Sad, sad, stray in Middleburg, FL Part-3
About 20 years ago my husband brought home a stray border collie. Vet said he was about 1 and had major heartworms. I guess back then treatment wasn't as good. The vet said he would live a good 4 to 5 years with them. But thought if we treated them that would kill him because he had them so bad. Well he lived for 13 years. Bone cancer is what killed him. About 3 years ago our neighbor adopted a yellow lab. Again about 1 years old. He went through all the treatments and is now heartworm free and healthy. Hang in there. Mr Muffin is a fighter. He found you for a reason. |
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 I'm glad we all can stop holding our breath, and I have every confidence he will come through the heartworm treatment.   for you, Ellen, and Mr. Ellen. |
Ellen, you did NOT screw up!! I agree, the vet should know what is advisable. You are doing GREAT!!!!!  Several years ago, I worked at a pet hospital and there were a few dogs that came in for not just heartworm but really advanced heartworm and they were treated successfully. No negative feed back on after effects. Be aware of possibilites BUT don't make yourself crazy with worry. Nancy G |
| My gut is telling me that MM will be just fine. He looks like a healthy dog and healthy dogs survive heartworm infections. The price you quoted doesn't seem bad at all for all that work. I assume they're shaving & bathing him as well? After he was knocked out, did you get any good, close-up pics of him? Did they ever find a chip in him or a tag on his collar? You're doing a great job. Keep it up. Can't wait for the next update. |
| So glad to hear your visit went better than expected, and that you were able to stay calm, cool and collected. Don't be upset about the vaccinations. You're thinking was spot on - do as much as you can today, rather than stressing him with repeated visits. (The rabies may have been required anyway - policy at my old vet is that we were not allowed to do surgery on any animal without a current rabies vaccination.) And it can't be undone now, so onwards and upwards. Since he is not coughing, and he's only a year old, it sounds like there is a very good chance of beating the heartworms. I'll echo everyone here - Mr. Muffin is so very, very fortunate to have found your backyard, and I'm sure you and Mr. Ellen and MM will all have a long and happy life together.  |
| Ellen, you did not screw up! You're just trying to do your best for Mr Muffin! Many years ago my sis adopted a stray in Indiana who was hw+. He received the treatment and lived for many years. Like Mr Muffin, he was a young dog. The challenge was keeping him quiet and calm throughout the treatment but he did fine and you knew already that the HW was a big possibility. Anxiously awaiting pics of the new improved muffin man and also to donate to his care..... |
| I will absolutely post pictures when i get him safely home this afternoon and settled in. I had hubby take one of him at the vets while he was lying on his quilt before they carried him to the back. I will add that to his photobucket site later today. I am an emotional wreck today - the relief, the release of adrenaline, the sadness of the news - and now the knowledge i did a stupid thing that may have put him in harms way when I should have known better if I had only stopped to think. I rushed into the decision to vaccinate because i was going down a mental "grocery list" of what he needed to be a "normal" dog, I didn't stop to think he may have special needs, if, if, if... I won't do this again, ever. And you guys are such a collective group of experienced dog owners, I will run everything by you all first in the future. You always have such insight and wisdom. Thank you Jaci, for reminding me I need to be a better advocate. I have had my share of doctors who literally would have killed me in their rush to 'treat" and it was only due to my gut instincts that I myself am here today... I didn't tune in today for MM and just pray that you all are right, that he will be fine in spite of the heart worms, inspite of me. I am probably going to be offline for a while now to get the back bedroom ready for him. In the light of this news, i am going to be keeping him in a different room, near a door to the outside where I can walk him away from the other dogs, feed him separately, etc.. I will bunk down with him at night too until he is used to being alone and over his treatment. He does not know even what "sit" is so I am sure house training him is in store too. Keeping him quiet away from the rambunctious shepherd will be a chore but I can do it. |
I mean it! No regrets. You were trying to get it all done so he wouldn't be stressed with another visit. We all completely understand it and would probably have done the same thing!! You've had so much to deal with over the past week. Take a deep breath... and don't think about it anymore... focus on what still needs to be done. (oh... let that breath out and breathe normally now  ) |
| Ellen, MUFFIN Is going to be fine, BECAUSE of YOU ( and Hubby) !!!! You are with friends here, we are all dog people, dog people are good people, and You...are GOOD people. Muffin is young and be heartened by the fact that he is young, and in otherwise good health. The vaccinations are a minor issue... in the overall scheme. He is a tough guy, who is going to get a sissy hair cut today! haha... and he gets to go home, to the very best HOME in the world for HIM, your HOME! Do not look backwards, just let's move forward, with the plan already in place. We all support you, 100%!!   Doing a great job! hugs and kisses  for the Muffin! |
sad_stray_finder wrote: 6Girls wrote: IF at all possible, I'd wait a few weeks so his system is healthy enough to accept the challenge. He's not a healthy dog right now. Oh Jaci, I didn't even think of that...and I, of all people, should have. (Loong story for another time) Why are you beating yourself up? It is a vet's job to KNOW you are not supposed to administer vaccines to an unhealthy dog and it says so right on the instructions if I'm not mistaken. They went to vet school. Not you. That's why we pay them the big bucks, right? I don't understand why so many of them have a problem with this concept, but it's quite common. I doubt it will make any difference in the end. And lots of dogs survive HW treatment just fine. The dog is darn lucky he wandered into your yard! Kristine |
| Ellen, I wouldn't be thinking twice about the vaccinations. I would have done the same thing you have done. I wouldn't have wanted to go back, nor would I have wanted to pay another visit fee. |
| Oh my you had a lot on your mind. How could you even think straight. They should have know better. No worries Mr. Muffin will be fine. It took a few vets to finally have the one I have now. He is futher away but worth it. He doesn't believe in over vaccinating. And when you do vaccinate he staggers it a few weeks apart and he doesn't charge you for the returning visits. I thought the price you are quoted is very reasonable. I think we up here in Canada pay more. Looking forward to see the spiffed up Mr. Muffin. |
| wasn't there something recently here about a special emergency fund for dogs in trouble that could be applied for through your vet???? I can't remember what it was posted under but I was thinking that that may also help defray the unexpected cost for the HW treatment. Does anyone remember the mention or the thread??? |
| Thank you everyone. Your words will keep me from beating myself up at 3am... (Ever notice we always wake up at 3am when feeling bad about something???) I just got off the phone with Dr. Diley (who i like by the way... but you know me... not always the best judge of character, am I? Anyway, she seems kind and right now, kindness for MM scores big-time in my book) And the hits keep on coming with our boy  She x-rayed his back rear leg he was limping on because she said after she shaved him, she could tell the muscles in that leg are about 1/2 the size of the other leg. And when she did, she discovered that his hip had been broken at some point...and just was never taken care of so it regrew badly. It was not broken in a joint, but across the actual bone close to his back. She said it would be painful to him with bone rubbing on bone. She is a vet in an emergency after hours clinic in Jacksonville (also partly owned by Dr. Price) occasionally on weekends and this weekend is one of them. She said she was going to snag one of the surgeons who pop their heads in the door usually and just have a copy of his x-ray with her to get their opinion as to what can be done, or if anything should be done. She hopes there may be a way to fix it so at least he is not in constant pain his whole life, not 'fixing" the hip per say, but alleviating the pain. She thinks he was maybe hit by a car or some other blunt trauma... poor boy. I can only imagine how he suffered with that, alone in the woods. She ordered more blood work to check his liver and kidneys to see what shape they are in to make doubley sure he is a candidate for HW treatment, but right now, she said she believed that he definitely is. So: Aside from his heart worms His busted up hip The ear infections, which he is going to get some antibiotics for and the recovery of his neutering (from which he earned apparently 10 days of pain medication, not 3, with his hip issue weighing in) Our boy is coming home!! I am to pick him up at 3:30. Pics to follow later . |
| YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Boy is comming home!!!!!!! |
| okay I think that I did find the web site that someone had posted about before so maybe this will also help or should be considered given all the additional battles Mr. Muffin is dealing with. http://thepetfund.com/links.htm |
| Woo Hoo!! Homecoming Sounds like there are some challenges to deal with, but that they can all be overcome  Can't wait for some pics |
| Poor boy! He has been thru SO much. Here's hoping something can be done with his hip. Do we know what breed he is yet? |
| YIPPEE!!!!! I'm pretty sure that every member is online right now...just waiting for updates!  Users browsing this forum: Amanda P, Blueshire, CamVal1, cynmcreid, lhall15, Lulu&Michelle, Maggie McGee IV, Mom of 3, New OES Mama, OnTheLam, Paula O., sad_stray_finder, sheepiegail, spacegirl21, WeLoveOurSheepies and 12 guests |
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sheepiegail wrote: okay I think that I did find the web site that someone had posted about before so maybe this will also help or should be considered given all the additional battles Mr. Muffin is dealing with. http://thepetfund.com/links.htm Thank you Gail. I will go through these links and hopefully something would apply to MM. Oh as to breed... Apparently the jury is still out on that one. She thinks maybe labradoodle, but she doesn't really know. They did bathe him while he was asleep, I forgot to mention. That was nice... it wasn't even 'on my list". I was going to do it, so I am glad they did it while he was asleep.  |
| I can't wait to tell him how popular a fella he is and how lucky to have all of YOU! |
| it sounded as if Ellen makes the grade for the Red Rover grant since she has definitely been a good Samaritan http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=1611 |
| Maybe I'm being overly cautious but I know I'm not the only one who is having doubts about chipping-in to every cause on this board. No offense, Ellen, but people here really don't know you like many members here know each other. If I was in a similar situation, I would seek out the help of a group who was a 501(c)3 who actually knows you personally or is fully aware of what you are doing to help this dog. Maybe the mobile vet can help hook you up with someone? When Gilligan came into Marianne's life, the money was administered by a very trusted member of the rescue community and several OES boards. People were confident that the money would go to Gilligan's care and not to a possible scam. People are often more willing to donate to a true non-profit organization due to being tax-deductible. Just check the local shelters, rescues or humane societies in your area, or check with your local Animal Control. There should be someone willing to vouch for everything you are doing and be willing to let you set this up to go into their PayPal account and pay the bills from it. In addition, the vet may give them a break for being an organized rescue group. What you are doing for this dog is so above and beyond the care that he would have received most anywhere else. I certainly hope I haven't offended you or anyone else but these days you can't be too careful. It's a sad world we live in these days! Take one problem at a time with Muffin. Heartworms are usually treated successfully with no long-term ill effects. Time will tell what may or may not need to be done with his hip. In your care I'm sure he'll be happy and obviously much loved. We're rooting for you and the Muffin Man! |
Looking forward to pictures and updates. Hope there more today. I might have to 'sneak' into the office over the weekend to read all the newest updates.  I Got KEYS!!!! |
Maggie McGee IV wrote: Maybe I'm being overly cautious but I know I'm not the only one who is having doubts about chipping-in to every cause on this board. No offense, Ellen, but people here really don't know you like many members here know each other. If I was in a similar situation, I would seek out the help of a group who was a 501(c)3 who actually knows you personally or is fully aware of what you are doing to help this dog. Maybe the mobile vet can help hook you up with someone? When Gilligan came into Marianne's life, the money was administered by a very trusted member of the rescue community and several OES boards. People were confident that the money would go to Gilligan's care and not to a possible scam. People are often more willing to donate to a true non-profit organization due to being tax-deductible. Just check the local shelters, rescues or humane societies in your area, or check with your local Animal Control. There should be someone willing to vouch for everything you are doing and be willing to let you set this up to go into their PayPal account and pay the bills from it. In addition, the vet may give them a break for being an organized rescue group. What you are doing for this dog is so above and beyond the care that he would have received most anywhere else. I certainly hope I haven't offended you or anyone else but these days you can't be too careful. It's a sad world we live in these days! Take one problem at a time with Muffin. Heartworms are usually treated successfully with no long-term ill effects. Time will tell what may or may not need to be done with his hip. In your care I'm sure he'll be happy and obviously much loved. We're rooting for you and the Muffin Man! I completely understand. Today the world is definitely filled with scam artists Nita. If I have to 'defend" myself, I would just like to say that my intention here was never to receive financial help, I just wanted help in knowing how to deal with a stray animal i was trying to help. I had never done that before. And if proof of me is what you want before welcoming the new kid on the block, just call the vets office and ask them if i have told the truth about Mr. Muffin. They have my complete dog history there. They have Mr. Muffin's history there. And why in the world would I attempt to catch a stray dog in order to have vet bills paid? I do not fault any one who doesn't want to help me with the money. I am grateful for the friendship too. I too am sorry for the world that we live in that creates these doubts and I understand. No offense at all taken. |
| this is thru the humane societies link hope this helps www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources ... g_pet.html |
| The Pet Fund says it's for non-emergency situations only. It seems like the ChipIn account would be the easiest and fastest way to get the money to the vet. It could be set up in the name of the vet or any rescue organization that would be willing to administer the funds. It certainly is a personal decision whether or not to contribute (as always), but I, for one, can't imagine anyone going to such elaborate lengths to scam a few people out of a few hundred bucks. And as Ellen said, she never asked for money, but I can appreciate what a pinch such an unexpected vet bill could cause to the budget and will help in any way I can. |
| Ellen you DO NOT need to defend yourself. We all SAW the videos and all fell in love with Mr Muffin. You have gone above and beyond to help this guy out and Im sure most of us have no doubt you are doing everything you can for him. Keep your head up. You have made many friends here who will be here to support you and Mr Muffin any way we can. |
| How about one of the rescue groups here, step up and check out the vet and Mr. Muffins care. Then use the Rescue's Pay Pal Account to accept and issue the funds that are donated......................Just a suggestion |
| I just called to see if I could pay on Mr Muffins account, and he is still there and the person that answered the phone was very nice and helpful. Lisa Frankie and Mattie |
| I actually DID call the vet's office to check on Mr Muffin. He was sedated at the time and being attended to and the woman I spoke to was very aware of his situation and of Ellen and very supportive of Ellen and all she has done to help Mr Muffin. Yes, it is a scary world we live in now, but I know in my heart that Ellen and her husband are just really kindhearted people who just want to see Mr Muffin taken care of. His videos show that. When I lost my job a year ago and thought I would have to give up my pups so they would be taken care of, lovely people in my life helped me out so I could keep them and all has worked out tremendously. Now I'm in a position to be able to help out others and will never hesitate to do that. Poor Muffin...hw+, untreated broken hip, but hopefully all of that can be treated and he will live happily and comfortable with this wonderful family who has done so much for him. |
| Hello all, I am not purposely ignoring anyone, I am just running around trying to get everything ready for MM in the back room, away from the other dogs before bringing him home. I will upload copies of everything later and pics too. Thank you!! |
| Does MM have a crate to stay in? Aren't dogs being treated for HW need to stay in a crate? If he does need to stay in a crate, AND you don't have one, maybe a local vet or local Humane Assoc or local SPCA or local rescue group has one you could borrow. |
| I think you are correct, Mark. Here's a link to an article that was published in the Whole Dog Journal about treatment for HW..http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjheartwormtreatment.html. Hopefully the vet whom is treating Mr Muffin will thorough in her advise to Mr and Mrs Ellen about his aftercare. |
Ellen, I'm sure you know, your other dogs will try to help you and the Muffin Man. I think they will be great security and reassure Muffin. God love ya, for what you have done and are doing.  There is a special place in Heaven for you and Mr. Ellen.  |
| I PMed Ellen earlier this week about putting a little money on account for Mr. Muffin's initial care... she sent me her vet's info and I Googled it to verify it was legitimate and that the number was linked to the practice. I then called the vet's office. They did not know the name Mr. Muffin (we chuckled about the name... I couldn't keep a straight face when I said it... the gal I spoke with said "Oh, she's named him!") but they were fully aware that Ellen was working on getting medical care for a stray dog. All the dots connected for me to donate... visual proof of a stray dog in need, a vet's knowledge of the dog and confirmation from the vet that care was going to be provided. Each person needs to decide for themselves whether a cause is worthy of their personal money. If we had our 501c3 I would offer to handle the ChipIn through Until You Find Me and oversee how the funds were used. Jim & I have personally tried to help a few dogs in need over the years... occasionally individuals, most often rescues... http://thesheepiestore.com/Assistance.htm . We don't donate enough money each year to itemize  ... we take the standard deduction allowed... so non-profit status isn't a concern. I prefer to donate directly to the vet or in product form no matter who I donate to so I have at least a little better control over how the funds will be used. Public perception is also why I outlined earlier how a ChipIn has worked best for rescues and individuals in the past. Quote: This is the way I've seen ChipIns work best... 1. Get an estimate for required care. 2. Set up the ChipIn. 3. Tell the public what will happen with any excess funds collected. (This one is especially important from the public's viewpoint.) 4. Keep the public updated on the dog's progress. 5. Also keep all receipts should someone request an accounting. When treatment is completed, provide a bill total. Doing it this way will encourage people to give again. |
| Donations are not being solicited...some of us WANT to help and I feel this is an individual choice...my Callie had a rough first two years and then she found us...I choose to honor her by helping Ellen who has done so much for this baby. My Mom's 14 year old poodle died last week...he lived a charmed life...Muffin deserves some better days and if individuals want to help it's a personal choice as is it to donate to your local rescue groups. Muffin has been blessed to find his family! Some of my best fur babies found me and so enriched my life! |
| Just able to get on and catch up. Been thinking about Ellen and MM all day. So glad that he has now been seen at the vet and can come home. It does sound like he has a couple of battles ahead-- It is very clear that Ellen has had MM's best interest at heart from the beginning--I will be glad to contribute and will watch for what ever system is devised for donations. |
| I too, want to contribute something. I hope it isn't facebook because I don't do facebook. Nancy G |
| If people aren't comfortable with a chip in they can always mail a cheque or money order directly to the vet's office once things are settled. I wasn't crazy about the chip in option, so the last time (for our dear Gilligan) I sent a cheque. Since I'm in Canada and Mr. Muffin is in Florida, I am thinking that maybe I will send a money order directly when we know more...of course I'd make sure that that was okay with Ellen. I agree that people should be cautious, and everyone needs to make their own choice of course. I'm also looking forward to the address(es) for Thank You cards! |
| I can't wait to see pictures of the "new and improved" Mr. Muffin. I was so close to tears when I read that he was about 1yr old. The poor thing has had such a rough life for being so young. Then I read David's post and cracked up laughing....Thanks David. I had a cat once in my old life that had been hit by a car. He came in limping, not really putting weight on one of his back legs. There was no blood. I was leaving for 2.5 weeks and my ex was staying home. I told him if the cat wasn't better in the morning he should go to the Vet. Ex didn't take him in, said he was better. I came home and saw he was NO better and took him to the Vet THE NEXT DAY. Turns out his hip was dislocated and leg broken and started to fuse in the broken condition I have NEVER felt as bad as I did at that moment...and nether did my ex when I got done with him  But back to Mr. Muffin...I know some have asked about a collar or possible chip. Has this been checked? Has anyone started a chipin fund?, and where can I find it? Ellen, we are all praying for you, Mr. Muffin, and Mr. Muffins Mom's man(did I get that right?) P.S. Ron, has there ever been a post with so many pages? |
gotta tell you once again you are my hero and anyth  ing i can do to help just ask,, do not be afraid to ask for help we are all invested in both you ellen and mr muffin you have not been on this forum long but the response is crazy . we love what you are doing keep up the great work |
Simon's Mom wrote: . Ron, has there ever been a post with so many pages? I was wondering the exact same thing... this is the highest I've ever seen. What's the record on the number of posts a thread has had? |
| I am just catching up on Forum posts - and boy has this been an incredible thread! Ellen, years and years ago we had a Heartworm + dog. He was 4 years old. The treatment was successful and he lived a long, normal healthy life. The biggest challenge you will face is keeping him totally inactive and quiet. Mark I think you are right a crate might be needed. What you have done for this boy is just amazing! My prayers are with you and Mr.Muffin. Looking forward to the new photos with all of those nasty mats removed. He is going to be so happy with all of that hair gone. |
| So is this thread TOTY (thread of the year)? Probably is both in terms of posts AND views. It's probably the longest thread in the history of the board. Can't wait to see pics of MM. |
| WE WANT PICS!!! |
| So happy Mr. M has a home now! You are so amazing Ellen, your love and dedication is such an inspiration! You have been so willing to sacrifice for Mr. M and you did not even know him. What an angel you are. I am excited to see pictures that do NOT include that huge mat...poor boy. I'll be thinking about you this evening as you settle in for your first night! Hugs and kisses from my Oliver and Lucy to your furry ones! |
| I've always tried to limit threads to 10 pages (150 posts) for a number of reasons. Nobody wants to read through that much stuff, it's daunting to see there are 500 posts to read even if you are very interested in the subject. In addition there is a technical reason to do so, but it's ummmm technical, so not a topic for this thread. I have posted a couple of quick thread stats in Members Only. When things settle down, I'll look at splitting this up into parts with links to the next part. |
| perhaps Ellen can start a new thread; Happy Happy Mr Muffin is HOME! I keep checking back for pictures. Hope all is going well.  |
| Ooooooh... pictures are being uploaded. That hip/leg are really screwed up.  But he's free of all that hair! Gentle hugs to Mr. Muffin. |
CamVal1 wrote: Does MM have a crate to stay in? Aren't dogs being treated for HW need to stay in a crate? If he does need to stay in a crate, AND you don't have one, maybe a local vet or local Humane Assoc or local SPCA or local rescue group has one you could borrow. They don't need to stay in a crate, they just need to be kept from getting all excited, jumping around, running around, etc. Both our HW dogs over the years ended up not needing to be crated. 25 yrs ago we acquired a HW+ basset hound. She had it bad and nearly died. But, she was so ill, she barely moved. Getting her off our recliner and out to go potty was a major task. She just laid around. Sad to see, but actually made her care easier. She TOTALLY recovered and lived to old age.Last year with Riley - he did better just hanging out in the house. He loves to sun himself, and curl up on the sofa. When he's crated he gets excited when we walk around, scratches at the door and wants to be out with us. So not crating was actually the safer option. He too has totally recovered, although he had a lesser load and was never in real serious danger, thank goodness. |
| Hello all, Sorry this has taken so long. He has had a veeery long day and he's trying to figure out why he's on carpet instead of sand, where his fur is, and why his little legs feel like rubber. (He can't even stand yet. He is starting to become more alert, little by little.) The mobile vet this morning apparently gave him too much sedation, thinking he weighed more than he actually does. It was very hard to 'guess" through all of those mats. The big mat on his back weighed 2.5 lbs!!! I am glad he was knocked out though. Hopefully he won't remember much about it later. He looked so pitiful when they brought him out shaved i just started crying in the vets reception area. I knew he would look bad but I honestly was not expecting that. I have uploaded all the main vet info from today I think. If i left anything out I will upload it to photobucket tomorrow. A few pics of MM before and after were uploaded too: http://www.photobucket.com/sad_stray And long story short, "the office manager, Stephanie" said she was not going to "allow" any more donations for Mr. Muffin to come through the office. The other girls who overheard that comment were devastated for us and Muffin and they just turned away. My husband was livid and that happened about the time they brought him out and I just crumbled then. When I got home i called and left a message on their machine that I wanted to speak with Dr. Price, not to Stephanie, about why he advertises that he helps strays yet won't allow donations for Mr. Muffin. (Anybody not believing me is welcome to call there and confirm). I am still floored about that but after the events the last couple of days, not surprised. One of the girls mumbled that Stephanie said it created too much additional "work" for them. It's so sad that someone who works for a vets office - including the vet that has promoted her to a manager - and who seems to be aware of all this crap - can have such a two-faced, hard and bitter heart. I am heading out to Walmart to get some 'doggie pads" because he can't walk yet. I will write more later. Thank you all for what you have done for us! Tomorrow will be a better day thanks to your generosity. |
Here's your buddy... One step at a time. This will get figured out. |
Hurrrah for Mr. Muffin! I think he is smiling in this picture. Poor you having to go through that after all the kindness you have bestowed on the poor creature. I will leave it at that I don't want this happy time to be overshadowed by heartless people. Mr. Muffin is home and taken care of and that is what matters. We are here for emotional support. As well those who want; donations. That isn't going to stop because some one doesn't want to do the paper work. ack no more anger. Happy thoughts to you and your family and Mr. Muffin. |
| Poor guy. He has been through so much. Just glad he is clean and mat free and being treated. Now he just needs lots of love and care. I am sure he will get that in his new home. I know you won't get much rest tonight but try to as soon as you can. Glad you are home Mr MuffinMan. Thanks for all you have done for him. Hope he has a long happy life now. |
So...is she seriously saying she won't accept money??? THAT should be something the vet would be interested in...an office manager that is turning away money. Hmmmmm...interesting...   I would put that in the local paper ...or threaten to. Just sayin' |
| So glad he is home and inside...rain storms headed your way...he looks sad right now but in a few weeks will be a much happier fussy guy...I didn't believe it was my sheepdog when they shaved down the big matted bear...she looked like a greyhound! It won't take long for it to grow out. Surprised at how much heart worm treatment cost...must remember to give my two their preventive tomorrow! Hang in there with office staff...person I talked to was very happy to take donation and very appreciative...don't let one person discourage you...talk directly to the vet! Let people have your home address and name...just as easy to send you the money and look for a vet if they aren't willing to work with you...go to Angie's list and write a review..should get their attention. I know my vets work with rescue and would be upset with an office who won't take donations to help...just not right! Hang in there and hug Mr. Muffin for me...he truly found you and it was meant to be! I know cost seem alot but love truly is priceless... |
| I'm so happy I'm tearing up. From the 1st pics and video of him wandering loose and afraid, to all shaved (thank goodness!) and getting vet care and LOVE from Ellen and family...this is a huge step forward. |
Quote: And long story short, "the office manager, Stephanie" said she was not going to "allow" any more donations for Mr. Muffin to come through the office. The other girls who overheard that comment were devastated for us and Muffin and they just turned away. I would just take the vet aside and ask if these are his feelings. Then you'll know for sure. |
| Awe....he looks so sweet all cleaned up! Poor guy's hip looks pretty nasty, hope they can find a way to help with that. And what a long and emotional day for you! Here's hoping you and Mr Muffin get some much needed rest now. And we'll figure out a way to help with the rest. Thanks again for taking this on...Mr Muffin is a lucky guy to have wandered in to your yard! Like Jaci said..one step at a time. And like lhall15, the person I spoke with was extremely pleasant and happy to take a donation. |
| So glad you all are home. We are having tornado warnings in the Atlanta area, and hope it is well north of you. Am I reading it correctly that his HW treatment won't start for a few weeks? It appears that you have paid the bills to date, which easily top $1K, and I don't know many people who could take that hit to the budget without hurting. Thankfully, there are far more people willing to help in this world than there are "Stephanie's," so once you've had a chance to catch your breath you can figure out the best way to handle that. Gob bless you and Mr. E. And, of course, the Muffin Man. |
| Ok... here's a few positives to focus on... That nasty coat is off. His skin doesn't appear to be in real bad condition. He survived being sedated. You now know what's wrong and what will need to be done to correct it. And because of your kindness, he doesn't appear to be emaciated so he's ahead of the game! Hoping you'll be able to get him into a new routine while he heals from this round of medical care so his stress level will be lower once hw treatment starts. I'd start now with the routine you hope to continue... get him used to it before the treatment is started. It's been one heck of a roller coaster ride for you this week. You did good! |
| I am so happy he is cared for by such amazing people! What a story! He will be a happy boy ! |
| YAY Go Mr Muffin Let the healing start--- Dont worry about rude office staff, talk to the vet and if he's rude too then you know why she is the way she is. I would like to send a donation direct to you if you wouldnt mind pm me your address. Going to be a long night and few days, rest when you can and give Mr Muffin hugs from us all. |
| Hooray for Mr. Muffin. Fixed up and home!! Where he can relax and recooperate.Very nice. It will be interesting to see what they do with his hip. I'm no expert, but it looks like the muscle in the good leg is MUCH bigger than the other one. Probably because he had to compensate for the broken leg/hip. So was the original collar embedded into his skin? Was there a tag on him? Don't let that office manager get to you. If you can pull the head vet/owner of the practice aside and ask HIM what the policy should be. I find it hard to believe they would turn money away. And if he indeed confirms what the office manager says, then it may be time to find another vet. But be happy and thankful that MM got the initial treatment that he so desperately needed. You guys are his gaurdian angel. I look forward to reading his updates and seeing new pics & videos as he gets better. Get some rest now. |
| He looks fantastic (and very naked!) I must say, I am surprised - and thrilled - at how good his skin looks. You've definitely taken a lot onto your plate, but he is young and strong, and in the videos he looks so happy to finally be loved. I wouldn't dwell on things too long with this vet. One conversation with the owner will tell you which way the wind blows. If he is unconcerned by his office manager feeling "inconvenienced" by accepting money for services rendered, then no problem. You can take Mr. Muffin, and the rest of your furbabies - along with all the money that would bring into his practice in the future - somewhere else. They'll never be inconvenienced by you again. Your time and energy are better spent on Mr. Muffin than the vet. The immediate crisis is over, and you have a little time now to breathe, and to bond even more closely with your new addition. Once again, good luck! |
| I keep going back to his before and after pictures. Cant believe his skin isnt full of sores!! I do see Labadoodle or maybe Sheepiedoodle, either way he just looks like a sweetheart. I hope his hip is either an easy fix or maybe with mats off wont be so painful. Just love that sweet face. |
| So good to see him naked I agree, one step at a time. Again Ellen, you guys have gone above and beyond for this young guy...God Bless You! Pls keep us updated. |
| Hi Ellen! First and foremost THANK YOU! Sounds like this has been a battle of the fittest You stuck it out for the boy I have been following silently as I think most folks have covered it all! Just wanted to add we have treated a couple of dogs with just Heartgard and they have been fine a year later! I also know of other rescues that have done this...although it takes a little longer I personally think it is the safest We have done the injections too with no ill side effects (some pain but, ok) Also, I see he has a pitiful little hip If you would like I can check with our ortho vet and see what his opinion is, from the xrays! You may already have that covered but, I do not mind running it by him. I haven't had to use him in a few years but, he is very rescue friendly and I used to work with him Please let me know if I can do anything to help and again thank you |
| I hope you are having a relaxing day and that MM is recovering easily from his surgery. |
| This very busy post got very quiet suddenly. I'm just wondering if thirty pages is somehow our magic cut off? If this goes through, how's Mr. Muffin today? |
| I was checking to see how things are going too. |
| I betcha Ellen is getting a much deserved rest, as is Mr Muffin from many sleepless nights the past week. I know she is also spending her spare time with Mr. Muffin as she mentioned she would on her previous post. Except for the coloring MM looks exactly like Panda when he's shaved down! He must feel so much better! We wish her and her hubby well and sending pats to the other canine's for allowing MM into their home and hopefully the transition from living in the woods to a home won't take too long. Keep up the great work Ellen and her hubby (whose name we still don't know) Marianne |
| OMG OMG... There are so many "issues" to deal with... He definitely has a personality that is unique...and nobody has ever spent any time with this guy...and he is headstrong as can be. I will update as soon as I possibly can. I have been trying to find some quiet time all day long. My dogs think I have deserted them and my new guy is jealous too. I will most definitely need some sage advice from this crowd!! |
| Thank you for everything you are doing for the Muffin Man. The word "headstrong" is one of the nicer words we use to describe a sheepdog's personality. "Stubborn", "obnoxious", and "butthead" often work as well. You gotta love a dog with an edge.Since you have GSD's, looks like you are familiar with a, shall we say, certain type of temperament? Mr Muffin is so lucky to have landed with you.Laurie and Oscar |
| time, it will take time....it took my labs about 3 weeks to except Ryleigh when we first brought her home. and Im sure Mr Muffin still isnt feeling great so he may be a little grumpy for a few more days. We had to spend a little extra time with our older lab to show her she was still our baby, it seemed to help her except the new kid. |
| The other dogs accept him, in fact i used the oldest to calm him down some. The german shepherd just wants to play...rough. So i have kept him away from Muffin because he's not strong enough yet. One of my main problems is: Muffin is not housebroken (duh)... and i don't know how I am going to housebreak him because: 1. He's afraid of the leash (like he's been choked or abused on one before) 2. He wants to escape (took me over 2 hours sitting on the floor to coax him from the room he's in...then another 3 hours sitting on the floor with slip leash in hand to get him back in the house because he wanted to run off into his "old woods" So if I can't walk him on a leash and I can't let him out on his own...what do I do?? I have cleaned the carpets twice today already and 2 loads of laundry from what he has lifted his leg on...and OMG where does all that pee come from??? Then there's the jealousy...the loneliness and howling when I leave his room... the food aggression...afraid of ceramic tile... and I am nuts about him. Maybe I should have my head examined as they used to say. And i still am trying to find some quiet time to update you guys |
| yes alot of problems but all can be fixed he is young and he probably has never been in a house so you have your work cut out but ellen i know you can tame him .. i am sure you must be so tired we ar all here for you |
| Good luck with all the adopted dog issues. He must not have spent much time inside if he's scared of tiles and not house trained. He might have trouble with balance on the tiles too. They're slippery and his back hip is not good. Thinking about the vet situation, many vets have gotten themselves in hot water helping out in situations like this, so I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. All sorts of issues arise, starting with the original owner turning up and getting narky about costs, treatment they didn't want, like neutering, things like bills not getting paid (I know that's not you, but they can't be sure), dogs being dumped on them (yep it has happened to a vet I know), being blamed when treatment doesn't work or the dogs suffers a setback, being accused of fraud ie keeping money that is donated to the office (whether they did or didn't it damages their reputation), the list goes on and on. These sorts of issues can result in costly litigation and an insurance nightmare for the vet. And in defence of the office manager, when you run a busy office there often isn't a lot of time to set up paypal accounts and take phone calls for money being donated, especially when there are the well meaning questions about how Mr Muffin is going that come along with them. I ran my own business for 20 years (not a vet, but I can sympathise with them a little). There were a number of times when my changing procedures to assist people caused a lot of stress for my staff and I, so I learnt the hard way and was very cautious about how I set things up. No ones fault, just the inevitable issues that come with running a business, tax stuff etc. I may be completely wrong and you are just getting the run around but it's worth thinking about before you completely write that vet's office off. Mr Muffin's xray looks exactly like my last dalmatian's did. He had been hit by a car. He had surgery to help with the pain but he never recovered the muscle mass back. His pain was well managed for many years. Good luck and thank you for caring for Mr Muffin. |
| Great Job SO far Ellen! You are a wonderful mommy to the muffin! He looks fabulous, I too am amazed at his skin, and I had standard poodle, who used to get shaved down, but never that naked! Soon Muffin will have some fuzz and start looking like our beloved fuzzball ( but never that matted swamp monster chic that he was sporting before!) He is young and smart ( he has to have been Quite smart to have survived out in the wilderness by himself!) As for housebreaking, a halter is always a good lead, and if you keep him confined, in a small space or crate, he should not want to soil that area if he can help it. He is still coming off sedation and IV's I am sure, so there will be a lot of thirst/ pee... but, ,... you have delicious treats.. take him out every hour if you have too, and give him a treat when he goes and praise him to the moon!!!! Eventually he will want to please you and get the reward!!!!!!!! If he has accident, just clean it up and ignore it... basically... and he should get the point. Try and not give him his favorite treats... only save them for when he " performs! This is of course, just some advice to consider. I am sure other people will have other suiggestions, and in the end, you have to do what you think will work best for you, and your hubs and Muffin! keep up the good work! But you are doing a great job!! |
| Hang in there, Ellen. For all intents & purposes, MM is a wild dog. He has to learn to live in a house. It may take awhile, but be patient. He will get it. I remember when we got Zeke. While not a stray like MM, Zeke never lived in a house. He was 1 year & 3 months when we got him. It was very hard to house break him. As an adult dog, they have big bladders & can hold it for a long time. It was actually more of us learning Zeke's tells. Once we learned how he let us know he had to go potty, things changed rather quickly. So keep an eye out for his tells. |
| Pee bands help for the male dogs - I've used them often when I get male foster dogs who never have been in the house. It saves the wall, the furniture, etc.... I would leave a 4 foot or so lead hanging from him at all times for catching him. That way you can calmly get it and gently reel him in, or lure him with a treat. If not a slip lead, then a martingale or limited slip collar is good, as they can't slip out of them and get away. The just hook an old lead to it he can drag around. Our coonhound Maggie never had been handled much or ever in a house - we did that and she's a happy normal dog now. |
Sorry... power was out for 14 hours... wireless router fried too!  Belly Bands to help with the house training.... http://kennelkomforts.com/bellybands.html Was this the place you had recommended a while back, Dawn? Someone had mentioned it... I had gotten some bitches britches for Maggie there. |
| Belly bands!!! I never heard of that before! Awesome idea and just what is needed right now. Thank you everyone! |
| I used belly bands on the male Great Pyrs I fostered. Works great. If you have anything like a pet smart or similar store they carry them. I think you mentioned Wal Mart at one time I could be wrong, but I just looked on line they carry them. Then you have to buy pads to put in them. I even used too use depends or female sanitary pads in them. Whatever it takes. It'll take some time, but I know you can do it. Right now your tired and probably feeling overwhelmed. Once Mr Muffin is a little more recovered things should settle down. Lisa Frankie and Mattie |
| Yes, I am honestly exhausted. Reeling almost. I love mr. muffin and in some ways, I believe he loves me too. Whenever I come into the room it is obvious he is so glad to see me. I sit on the floor and he comes and puts his little bald head on my cheek and just stands there, head bowed. It is so touching. I want to be able to answer each and every question everyone has asked, respond to every post individually. I feel bad that I have been skipping around, and not answering some posts, not sending individual thank yous for the donations. So many nice and helpful replies, advice, extensions of friendship... it makes me feel badly. I just know everyone understands though that right now, my attention is so divided. I slept on the floor last night with MM in the new doggie bed I just bought him. he didn't want to get in it so I pulled it over next to him and spent the night beside him. It was the right thing to do and i will do this until he can join all of us the the bedroom at night. He cannot be left alone. My sleep was in snatches, but actually I slept pretty good. I think he did fine too, considering all the new surroundings, the medication he is on, the drastic change of his lifestyle. And as much as I thought i could send in pics the first day here, and update everyone, it seems it will have to wait just because I can hardly keep my head up. it's bed time now for MM & I. He's definitely "a keeper" as my dad used to say. His heart is as big as big can be. Thank you everyone!! Til tomorrow - |
| What a sin. You don't have to answer every question or worry about anything other than taking care of yourself you sound exhausted. If you have questions please ask hopefully someone can help. Great advice earlier about really praising and give his fav treats for going potty outside. I think you should go take a hot bath, drink a glass of wine or a nice tea and don't turn on the computer. Take it easy you deserve it! Hugs to Mr. Muffin. PS If there isn't going to be a chip in perhaps you could PM your address so I can send you a cheque. No hurry! |
| All of us here are secondary... you focus on Mr. Muffin. If you have problems, post and we'll all try to help. We don't expect you to fill us in all the time... once in a while is good enough. OOPS I should have just said, "What SHE said!^^"  Get some rest. |
| I agree with the others, you have alot to deal with right now, so make sure you take care of yourself and your family (furry and otherwise). We can be patient. Honest! |
| Is there any way you could use a halter instead of a collar? This way, you're not messing around with his neck or trying to slip something over his head. Then the leash clips to his back, out of his way. I echo whoever mentioned the ceramic tile as a slipping issue. Our first OES, Quincy, had elbow dysplasia and did not like ceramic tile as he could never get good footing. Based upon Muffin's terrible hip, the tile could be very painful for him to navigate, though I know it's easier for clean-up purposes. We had to put down rubber backed, machine washable rugs so that Quincy could walk without slipping around. Gentle hugs to the Muffin Man. Laurie and Oscar |
| We got a bunch of cheap runners at WalMart, to use for Bailey at the lake. She wouldn't go out the front because of the laminate. But if we got her out front (better grass than the backyard), she would run around to the backdoor to get in. Are you familiar with clicker training? He is so smart, I think he would learn quickly. I have many moments of uncoordination when the leash, the treat and the clicker don't work together as they should. But it sure does help with training. |
| Beside the hip issue the tile might be to cold for him right now. If the room he is in has ac and he is naked he might be getting chilled. Just a thought. Get some rest and all will work out soon. Hug to you both. |
| Good morning everybody, We had a pretty good night together again... he's getting stronger overall as the morphine and all wears off. I m concerned about him not exercising the bad leg and hip that is already pretty wasted, by being confined to this room and not walking on it much. So today, hubby & I (Scott, by the way) are headed to pet Smart to get some doggie diapers you told me about, and one of those cloth in the front type halters. As much as I hate to, i will probably get a softer, longer slip collar to, just for those "must-have" emergencies. I have never liked slip collars - to me they seem cruel. My two dogs have always used body halters. Loads of great advice from you guys the last few days, from runner rugs to belly bands. Thank you! And Mim, you were pretty much spot-on regarding the vets office. I had a long telephone conversation with Dr. price yesterday, and voiced my concerns and (some) of my frustrations. We agreed that I would not deal with the office manager, Stephanie, any longer, bit would deal with another lady there as the "liaison" so to speak. He agreed to take future donations up to $1400 to help defray what I have already spent out of pocket, and including his expensive heart worm treatments starting soon. If there is any paper work you want to see, or any kind of accounting, please let me know and I will see to it that you get everything available. Dr. Price also said he would of course have his payment and billing records that could be requested at any time, unless they came in as "anonymous" specifically by the donors request. Some of you requested that I just set up a chip in page... I did this today. I made the amount for $1400...but mr. muffin will have to see a orthopedic surgeon for his hip. Dr. price & Dr. Diley both agreed after seeing his x-rays that it is way too complicated a procedure for them to take on. They said if they tried to handle it, they might even make it worse. So since he is so scared of a leash, for now, I am going to video him 'walking", sitting, etc., for the surgeons to see, as well as take them copies of the x-rays on disc I have, to get a couple of medical opinions. Dr. price gave me two names that are local. if any of you know of local ortho surgeons, I would love to know about it. Donner's Mom: I may take you up on your offer to have your ortho vet take a peek at the x-rays too after seeing what the local referrals have to say. Thank you! Again, let me thank each and every one of you for helping us out... whether it is financially or with your generous moral support, your friendship has been - and is - priceless. I could not have done any of this without you and Mr. Muffin would surely have died in those woods. Alone. When I got up this morning to give him his medicine, it was raining outside... the cold, blowing kind of miserable, windy rain. I thought how just a few days ago, Muffin would have been burrowed in some sand hole, in the cold and mud, hurting and all alone but for all of you. You all said that we have gone above and beyond...but actually it is you guys who have traveled the distance. None of you knew me, or Muffin, yet you took us both into your hearts and in a way, into your homes. I can't thank you enough and I am very humbled. It sounds nuts to say, "I hope you need me someday"... but I know you know what I mean. I want to give back and us be your friends for life. Give and take - this is what friends do, even "virtual friends" who may never meet but for the internet. Well, I am off to Pet Smart and Walmart now for rugs and hotdogs! ps - I did post one more picture today on photobucket. It was taken his first, drugged up day home, but you can see his little hip in it: http://s1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... n-Day1.jpg . The next picture will be of a happy, smiling dog because now, he is! And here is the link to the ChipIn page: http://mrmuffin.chipin.com/mr-muffins-vet-bills I will write more soon! |
| I'm glad you guys had a good night. Everyday should just keep getting a little bit better. I'm glad I saw your post so I could donate today. to you all. Lisa Frankie and Mattie |
| Ellen, I know that it is not necessary "next door", but you may want to check the veterinary school at Auburn University. They are one of the leading vet schools in the nation and I know they help out (or have heard that before) for situations such as this...regarding Mr. Muffin's hip. And...who knows...it may help on cost also (I have heard that also ). I am originally from Montgomery, AL and feel I heard stories from my young adult era of life (ugghhh..is that gone ) of that being the place to go for unusual or difficult medical situations. At the very least, they may can give you referral to the best vet near you to handle this type situation (best for Muffin, cost, etc...).Just thought I would throw that out there since it's driving distance... a long drive ...but still closer than flying. |
| University in Athens GA has vet school...we love Univ of TN vet school...check to see if FL has one...your vet will know. Rosie is living well because of care from UT...they worked at trying to keep cost down as well. We saw 3 specialist in one morning and they charged 85.00 for 3 doctor visits! |
| Oh give MM a big kiss and hug from us! There is an ortho surgeon in Orlando that is brilliant! Dogs come from all over the country to see him and his staff of surgeons. He did Gigi's OCD surgery on both shoulders and will do her hip when needed. He is honest and trusted by all. http://www.avsspecialists.com/ If you need some help someday, I live about three hours away and can come up. Please do not hesitate to pm me. Maybe Susie would come with me too! |
| Wow you such an amazing person! Thats alot to take on! You are doing wonderful and Mr. Muffin is so lucky to have found you! |
| ellen, scott & muffin, so glad to hear of sleep amd improvements and all the great advice. i was elated friday evening,but was overheard still grumbling about stephanie. anyway, they sent me back to anger management class yesterday. here is what i came away with; http://www.veryfunnypics.com/pics/view/ ... Management  |
| Hope you have a peaceful day today with Mr. Muffin! |
| Ellen, What a great update. SO many wonderful accomplishments for muffin man, already. I too have been impressed by the amount of support that Muffin Man has received here, he is truly a lucky little guy. I recently have become involved in the animal rescue community on facebook, and it has been so heartwarming to see that, night after night, while many of us are sleeping, their are so many people tirelessly advocating for the poor, wretched, abandoned animals in shelters or lost, abused or dumped etc. I used to think that I was to sensitive to get involved, because looking at animals suffering hurts my heart to much,. but when I saw what other people were doing to make a difference, whether it is posting, emailing authorities, or the media, about specific dogs in danger, highlighting, cross posting and tagging rescues and individuals in pictures of dogs and cats on death row, at high kill shelters, fostering, transporting... etc.. there is so much that needs to be done. I am currently involved in several groups, doing several different projects at once, 1, organizing fund raisers, 2, trying to get justice for a dog that was cruelly darted in the neck and then bled out slowly over 12 hours.. by a dog warden, in Ohio.. and that dog died a slow horrible death.. and that DOG WARDEN was not punished... and 3) just yesterday, we formed a group to go after people who post videos of themselves abusing dogs and posting the videos on you tube. I always thought it was to much to deal with, and tried to look the other way... but looking the other way, would not help Muffin! and it is shudder worthy to think of him out there by himself, but right now, so many more are.. and they need the help of caring individiuals as well. I applaud you Ellen and Scott for all that you have done to make a difference to Mr. Muffin. We can not save them all, but to the one that you can save, it means all the world. If anyone wants to get more involved with helping other dogs, please feel free to message me on facebook ( wendy Trammell) Syracuse N.Y. or email me at Wendchymes@gmail.com. Or go to the facebook group Urgent part 2 and look at the photos... and click on the dogs and the comments will show you how you can help.. with offers to foster, or chip in's for medical or just to cross post on your own facebook pages in case someone you know is in a position to help. And P.S. My standard was afraid of linoleum and Tile, they are silly about things like that, tough and fierce in some ways, but something about the slipperiness of the floor freaks them out... and their nails are trimmed so hard for them to get traction I think. I used to have to use the rug runner tricks as well! and Pss I also have started a petition to get people to watch the videos of an amazing animal rescuer, Eldad hagar, his videos have gone viral on wimp.com and godvine.com and We would love to see him appear on The ellen show to bring awareness to the importance of this work. His group is Hope For Paws on facebook, or Eldad Hagar, extended profile. or Hope for paws.org and the link to the petition is here http://s1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... inDay1.mp4 ( I hope that you do not mind me sharing all of this info Ellen,I know this forum is about Mr. Muffin, but his plight is truly the plight of many, and perhaps his story might inspire more people to get involved,. I first learned about mr.muffin, because someone posted about him on facebook in the Hope for paws page!) |
| We needed traction for the ramp we used when we picked up Bumble after his surgery at MSU in November. Home Depot had runner size roles of backing that you put under a rug to keep it from slipping. It worked real well... easy to put down and pick back up and it comes in different sizes. The guy at the store said his wife sends them though the wash. Just be careful if he's a chewer/eater that he doesn't eat it! It was similar to this... http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... reId=10051 And here's the ChipIn visual... |
| Would there be any chance that MM & family might come to Sheepiepalooza? Would love to meet MM and Ellen & Scott (I guess we now know MM's dad's name?) |
| Well sheesh, you didn't need to make me almost cry. You must know we've all virtually adopted Mr. Muffin and are glad to have you and Scott(I liked his other name better) join our virtual family. I"m so glad you had a good night. Don't think of the past and what might have happened if you hadn't gotten MM, although I wonder what his background is and where he came from, which we will probably never know. Go forward from the day you got him. When we adopted Garfunkel, he was 2.5yrs old and NOT housebroken. It took, if I remember right it took about 3 weeks, in the cold WI winter to housebreak him. I think your job will be harder though because he's scared of the leash. I'm glad you've talked with the Vet and got everything straitened out. It makes life so much easier. When my dh comes home I will do the chipin, I think thats the better way to handle the money situation. We are all here for moral strength and advice and of course for Mr. Muffin. Now that you have him "in your hands" I know your time is taken up but please when you have the time keep us updated and lots of pictures. |
| Wow you guys are good. I got some area rugs for the ceramic tile floors... and he walked across them pretty as you please! I got him a harness and while he wasn't thrilled with it at first, within 30 - 45 minutes, he was responding to the very gentlest pressure on the leash...without complaints. Thank you! The trick with this boy is just patience, as you have said. And i let him take the lead like it's his own idea Best time outdoors yet. Indoors too. A few pics: http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... ty-boy.jpg http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... uctant.jpg http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... -sight.jpg And you are right - he is very very smart. I find myself saying, "C'mon punkin"...and he already knows that means to turn and walk with me. Amazing dog. Question: No bowel movement since anesthesia on Friday. When do I get concerned with this?? |
| those are great pictures. So good to see him up and about. Not sure if I missed a post but did he indeed have a collar on? If so did he have any neck damage? Keep up the great work!!!! |
| awww Ellen, he looks so much better thanks to all of your hard work. He looks like he gonna be a sweetie. Thank you for keeping us updated. I'm sure with all of your work it is hard to find time. We do appreciate seeing Muffin's progress. |
Ryleigh wrote: Not sure if I missed a post but did he indeed have a collar on? If so did he have any neck damage? He did have a big collar on...but he did not have any damage to his neck. There was a lot of fur tangled in the collar so it wasn't budging without cuitting it away...but i guess because he had lost weight while growing up, he didn't get choked by it. One thing i am noticing though is he seems to be having some visual problems. There's no telling how many times he was poked in the eyes while living in the woods with all that matted hair around his eyes, reducing his vision. I imagine walking/running into palmettos, branches, etc. was a constant. He uses his nose to 'see" most of the time and sometimes walks into table corners, bumps his head, etc. I wonder if anyone knows a good "vision" vitamin or source of food to help increase vision for dogs? violet wrote: awww Ellen, he looks so much better thanks to all of your hard work. He looks like he gonna be a sweetie. Thank you for keeping us updated. I'm sure with all of your work it is hard to find time. We do appreciate seeing Muffin's progress. Mr. Muffin kind of belongs to everybody You guys were with me from Day 1 so sharing his triumphs is a joy!!I gotta tell you, the first day home, I wondered if he was going to be too much for me with my other 2 dogs...especially the alpha shepherd. But I just know that as time rocks on, and he gains confidence in himself, and in his new world, he will be just the very best dog ever! |
oesmom2 wrote: Oh give MM a big kiss and hug from us! There is an ortho surgeon in Orlando that is brilliant! Dogs come from all over the country to see him and his staff of surgeons. He did Gigi's OCD surgery on both shoulders and will do her hip when needed. He is honest and trusted by all. http://www.avsspecialists.com/ If you need some help someday, I live about three hours away and can come up. Please do not hesitate to pm me. Maybe Susie would come with me too! Hi Carol! Thanks for the info on the vet group in Orlando. Orlando is not too far away either, so that would be really good too, as i don't know yet how well Mr. Muffin will travel. Is there a particular doctor that you recommend there? I was going to call them tomorrow and didn't know who to ask for. And I would love to meet you and Susie! boonaroofairy wrote: ...but you may want to check the veterinary school at Auburn University. They are one of the leading vet schools in the nation and I know they help out (or have heard that before) for situations such as this and lhall15 wrote: University in Athens GA has vet school...we love Univ of TN vet school...check to see if FL has one...your vet will know. Rosie is living well because of care from UT...they worked at trying to keep cost down as well. We saw 3 specialist in one morning and they charged 85.00 for 3 doctor visits! Wow! It sounds like he has options! I would like to find one that is just wonderful as close to home as possible, but it is great to know there are many options in all regards. Thank you everyone!! |
| We have also worked with the University of Tennessee Vet School and they are fabulous. It has been a few years and it was for my parents dog--but they worked wonders! |
| I've been following this story since day 1 & I'm thrilled & delighted that you were successful in capturing Mr. Muffin and were able to start his medical treatment. I've made a small contribution to the medical cost & I hope others are able to chip in as well. You have inspired all of us. |
