulled back into a bun that resembled the pompoms that Coquette sported.  But perhaps the most striking similarity was the gaunt facial look that occurred in the toothless pucker that accentuated both of their cheeks. 

Mrs. B. was a frequent visitor to the hospital because of Coquette's recurrent allergies.  She was also obsessively devoted to Coquette and used almost any excuse to bring her in for exams. In time I learned that Mrs. B. had a shrine in her modest apartment for Coquette, complete with a red velvet throne and surrounded by votive candles. The pictures displayed in Mrs. B.’s apartment were of Coquette, a veritable anthology of her life.  I began to wonder what would happen to this nice woman after her dog passed away.  At eighteen years of age and with organs that were starting to fail, Coquette could not live on forever.

Surprisingly, Coquette lived to see her twentieth birthday -- which Mrs. B. celebrated in grand style with a birthday party -- complete with an Alpo cake and candles, as well as party hats for canine guests.  Alas, no one lives forever and soon afterward Coquette died in her sleep at home.

Eventually, I asked Mrs. B. if I could help her find another dog so that she would be able to enjoy the same companionship that she had obviously enjoyed with Coquette.  She was reluctant and said that she was afraid that a young dog would outlive her and suddenly be alone.  When I learned that she had a son who lived in a nearby county and neighbors who regularly looked in on her, I contacted them and was pleased to hear them advocate for a new dog. They also volunteered to be adoptive parents for a new dog should the need eventually arise.  When they informed Mrs. B. about their intentions she was very relieved and consented for me to search for a new Coquette.

As soon as Mrs. B. gave her consent for a new dog a miracle occurred!  Someone came into the hospital and left an eight-week-old apricot poodle!  I'm a big believer in the concept of b'shert- a Yiddish term that means, 'it's meant to be'. I believe it was b'shert that this puppy was abandoned here, especially when we were trying to find Mrs. B. a new companion. Mrs. B. was at the hospital within minutes of my call to her and she proudly escorted her new friend home in Coquette's former mobile throne.

Mrs. B. lived for eight more years, although I didn't get to see her nearly as often since her new, young dog was healthy and didn't need extensive medical care.  I learned of her death from her son who called to tell me the news and to thank me for enhancing the quality of his mother's life.  The new (and by now middle-aged) Coquette had moved to Orange County to spend the rest of her days with Mrs. B’s son and his family.  I always love happy endings!  Mrs. B. and Coquette are a reminder that my patients and clients have helped me become a more effective doctor and better able to empathize with their needs.

For more information on Dr. Baum visit:  http://www.centersinaianimalhospital.com/

Baby, the Yorkie Medical Sleuth 
By Nancy Boggs
Early last July, my husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma Type B, Stage 3.  In November, after a long series of medications and chemotherapy, we were told he was in remission and completely cancer free.

What’s remarkable is that, for several weeks before his diagnosis, Baby, our little Yorkie, began constantly licking my husband on his lower abdomen, the primary area where lymphoma began. About halfway through his chemotherapy treatments, Baby stopped licking him!  We were truly amazed at Baby’s ability to detect the beginning and end of my husband’s disease!

An Inseparable Pair
By Erin Price

My boyfriend is an avid hunter.  Last Christmas I surprised him with a German Shorthaired Pointer, Scoutlan Brewster Schneberger, that had been born in September. He was quickly nicknamed 'Scout.’  Needless to say, Scout has won over both our hearts and he is all we talk about when we are together.

Since I am not able to live near my boyfriend and Scout, we often communicate and send pictures back-and-forth via the Internet.  Along with Scout being a great pet, first-year hunter, and friend to all of the humans he interacts with, he has come to love a particular kitten named Groucho on the farm where he lives. It is not uncommon to look outside and see Scout and Groucho playing together, or snuggling as the sun sets. Groucho is always by Scout’s side and they have become an inseparable pair.

Mr. Peabody, the Canine Valet
By Bryan Boss

About two years ago, my then two-year-old Scottish Terrier, Mr. Peabody, decided he was my personal valet after carefully having watched me during my bedtime routine for some time.

One evening as I headed to my bedroom, without any encouragement or attempts to train him, Mr. Peabody rushed and jumped on top of my bed.  Very neatly and carefully he began to pull the bed covers back for me to crawl in!  He has been performing this ‘service’ for me every night since then.

Sometimes I will tease him by saying, "Not enough, Mr. Peabody!" He will then, with a low growl, work diligently to turn the covers down even further until I say "Good boy.”

This picture of Mr. Peabody was taken by a guest in our home, when Mr. Peabody apparently decided he should offer his services to her as well.

Elvis is Alive, Well and Happy in Tennessee 
By Rosemary and John Block

Our dog, a Boxer named Elvis, is a Certified Pet Therapy Dog.  Although he is only two years old he seems to be the most popular pup in our neighborhood in Tennessee. Everyone loves him so much!

Elvis has a very busy schedule, visiting a particular school every Friday as well as various assisted living facilities. The children he sees in special education classes and the elderly adults he interacts with have benefited and improved so much from his visits.

Elvis is truly a special pup who always loves being with children and adults and he has never had a ‘bad day.’ He is very handsome and the happiest dog we have ever had!

Another Warning about the Dangers of Rat Poison
By Ilona Peckham

I feel compelled to add an addendum to the story you recently published in The Barking Bulletin about the Sheltie that died from ingesting a neighbor's rat poison.  I was lucky, but I narrowly avoided the same pain a few years ago when I bought an old, previously vacant house in a farming area. 

Deer mice were literally everywhere on the property, and I resorted to putting out D-Con poison pellets. I didn't have any cats at that time, but did have three Pembroke Welsh Corgis, so I was scrupulous about placing the turquoise-colored pellets in hard-to-reach areas, high up in my garage that were completely inaccessible to my dogs.  I was amazed at the speed at which the pellets disappeared, and I had to replenish the bait areas frequently. 

You can imagine my utter shock when I discovered that these industrious mice weren't eating all of the pellets, or even taking them home to their families.  Instead they were stuffing and storing them in the corners of my patio chairs in the back yard, and in boxes I had stored in the garage!  These were areas that are totally within reach of my dogs!  I don't recall ever seeing warnings to the effect that mice/rats might ‘relocate’ the deadly pellets, and potentially place them within one gulp of poisoning pets. I will never again use this kind of rat poison anywhere near my property.

Just recently, I had yet another scare and realized I still have to be vigilant, even seven years later.  It had been a long time since I had bowled, but neighbors asked me to fill in as a substitute for a local bowling league.  I climbed a ladder in my garage to reach my old bowling bag and ball on a high shelf, and was surprised to find a small hole that had been chewed in the corner of the bag. The inside of the bag had long ago been turned into a mouse ‘house of horrors,’ complete with chewed up old score-sheets, dried up dead mice, and a generous portion of old turquoise poison pellets -- awaiting another victim!

We thank all of our readers who send us stories and regret that we are not able to publish all of them. We reserve the right to edit submissions for grammar, style and length as needed.  Please send your heart tugging tales to us at: greatdogs@petpartnersinc.com!