Godiva
01-30-2006, 05:25 PM
Hi all. I was looking for a site like PetLovers because I knew that there would be people on here who would understand what I'm going through. I am an animal lover; my husband is not.
A stray wandered up to our home less than a year ago. I looked for the owner by putting an ad in the paper and on the internet. No one claimed this gentle, loving dog; so I decided to keep him. We named him Jake. Jake loved to race our cars up to the road. (We live in the country on a dirt lane back from the road.) He was racing my husbands truck one day when my husband ran over Jakes leg. My husband didn't realize it at the time. I noticed it later that afternoon. Jake was limping and there were open wounds. I took him to the vet and amazingly, there were no broken bones. The vet informed me that I did not have a mutt but an Australian Blue Heeler. Jake had to have antibiotics to clear up the wound as it was getting infected. I also had him tested for heartworm, put on heartworm pills, etc. The bill was NOT cheap.
This past Thursday, around 5:00 pm, I came home from picking my kids up from school and running errands only to find that Jake did not give me the usual wag of his stubby tail or his excited run around the yard. When I examined him, he had dried blood on this side. I cleaned him up but couldn't find the wound. (Earlier in the day he and my Boston Terrier (Yoda) confronted this HUGE white dog that ended up on our property. I thought it was from a fight.) Jake did not look comfortable at all. I told my husband to check the dog out when he got home but he didn't look at him until Saturday afternoon. I begged my husband to let me take Jake to the ER Vet; but he said that we couldn't afford it. When my husband finally came out on Saturday he told me it looked like someone had shot our dog. That made sense, because I couldn't see how that other dog could injure Jake so badly.
I had almost convinced my hubby to take the dog to the vet when a few minutes later Jake died. I was sitting next to him petting him and telling him I loved him. (I'm so glad I decided to go outside and spend time sitting with him.) Since Thursday, he was walking around slowly and not laying down much. I"m assuming it wasn't comfortable for him. So when he came up and lay on the blanket I put out, I knew he was critical. My husband just happened to walk away to talk to the neighbor and a few minutes later Jake passed. I don't ever want to go through that experience again.
As to Jake being shot, all I can figure is that when I went to pick the kids up and had Yoda put in our laundry room in the house, that Jake decided to wander over the fields next door. I'm wondering which neighbor shot him and I would like to talk to this neighbor. Down here in South Texas, when you live in the country, it is a widely known thing that if a "stray" wanders onto your land you can shoot it. I would only shoot a dog if it threatened my children in any way. I just CAN'T STAND people who are gun happy. I don't mind having guns; but shooting at ANY animal that enters your property is wrong. I knew a guy who would shoot any animal that came on his property. One day he shot a dog and then when he went to look at the dog, it had a collar with tags. How sad.
I dearly loved this dog; Jake. He was a gentle, loyal, devoted, and loving dog. I have NEVER been SO attached to an animal. (Sorry Yoda, but it's true.) I'll really miss him.
Sorry this is so long; but I know there are others here who understand what I am feeling. (People I know think I'm crazy..."it's JUST a dog...c'mon")
Thanks for letting me vent.
Photo of Jake:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a339/michnative/doggypoo010.jpg" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket">
A stray wandered up to our home less than a year ago. I looked for the owner by putting an ad in the paper and on the internet. No one claimed this gentle, loving dog; so I decided to keep him. We named him Jake. Jake loved to race our cars up to the road. (We live in the country on a dirt lane back from the road.) He was racing my husbands truck one day when my husband ran over Jakes leg. My husband didn't realize it at the time. I noticed it later that afternoon. Jake was limping and there were open wounds. I took him to the vet and amazingly, there were no broken bones. The vet informed me that I did not have a mutt but an Australian Blue Heeler. Jake had to have antibiotics to clear up the wound as it was getting infected. I also had him tested for heartworm, put on heartworm pills, etc. The bill was NOT cheap.
This past Thursday, around 5:00 pm, I came home from picking my kids up from school and running errands only to find that Jake did not give me the usual wag of his stubby tail or his excited run around the yard. When I examined him, he had dried blood on this side. I cleaned him up but couldn't find the wound. (Earlier in the day he and my Boston Terrier (Yoda) confronted this HUGE white dog that ended up on our property. I thought it was from a fight.) Jake did not look comfortable at all. I told my husband to check the dog out when he got home but he didn't look at him until Saturday afternoon. I begged my husband to let me take Jake to the ER Vet; but he said that we couldn't afford it. When my husband finally came out on Saturday he told me it looked like someone had shot our dog. That made sense, because I couldn't see how that other dog could injure Jake so badly.
I had almost convinced my hubby to take the dog to the vet when a few minutes later Jake died. I was sitting next to him petting him and telling him I loved him. (I'm so glad I decided to go outside and spend time sitting with him.) Since Thursday, he was walking around slowly and not laying down much. I"m assuming it wasn't comfortable for him. So when he came up and lay on the blanket I put out, I knew he was critical. My husband just happened to walk away to talk to the neighbor and a few minutes later Jake passed. I don't ever want to go through that experience again.
As to Jake being shot, all I can figure is that when I went to pick the kids up and had Yoda put in our laundry room in the house, that Jake decided to wander over the fields next door. I'm wondering which neighbor shot him and I would like to talk to this neighbor. Down here in South Texas, when you live in the country, it is a widely known thing that if a "stray" wanders onto your land you can shoot it. I would only shoot a dog if it threatened my children in any way. I just CAN'T STAND people who are gun happy. I don't mind having guns; but shooting at ANY animal that enters your property is wrong. I knew a guy who would shoot any animal that came on his property. One day he shot a dog and then when he went to look at the dog, it had a collar with tags. How sad.
I dearly loved this dog; Jake. He was a gentle, loyal, devoted, and loving dog. I have NEVER been SO attached to an animal. (Sorry Yoda, but it's true.) I'll really miss him.
Sorry this is so long; but I know there are others here who understand what I am feeling. (People I know think I'm crazy..."it's JUST a dog...c'mon")
Thanks for letting me vent.
Photo of Jake:
<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a339/michnative/doggypoo010.jpg" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket">