A definite leap of faith (Callie -- NOT my leap!)

 What a sweet baby!!

He's apparently already hopping on his back legs -- but the plan IS to fit him with a cart if they can find one small enough.  

One of the big needs currently is to find him a good foster home -- he's obviously knocked off his feet easily -- and they're still stugging with how to feed him (he wants to stand but that's not going to be practical so they're still

 He's apparently all chi -- but a sibling only had three legs (missing a foreleg) so they are trying to convince these people to speuter the parents (this is why Rita's good at this -- I'd simply want to do them physical damage *sigh*).

They're trying to get a checking account established.  They aren't 501(c)3 yet but should have that in place by year end and it's retroactive.  I'll post more at noon when I can take a break. 

Rita's really good with the special needs dogs -- she's placed epi dogs, deaf dogs (she helped train a deaf dog at the shelter she worked at to know sign and he got a wonderful home -- but she got the whole staff learning sign to work with the dog!)

Sending Rita and Angel good home finding vibes!  Thanks for your constant concern and research about all pets; yours, ours and those needing love and homes.

calliecritturs

but a sibling only had three legs (missing a foreleg) so they are trying to convince these people to speuter the parents

calliecritturs

the plan IS to fit him with a cart if they can find one small enough

If finding one that is the right size becomes too difficult, they might want to try the Lemelson Center (Assistive Technology) at Hampshire College (central Massachusetts)--this is a project a student might be very interested it. (The college takes a very cool approach to the lab--all students of the college can access the Lab to work on projects--they do not have to be design majors or anything like that.) While the focus is most often on assistive tech for people, there might be a student who would love to help with this.

Here are a couple links about the Center (I think they're redoing some of the pages, so some are blank, but these work):

Lemelson Center: http://www.hampshire.edu/lemelson/2114.htm

Design facilities: http://www.hampshire.edu/lemelson/2475.htm

I've never visited, but it's on my list to do soon! I'm sure there are other assistive tech designers who might be interested, too--this just happens to be one I know about. 

miranadobe

but I seriously have issues with the people who continue to breed them. 

You and I both -- "in-breeding" is just plain WRONG.  Rita's way more diplomatic than I am but she gets results -- I have a magic threshold -- I'm WAY nice, but there is a "line" with me and when you cross it, you'd better be good at ducking (except sh*t usually splatters so I tend to get messy myself *sigh*)   This is where I start wishing that "judgment" would include these people being in a world where they'd have to LIVE as what they messed with!  So it's probably a good thing I'm not on THAT jury.  *sigh*

HOWEVER --

This morning I said to my boss "Wanna see a picture of the latest little project I'm helping out on??"

Andy said -- "why am I sure it's something with four legs?"  I told him this time he was wrong ... well ... sorta, anyway. 

Got an email from Rita -- their hold-up is getting the state to ok their rescue name.  They were going to go with "Toy Dog Rescue of Austin" but believe it or not a TOY STORE is having issues with the name.

*rolling my eyes* -- PEOPLE ... are .... so .... SILLY.

According to Rita, Angel is already hopping on his back legs and they're already concerned about preventing spinal issues.  But he wants to "stand" to eat and they're trying to teach him to 'lean' on something rather than just stand so they're experimenting with bowls and things to help prop him up -- it's probably VERY tiring on that stump to try to lean on it while he eats to keep his head elevated enough so he doesn't choke. 

That's why I said the key to this is going to be a good foster home -- so if anyone in the Austin area knows someone who would like to take on a little challenge like this it would be awesome -- it can't be a typical noisy "lotsa dogs" home -- cos we don't want him learing to be guardy over his food ... he needs to relax

calliecritturs

miranadobe

but I seriously have issues with the people who continue to breed them. 

You and I both -- "in-breeding" is just plain WRONG. 

  Deformities in dogs don't always result from "in-breeding". Birth defects can result from genetics, environment or "other factors" (combination of genetics & environment, unknown causes, mutation, etc) and can occur in inbred puppies and outcrosses. Not saying this dog's breeder should continue but genetics may or may not be to blame.

  As for the handicap pets and people's desire to make them therapy dogs, I totally agree and have seen this myself. I have had people with deaf/blind dogs say their goal is to train them to be therapy dogs "so good can come of their disability". My hydrocephalic dog would not have been good therapy dog material at all but I did have several people ask if I thought of doing that with her. Funny too because I have outgoing, healthy dogs who would be much better canidates for that sort of work but no one ever suggests I do therapy work with them.

 I'll be wishing Angel the best in finding the right person!

AgileGSD

  Deformities in dogs don't always result from "in-breeding". Birth defects can result from genetics, environment or "other factors" (combination of genetics & environment, unknown causes, mutation, etc) and can occur in inbred puppies and outcrosses.

If you read the rest of my post -- they KNOW where these dogs came from and another littermate is ALSO missing a limb and these folks have had them since November.  The problem is likely a combination of all of the above but the sire/dam really ought not be bred again (and knowing Rita I'm sure there's more than just this to it as well). 

Unfortunately a lot of people have seen the You Tube video of "Faith" and the fact that Faith has been on all the talk shows and is pretty well supporting the owner (movie/book rights etc) and the romance sounds too good.

No matter whether it's a dog or a human ... the "good" comes out of a life lived to its fullest. 

And if no one ever suggests you do pet therapy work with your other dogs then we need to talk.  But it's a matched set -- it's not just the dog.  At least in my county the dog can't get the driver's license and find a place to park so a human's gotta be involved too.  It's handy to have the human along to pay for things like gas, and to look respectable at the other end of the leash as well. 

The human should be there to make it *look* easy.  It's not ... it's a lot of hard work ... but it shouldn't be a way for the dog to justify its existence.  And I know that's not what you're saying - but it really digs in my spirit when I hear people talk that way ... like there's no use in keeping a dog with a challenge for any other reason.

calliecritturs

If you read the rest of my post -- they KNOW where these dogs came from and another littermate is ALSO missing a limb and these folks have had them since November.  The problem is likely a combination of all of the above but the sire/dam really ought not be bred again (and knowing Rita I'm sure there's more than just this to it as well). 

  Like I said, I'm not saying these people should be breeding the dogs. The fact that this puppy is now in rescue doesn't speak real well for them. Just that deformities are not always genetic and not always from inbreeding (even when multiple puppies in the litter have similar limb deformities). It could just as well be from exposure to toxins. Or a mutation that no relatives had previously.

calliecritturs

 

And if no one ever suggests you do pet therapy work with your other dogs then we need to talk.  But it's a matched set -- it's not just the dog.  At least in my county the dog can't get the driver's license and find a place to park so a human's gotta be involved too.  It's handy to have the human along to pay for things like gas, and to look respectable at the other end of the leash as well. 

The human should be there to make it *look* easy.  It's not ... it's a lot of hard work ... but it shouldn't be a way for the dog to justify its existence.  And I know that's not what you're saying - but it really digs in my spirit when I hear people talk that way ... like there's no use in keeping a dog with a challenge for any other reason.

 

 I am not personally drawn to pet therapy work but admire people who are active in it. We kept Screamy, the hydrocephalic puppy because we wanted her to be able to have a life, even if it would be short. Most everyone I asked felt she wouldn't have a good quality of life beyond 4-6 months and I was urged by multiple people have her PTS sooner rather than later.  She always ate well (some do not), survived parvo as a young puppy and was playful and seemed happy enough, although developmentally delayed and blind. I think that is why people felt she should be a therapy dog - she had a history of overcoming odds. I don't think most average people think of therapy work in terms of how stressful it can be on the dog (and the owner) or what it actually requires. They just think how nice it would make them feel to hear about a special needs dog helping people.

calliecritturs

But he wants to "stand" to eat and they're trying to teach him to 'lean' on something rather than just stand so they're experimenting with bowls and things to help prop him up

So, I wonder if there's a company in the Austin area that makes custom formed wheel chair seats? They might be able to form a custom bolster for Angel that supports him while he's eating. OK-that costs money...A mini-bean bag chair (like the size of a loaf of bread or a bit bigger) might also do the same thing and mold to his body so as to avoid pressure sores, etc. It could be filled with something inexpensive (like rice or small beans) that can be replaced every so often to start with while a more long term solution is found. The sides might need to be made of a more solid material (so it doesn't reform while he's eating), but you could customize the size to match his natural height and the dish height.

All I can say is, it's a good thing I live in RI--I can't have another pup right now, but oh my goodness, is he a cutie!

Callie, I have dealt with this company personally, & had a very good experience.  You might contact them & see if they can help out.

I hope that a foster is found soon.

If I were closer, I'd offer to foster him, til he acclimated to a cart and eating "normally".  Once he's adjusted, I bet he'll be hell on wheels, literally He's got such a spark in his eye!

OMG....I could carry him around in my pockets all day!!!  LOL  Poor little guy.  Callie, they have to find him a home with someone EXACTLY like you. 

I'm just wondering if we're going to get to see some more pictures of the handsome little guy.

Probably more pics eventually -- but I just got an email from her and she's got her OWN pug at the vet with pancreatitis or an obstruction right now.  *sigh*