A story about life

@Hugh_Jorgan

 That's awesome news 

@Hugh_Jorgan

 wow, great news. Hopefully your spirits are lifting. How is Frankie doing?

Great to hear Hugh!

You did your best for your friend.

That is a worthy way to live.

@Hugh_Jorgan

I hope he pulls through man.  I went through a similar situation with my dachshund a few years back.  she collapsed due to overheating when I was on vacation.  3 transfusions and 8 grand later we still had to put her down. I gotta admit, when I heard what Farley was facing I didn't have much hope so I hope I'm dead wrong.  GL 

@sportschat

Frankie has serious trauma from a previous situation that Farley and I rescued him from. Frankie's trauma has improved greatly over the last 9 months that we have had him. I am still the only human he will let go near him, but he absolutely loves Farley. Frankie is a little depressed without his best friend here. His wandering around the streets scared shitless for a day and a half after watching Farley get hit by a car didn't help him any. I think when Farley comes home tomorrow (I'm thinking positive) it will be good for all 3 of us.

I appreciate all the kind words fella's.

I truly truly do.

Thank you

Thank you Hugh for opening a small window into your heart. You have touched all of us. 

Fantastic update Brother 

FARLEY was a miracle before the tragic accident ..

REAL TALK FATHER to FATHER (  most dogs and " select"cats are your CHILDREN !!) .....The every second  PAIN when you have ZERO CONTROL over their SUFFERING/SURVIVAL has NO EQUAL 

So much I want to write here but I do not want to make it about my life experiences with doggos..

This place has become unbearable but this is truly a heartbreaking/heartwarming story. Hugh, you know that you are my brother from another mother, and that you and the pups are in my heart and prayers. I have a 13 year old cocker who we have had since she was 8 weeks and we are symbiotic. 10 years ago the Mrs comes home, I'm in the kitchen cooking, she goes to take her out. She comes back in and says she's walking funny. By morning she couldn't walk. We take her to our vet. The vet recommended a neurologist way out on the peninsula. We lived in the East Bay. The Mrs calls UC Davis, who has a known veterinary school, as we would have rathered gone further east than heading down the peninsula. I work in SF and was on a project that ran 18 overnights straight, long hours. It was slightly over $1000 a night but very demanding. To go to work, to come home to go back out that way, to come home and go back to work was just too much. Davis recommended a Neurologist closer to us in Walnut Creek. Luckily he was in office as he was typically out there 2-3 days a week. We go in. He checks her out. He says, "Look, I need to operate. It's incredibly expensive and it might not work. And you need to decide now because every minute matters. The operation was a success. The rehab hard. And the cost was enough to buy an economy car brand new. It was literally like the cost of a Kia or something but you know what? 10 years later she still lights up my life and a Kia would not be on the road. It was literally the best money I've ever spent. Two years ago this January, we had to put down our other cocker, her "big bro". He was the sweetest dog you could ever ask for and patient with all of her anxious behavior and neurosis from the very beginning to the very end. It's heartbreaking now whenever we all have to be gone from the house as she had never experienced being alone in her entire life.

hopefully the 3 of you are reunited today

I hope Farley gets some life enjoyment back.  The dog will never fully grasp how lucky it is to have a place to go back to.  For a good portion of my life, I have volunteered at animal shelters, currently I spend time at a really huge one in Loxahatchee Florida.....bit of a hike for me, but I like the way they do things there.  I just picked up a dog from Miami-Dade rescue (which is so huge, if you went inside you'd think it was a mall) a few weeks ago, he was a full grown blue eyed beautiful grey weimaraner, and he had incredibly swollen glands and couldn't take a shit properly.  He was surrendered by his family, because they basically didn't want to be bothered with, or maybe (this I could refrain from judging them for) they didn't have the funds necessary to get the dog the procedure he needed. Anyway, I had to pull over halfway back from Miami to Loxahatchee and try to let him poop on the turnpike, because he was getting visibly upset in my back seat walking in circles on the moving blanket I had down and it was brutal to watch.  Dog literally has been sitting in his own stuff for probably awhile, neglected for no wrong-doing of his own, smelled bad, and I had to drive with the windows down......poor guy just had that look of confusion and shame on his face......mixed with probably wishing someone would shoot him in the head and put him out of his misery.  That dog is doing fine now, because the reason for the transport was that the dog shelter I help at is better equipped for that sort of operation.  That guy was strong as an ox, even before the operation.  I am 6 foot tall and 230lbs, and definitely not a weak dude, and he was pulling me all over the place.

Your story reminded me of all the dogs I see at these no-kill shelters that are surrendered because they are not perfect dogs anymore.  The blind ones, sick ones, and even the ones that cannot take a proper shit and are going through internal hell.......and just need a quick operation and a second chance.  People drop these poor animals off, sometimes without even so much as a conversation.  It is heart wrenching.  You would have to be one cold son of a bitch to not feel for them.  I would need to take off my socks and use my toes to add up the number of times I have seen a fucking car pull into a shelter parking lot, and literally toss the dog (or cat) out of the door, slam the door, and peel off out of there.  Total scumbags.  

Good for you for bringing him back home.....the thought of NOT doing that is probably sacrilege in your mind, but you would not believe the percentage of people that eagerly give the dog up to a shelter when the going gets tough.  Dogs are very expendable to many people, even owners that THINK they are "dog people".  That dog loves you unconditionally more than any human could even try to, and truly deserves the love he is getting back.  Good luck with him, seems like you have the patience necessary to deal with it.