| Hi, I think it most cases it seems 2 days is the magical number for going poop after surgery. Not always a given but generally seems to be the case. Pumpkin (quess it's the roughage) seems to help with bowel problems. I can't get over how much Mr. Muffin in facial features and expression looks so much like my Panda boy. His story is similar in some ways to MM as well and if you ever need to chat and ask questions feel free regarding trying out the personalities amongst your own dogs. There's also so many dog savy people on here they will be willing to help with any questions too. Just remember, as I too was over optomistic and thought Panda would mesh well with my own, but turned out my oldest dog became jealous and for the first time in his life ....started playing with the younger Alpha dog. He did this at age 15! Where previously he had never shown interest. It was not the alpha dog that became the problems but the older guy as I think he saw his status further diminshing in the household and aligned himself with the Alpha. Urg! So it wasn't the alpha that i had to worry about after all...which really surprised me. It was a pain as I had to keep switching places amongst the dogs ...but eventually they all got along, although Blue my old dog never fully accepted Panda but did learn to tolerate him. This month is the 8th year since Panda arrived in my home and guess I was feeling nostolgic as I posted in General about his arrival. With Gilligan whom was intact when he arrived I again thought it was going to be a problem with the Alpha but this time I was overly worried. LOL! As his personality was very submissive, the other dogs accepted him with no problem. So in a nutshell you have to play it by ear and trust your gut instinct and NEVER let your quard down or become complacent. MM is currently in the honeymoon period and as time goes by and he starts feeling better his true personality will start to emerge more. Once he starts feeling safe he may even misbehave or show issues , however that may not happen but just be aware it can happen as I don't want to scare you. Each dog is an individual and with time you will be able to obseve their interactions and tell with body language if something is up. I learned distraction was the best way to deal with something before it ever escalated. This might not happen in your case (as it didn't in Gilligan case). Some people get lucky and a new dog is accepted immediately , while with others it takes time. I found doorways and food were triggers. Simply calling the dog away from a doorway before it became an issue was easy enough and with food I had to feed them in separate places. Some on the fourm, always have a host of dogs and that doesn't seem to be a problem. My old guy was stubborn so it was just easier to avoid the problems before something happened to set them off. MM looks wonderful and you are making amazing progress!!!! We're sending you our love and good thoughts. Marianne |
| Those pictures made my heart happy. Yes, mix a tablespoon or two of pumpkin in his food to help move things along. |
| The chipin doesn't appear to have moved in terms of donations today, so I'm wondering if it's not seen as there are so many pages on this thread? It could also be that some aren't familiar with paypal and were waiting to see who to send checks to. The chipin is on page 31. Perhaps it should have it's own page? Ellen mentioned she has come to an agreement with the vet and someone other than the office manager will be handling the funds for Mr. Muffin. I have to say when I called in with my CC that first day, the person whom answered the phone was really friendly and polite. Admin or ? what do you guys think? |
wendchymes@gmail.com wrote: Ellen, What a great update. SO many wonderful accomplishments for muffin man, already. I too have been impressed by the amount of support that Muffin Man has received here, he is truly a lucky little guy. I recently have become involved in the animal rescue community on facebook, and it has been so heartwarming to see that, night after night, while many of us are sleeping, their are so many people tirelessly advocating for the poor, wretched, abandoned animals in shelters or lost, abused or dumped etc. I used to think that I was to sensitive to get involved, because looking at animals suffering hurts my heart to much,. but when I saw what other people were doing to make a difference, whether it is posting, emailing authorities, or the media, about specific dogs in danger, highlighting, cross posting and tagging rescues and individuals in pictures of dogs and cats on death row, at high kill shelters, fostering, transporting... etc.. there is so much that needs to be done. I am currently involved in several groups, doing several different projects at once, 1, organizing fund raisers, 2, trying to get justice for a dog that was cruelly darted in the neck and then bled out slowly over 12 hours.. by a dog warden, in Ohio.. and that dog died a slow horrible death.. and that DOG WARDEN was not punished... and 3) just yesterday, we formed a group to go after people who post videos of themselves abusing dogs and posting the videos on you tube. I always thought it was to much to deal with, and tried to look the other way... but looking the other way, would not help Muffin! and it is shudder worthy to think of him out there by himself, but right now, so many more are.. and they need the help of caring individiuals as well. I applaud you Ellen and Scott for all that you have done to make a difference to Mr. Muffin. We can not save them all, but to the one that you can save, it means all the world. If anyone wants to get more involved with helping other dogs, please feel free to message me on facebook ( wendy Trammell) Syracuse N.Y. or email me at Wendchymes@gmail.com. Or go to the facebook group Urgent part 2 and look at the photos... and click on the dogs and the comments will show you how you can help.. with offers to foster, or chip in's for medical or just to cross post on your own facebook pages in case someone you know is in a position to help. And P.S. My standard was afraid of linoleum and Tile, they are silly about things like that, tough and fierce in some ways, but something about the slipperiness of the floor freaks them out... and their nails are trimmed so hard for them to get traction I think. I used to have to use the rug runner tricks as well! and Pss I also have started a petition to get people to watch the videos of an amazing animal rescuer, Eldad hagar, his videos have gone viral on wimp.com and godvine.com and We would love to see him appear on The ellen show to bring awareness to the importance of this work. His group is Hope For Paws on facebook, or Eldad Hagar, extended profile. or Hope for paws.org and the link to the petition is here http://s1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii5 ... inDay1.mp4 ( I hope that you do not mind me sharing all of this info Ellen,I know this forum is about Mr. Muffin, but his plight is truly the plight of many, and perhaps his story might inspire more people to get involved,. I first learned about mr.muffin, because someone posted about him on facebook in the Hope for paws page!) Wendy, I have read and re-read your post and every time I read it, it hurts my heart more each time. I did go to the Urgent page 2 page and that led me to another...and another...and finally I had to just click off, it was so upsetting. You and the many advocates trying to help all these beautiful, sad, dogs should get a medal of honor. I wish you all the very best of success and pray that your tireless, selfless efforts, continue to build goodness into the lives of both humans and animals alike, wherever your paths lead you. God bless you all! |
| Marianne, thank you for your kind doggie advice and all of your help! I will absolutely keep my eyes open for "danger"... Mr. Muffin hasn't yet joined the other dogs, I have been keeping them separated til he's a bit stronger. I think he feels vulnerable a bit right now being naked too... I think maybe 2-3 more days before making the first indoor-introduction with the shepherd...while the shepherd is leashed |
| Marianne, I had the same issue with Abby's chip-in. I had to clear the browser's cache in order to see the updated amounts. |
| Everyone: thank you! The stressed out economics have hit everybody to some degree. Prices go up, competition becomes more fierce, employment more demanding, or even non-existent for many...and yet, here you are, helping us. I am not even sure who everybody is yet and am still trying to learn my way around the forum. Just figured out pm's yesterday. I could 'answer' but not generate my own til I had time to click buttons and see where they took me. So can i say a big public thank you to everyone here for a little bit?? I will send you all personal thank you's soon... it just may take me a few days to figure out who you all are and then find the quiet time to sit in front of the keyboard. You guys are MY angels. |
wigglebum wrote: I've been following this story since day 1 & I'm thrilled & delighted that you were successful in capturing Mr. Muffin and were able to start his medical treatment. I've made a small contribution to the medical cost & I hope others are able to chip in as well. You have inspired all of us. I just sent you a pm...and want to say how VERY much i appreciate your generosity!! |
Ellen and Scott......I could hardly wait to get to work to see the updates. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA for all of you!!!  Since The Muffin Man isn't housebroken, I think you willhave to treat him as a brand new puppy, ok, a really big puppy. Also, for his nakedness maybe a doggie t shirt or light weight sweater. Maybe too, if he is around your dogs and goes out with them, he might catch on faster. Just an idea,  As far as the universities, that is a great suggestion. I had one of mine at the U of MN a number of years ago and she had the greatest specialized care. Not only great doctors, but she was very doted on by the students. You also might check with the university vet schools about GRANTS they receive that also helps defer expenses.MM is so lucky he has you!!!!! I am curious as to what happens if the donations go over $1400. Does that mean they won't accept anymore? I would love to have the e-mail of the clinic and fax so I can send "Stephanie" a very "personal" message.  Is there a e-mail for the vet and the tech that came to your home initially to sedate MM? I would like to send them a thank you for helping you and MM. Now I am going back to page 31 to make a donation. GREAT JOB ELLEN!!!!!!!!Nancy G |
