Bill in Portland Maine, as part of his
Koufax-nominated series Cheers and Jeers, brings us dogs each day, including some
amazing stories that tug at the heart strings. Most of us come here to dKos because we are looking out at the world beyond and hoping that something will change it for the better - hoping that catalytic moment might start here - hoping that the synergy of our writing, thought, commentary, and action will be the spark that may save everything for the next generation.
But closer to home, there are dogs. They want food and lovins and bally time and a nice place to sleep.
And really, they don't care who is in the White House (though we believe they are good judges of character and would have the sense to snarl and growl at the pResident). They aren't overly concerned with Iraq or tsunamis or who won the Super Bowl.
Dogs are a weak spot for me - I take them in when I find them - I try to find their owners, and as often as not, I end up with a 'new' dog.
Some time in the mists of pre-history, dogs and humans
allied themselves with one another. As we move into the 21st century, the bond with dogs (and with all companion animals) continues to change and evolve. For many of us, they are as important as our two-legged kin. We now are recognizing their benefits to our physical and mental health. Also different than just a few short generations ago in a very important way: capability (and cost) of veterinary care. Things that weren't options before, now are.
My first experience with the medical costs of a dog came with Cosmo. He was a not-too-bright Dalmatian-Lab mix who ate a US Navy uniform web belt, had it unravel in his digestive tract, and $4000 of surgery and the extraction of his duodenum later...
The recent year saw the loss to old age of my beloved shepherd/akita, Bandon. It also saw the need to euthanize Buster, one of my stray foundlings who developed a relentless taste for cats.
In early July, another stray came into my life and the pact twixt H. sapiens and C. familiaris was renewed again. We named her "Indy", in part for her foundling day (July 3) and as she provided a cinematicly appropriate companion 'look' for my other beast, Sallah. Fate seems to give me female dogs who warrant names from lieratry or film culture, without regard to gender. Before Indy, it was Newt (think Aliens), and before her, Atli (from Egil's Saga).
Sometime yesterday, Indy hurt her right hind leg, rupturing her ACL. Given her age (somewhere close to 3) and her size, surgery (weighed against various pain, arthritis, and quality of life concerns) seems like the only real option.
I tried to explain to my father today why one might do an ACL surgery on a dog. He doesn't understand. In his day, vets gave vaccinations, maybe helped with a difficult pregnancy, maybe provided pain management, but other than that, it was up to the dog.
Canine ACL surgery runs about $1150 in my part of the world. The Indy ACL donation button (via PayPal) is up on my blog, for those of you who truly have money burning holes in your pockets (not very many of you, I expect). But mostly, I'd like to hear from the rest of the dog lovers here about their four-legged friends, in general, and specifics from anyone who has been through an ACL procedure with their pup...
(note: if folks do donate - and I recall a dental thing for Melanie's cat here once many moons ago may actually have raised more than needed - any surplus would be donated to the local entities that deal with strays (SNYP, CATS, and the Humane Society))