Good job man.  

nice comments...

@JDD

 you can always tell a lot about people in how they treat animals, good post 

"Whoa-ooo all I need to know...

is are You kind?"

Guys, I appreciate all the comments and shared stories.

Farley came home last night. He isn't moving as quickly as he normally does, and his energy is at about 20%. Obviously getting hit by a car will take something out of you, but part of it might be due to the pain pills he is still on. He is on 5 different pills, the most important of which is for his heart arrythmia.Doc thinks he has a large bruise on his heart which will get better with time.

Farley has shaved bald spots on 5 different parts of his body, but he is still a handsome fucker.

Frankie and Farley were super happy to see each other. The playfulness and hugging that they did made me cry.

Farley requires a lot of naps right now, which is new to Frankie. When Farley sleeps Frankie lays next to him and just stares at him patiently waiting for him to wake up. They have always had this deep bond, and it seems to have gotten stronger through this situation.

What could have easily been a brutal story of one dead dog and one lost dog, has turned into a story of unconditional love and gratitude. And I maintain my new perspective on life with a greater sense of what is important.

Thanks again for the tremendous heart felt responses in this thread

@Hugh_Jorgan

Great news Hugh! I hope Farley makes a full and speedy recovery.

@bigred84

I have owned and fostered a lot of dogs, but I owned a red minpin for 16 years, bought her when she was 7 weeks old, and she fit in my hand.  Full grown she was just under 7 lbs, which is runty even for that breed.  Pure red. I mean a perfect mini replica of a doberman, looked like a big red doby got zapped with a magic gun and shrunk it.  (even though technically they are not related to dobermans, they are just referred to as mini dobies for obvious reasons). She was for sure the only one that didn't know she was 6.75 pounds.  That dog was more protective of me than my old shepherd/greyhound mix.  Total nutjob dog.  Food thief.  Hater of all things US Postal Service. 

She did not like dogs, or cats, unless it was a much bigger dog than her, then she was in love.  Otherwise she thought she was a person.  Very smart, manipulative little fucker, but quiet, super low maintenance, and very protective.  She lived a good life, and I fed her the same exact food her entire life.  16 years. Same food. She never went to the vet.  Not because I neglect my dogs, because I know enough to know most vet visits are unnecessary.  So when she turned 16, I brought her in, just because she was getting old.  I may tear up as I am remembering this shit.  The fucking vet told me I "can't feed her that food anymore, are you crazy??!!??! she is too old for that, you're gonna kill her!!!"  

Those were his exact words man......and against my better judgement, I allowed this vet to shame me into purchasing some expensive prescription bag of food.  Huge big $120 bag of food.

Babygirl was dead in exactly 7 days from the day I switched her food out on her.  This was like 9 years ago, but every time I see the word minpin.....we don't see a lot of them in the shelter.....and never red ones.....

Apparently the shock to her system from the massive change in diet, considering her stomach and intestines were the size of half a human fist or less, created massive kidney and intestinal issues.  I panicked.  She couldn't shit or piss well, similar to that weimaraner in my back seat, but there is something different about a small 7 pound dog with little beady black eyes staring up at you whimpering......

I brought her back to him.  He assumed no responsibility.  I swear I could've beaten him with his own arm.  

It all happened so fast, and he told me there must've been an underlying condition, and that she was just not gonna make it, etc.....and I fed her whatever she wanted those last few days until she went to sleep next to me in my bed and just didn't wake up, with some pieces of banana, rotisserie chicken, and a little bit of cheese on a plate in front of her.  I still have her ashes in a box.  

Tuesday nights were always poker night at my house.  Always would have like 10 buddies over.  Nice setup, big real holdem table, hire a pro dealer buddy of mine, get pizzas..........Babygirl would wait....like a fucking little red cheetah.....until one of my dumb buddies would get high and/or drunk and careless, and mistakenly hold the slice of pizza under the table, and then she would pounce into action and snatch that shit and drag it behind her into the kitchen and guard it with her life......never not funny......little 7 pound red minpin dragging a huge Jersey slice of pizza pie behind her with such balls and conviction.......

@Hugh_Jorgan

 Sorry not trying to hijack thread..........just sharing dog stories in a Canadian sports betting forum on a Wednesday..........

I also am curious........did the person that was driving the car stop?  I am guessing they did not, but for some reason I want to know 

@StumpTownStu

 Good for you for nutting up and investing in that dog, because indirectly you are investing in yourself......and your family's happiness.......

I know everyone's situation is different, but you still had a choice..........

Wow Hugh.

I hear ya.

I know Shrimp.  He loved Blue, his min-pin.  They were very much the same animal.  

More heart than social grace.

Blue was my 3rd child......

You're good brother. This thread is about our love of dogs. I have enjoyed all the stories.

The driver who struck Farley did not stop. Farley weighs 55lbs, so I would imagine the driver knew he hit him.

Honestly, initially I didn't have time to even think about the driver. By the time I had a minute that was not occupied with concern for the dogs, I was already in a state of better perspective ... a perspective that has me far from being judgemental, at least for now.

Farley was seen by our local vet today for a checkup. She loves Farley. She told me that when she first received the written report from the hospital she was reading through it and waiting for the part that said he had succumb to his injuries. She is the 3rd doctor who has used the word 'miracle' when talking about Farley being alive. She did so with tears in her eyes.

Yup, I am seeing life differently today. I am blessed

Blessings of great health, love, and happiness for the three of you.