dogmom wrote: Ellen and Scott......I could hardly wait to get to work to see the updates. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA for all of you!!! Since The Muffin Man isn't housebroken, I think you willhave to treat him as a brand new puppy, ok, a really big puppy. Also, for his nakedness maybe a doggie t shirt or light weight sweater. Maybe too, if he is around your dogs and goes out with them, he might catch on faster. Just an idea, As far as the universities, that is a great suggestion. I had one of mine at the U of MN a number of years ago and she had the greatest specialized care. Not only great doctors, but she was very doted on by the students. You also might check with the university vet schools about GRANTS they receive that also helps defer expenses.MM is so lucky he has you!!!!! I am curious as to what happens if the donations go over $1400. Does that mean they won't accept anymore? I would love to have the e-mail of the clinic and fax so I can send "Stephanie" a very "personal" message. Is there a e-mail for the vet and the tech that came to your home initially to sedate MM? I would like to send them a thank you for helping you and MM. Now I am going back to page 31 to make a donation. GREAT JOB ELLEN!!!!!!!!Nancy G Whew! Been out with both dogs this morning...It's going to be real slow going... They are like "circling the wagons", except with leashes all tangled. Yes, this vet will cut off when they have reached their estimate of $1400, and rightfully so because that is what the costs are through that office. The other costs will be orthopedic surgeon for his hip, and Black Creek Vet will not have anything to do with that, so they won't be collecting for it. Just so everybody knows, I am going to apply any "overages" I may have towards the surgery that will be upcoming. I will keep all records for anyone who wants it and will post everything on photobucket like the last time. As soon as i have a chance to get with surgeons to see what's up, you all know that I will of course "up-date". (I am actually kind of surprised you aren't all sick of hearing from me by this point Again, thank you!!! |
| SO SO SO happy to hear the Mr Muffin is doing well!!!! |
| Be careful with the other dogs...some dogs know when the other is weaker and may act more aggressive to the sick dog...with Muffin being the new guy, getting lots of attention, and weak from all he's been through...well just not a great time for others to welcome him. He also feels strange without his hair...very different from a week ago when they played like pups. |
lhall15 wrote: Be careful with the other dogs...some dogs know when the other is weaker and may act more aggressive to the sick dog...with Muffin being the new guy, getting lots of attention, and weak from all he's been through...well just not a great time for others to welcome him. He also feels strange without his hair...very different from a week ago when they played like pups. i agree, but it seems that our Mr. Muffin is the aggresive one! Not in a "bad" way, he just wants to play and play (and play and play and play and...) It was so quiet in the living room where i hauled butt to because Kilo (shepherd) and Muffin ran down the hallway chasing each other, so i cut thru scared there'd be trouble and it was Muffin who had 'climbed" on Kilo's back with this most mischeivious look and big grin on his face... Kilo was totally bewildered. OMG He was just NUETERED!! Isn't that supposed to stop? And Kilo is another boy! And as far as him being constipated?? Well, I can take the pumpkin back. Nope, won't be needing that any more... Think I'll just exchange it in for more paper towels and carpet cleaner. Oh and he snuck outside when my back was turned for one minute, hauling butt around the house chasing my other two... good news is he didn't go far and he came back in. But he is on pain killer and so he doesn't know how badly he is hurt right now...it was just good to know he didn't take to "the streets". Seems he just wants to be a 'regular dog" and romp and play. But what do I know? I'm still trying to just make a cup of tea  |
| Pumpkin can be used for both problems I was in a social group for dogs. We got to observe behaviour and "humping' doesn't usually mean what we think. It is usually a controlling move. Laika my female does it all the time to Langley my male. Dogs usually do it when the are comfortable with themselves and their surrounds. We had a dog in our class who tried it with all the dogs. He was the most social dog of all them very confident. Not sure you want him doing that... your guys if he doesn't want it to happen he will say so. Langley usually just waits until it is over. It always happens when they are playing. That is my take perhaps someone has a different view. Happy he came back into the house on his own that is huge!!! That deserved a big ol hotdog!  |
| Go Mr. Muffin! Go! (Gently, and in a careful healing way of course!) |
I'd be drinking something MUCH STRONGER than tea Obviously, the Muffin Man wants to just be a regular guy and have fun with his family I hope he doesn't get past you again, though. Like you stated, he's on pain meds and does not know his condition. I was told by my vet many years ago that a dog "listens" to his body and doesn't do the stupid stuff humans do, pushing themselves.  Guess not.........  Anyway, he is feeling all happy and secure and being a typical puppy. Enjoying attention and being loved. |
You guys are funny!  Fixing tea now that muffin has passed out for awhile... |
| I have 3 female dogs and they all try to hump each other. I was told it was their way of saying Im the dominant one. glad to hear things are still going well. Keep up the great work. |
Ryleigh wrote: I have 3 female dogs and they all try to hump each other. I was told it was their way of saying Im the dominant one. glad to hear things are still going well. Keep up the great work. I'm just concerned that there will be major trouble in paradise if he tries that with my 8 year old female. She would never stand for that... <sigh> He also has major seperation anxiety. I cannot leave him alone for even a few minutes that he doesn't begin tearing something up, howling, barking, chewing the rugs, etc. He acts like he was owned by somebody who left him alone, probably tied or chained up, for long periods of time. Maybe even hit him, because if you move too quickly around him, he just cringes and bows down, like he is expecting to be hit. It's heart breaking. And when I come back in the room after being gone for merely minutes, he wiggles and wags so hard you'd think his little back would snap in two. His face just lights up, he grins from ear to ear...and if you let him leave the room with you, he never leaves your side and follows you around like a little duck. What a sad, sweet dog. |
| wiggles and velcro?? Sounds like he has some sheepie in him after all! They are known as the "velcro breed". A border collie we adopted off the streets was scared of the water hose and broom. Newspaper too. We figured he had been beaten or mistreated. It took him a few years to not hide when I went to sweep off the back porch. Maybe if you leave a tv or radio on in the room he is in ,it might give him some comfort. Ryleigh was also left in a back yard with no human contact. Its so sad to think what his life might have been like his first year. He will come around in time. |
| A radio or tv is a great idea. I leave one on every day when I leave for work. It will take time for him to get used to the fact you do come back. Also, have you tried giving him a kong with peanut butter? You can also use yogurt, cream cheese, pumpkin (mine would NOT go near the pumpkin) any pie filling, cheese or meet spread? Oliver and Abbey go nuts for them and could not care less if I'm there or not. Of course, you will have to give kongs all around so nobody's nose is out of joint. Everyday you will have some improvement, a few steps forward then a couple back Just don't fully trust him for a quite a while. Ellen, you are soooooooooooo TERRIFIC! |
dogmom wrote: A radio or tv is a great idea. I leave one on every day when I leave for work. It will take time for him to get used to the fact you do come back. Also, have you tried giving him a kong with peanut butter? You can also use yogurt, cream cheese, pumpkin (mine would NOT go near the pumpkin) any pie filling, cheese or meet spread? Oliver and Abbey go nuts for them and could not care less if I'm there or not. Of course, you will have to give kongs all around so nobody's nose is out of joint. Everyday you will have some improvement, a few steps forward then a couple back Just don't fully trust him for a quite a while. Ellen, you are soooooooooooo TERRIFIC! Geez... listening to you guys, and knowing my own past experiences with dogs...what dog does NOT want a dog biscuit or a bone?? None, right? Well mr. muffin man cares nothing for anything like that. he does not play with toys, turns up his nose at dog bones, steak bones, etc. (He will eat the meat off and leave the whole bone.) It's like he has never had a single toy or a dog chew or a dog bone. I have tried everything I can think of to give him something to do...and nothing excites him. NOTHING! He will "eat" my chicken and beef jerky, dehydrated chicken in packages, his canned dog food (Usually. Depends on the brand), liverwurst and his ever loving hot dogs. I should have named him "Ballpark" because he would eat them 24/7 if I allowed it. I would love to find him an activity to keep him occupied - |
| It will take time of coming and going and living with you in a routine before some of the separation anxiety eases...you saved him and he knows it...my Oes that I saved from being outside stayed pretty Velcro throughout the years...I felt like it was an accomplishment when she laid OUTSIDE the bathroom when I was in it . Once he can join the family, knows he will be safe, warm, cool, fed everyday he will be less anxious but I have a feeling you will be joined at the hip from now on! The three will learn their places and your older one will probably have to explain things to the pups...I was never a good alpha...but folks on this list are good at handling a pack. You are doing great...cannot believe how far you've come from your first post! Yeah for Mr. Muffin |
| Ryleigh had no clue what toys or bones were either. I think I teared up the day she brought me a ball and wanted to play. It took her several months to do so. I felt like a proud mom, like when my kids took their first steps. Everything takes time. He will learn how to play with toys soon enough and you too will post a proud mom thread. |
| My first dog never, ever played with toys. Just had no interest in them unless I was holding the other end pulling on it. My current guy will go to his tox basket and root around and pick out a toy to play with. I love watching that selection process! LOL It's not a favorite one that he always pulls out, it looks more like a guy moving stuff around looking in the refrigerator... I think. Point is I don't know that is much of an indicator of anything, other than whether they like to play with stuff on their own or not. Good luck with the separation anxiety. sad_stray_finder wrote: his ever loving hot dogs. I should have named him "Ballpark" because he would eat them 24/7 if I allowed it. All you need it one TDF (To-Die-For treat), and seems you've found it. Try making TDFs from those hot dogs. It's been a long, long time since I was given the recipe from Grannie Annie (NEOESR), but I think it was thinly slice the hot dog into pepperoni-like disks, then quarter those. Put on a paper towel and microwave them. The problem is I don't remember how long to microwave, but 2 minutes sticks in my mind, but that might be enough to start a fire... the goal I think is to dry them out, draining them of much of their fat and making them to be portable, tiny, lower calorie (and salt) treats. THIS STORY IS CONTINUED HERE: Sad sad stray in Middleburg FL Part 4 |
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