Exposing the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter... and the killing field...

Just when I'd committed to myself to do more to promote Epilepsy Awareness on Project Rewire in March for Purple Day on March 26th, a story breaks on the news that broke my heart into 22 pieces.  So, as much as Epilepsy Awareness is of importance to me, it's not my passion.  It's a cause, and will take a back burner for now.  My passion is animal rescue, mostly lived out in canine rescue with an emphasis on English Springer Spaniel rescue.  As a furkid mom to four English Springer Spaniel rescues, three of which my husband and I acquired as volunteers with a wonderful nationwide group called, English Springer Rescue America.  Whether I'm hands on or not, I'm very much hands on at home all of the time with four rescues who all have unique special needs.  I'm also a momma to three special needs rescue kitties.  So, needless to say the recent massacre of what now appears to 22+ dogs while in the CARE of the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter takes priority.
 
Since the story broke on March 4th, it's taken over my thoughts and my heart.  I can't let go of it. The only peace I've found is that at least it's been exposed, and that God knows who pulled the triggers.  He also knows the ones who are just as guilty by allowing it; possibly encouraging it as a cost cutting measure, while perhaps conveniently looking the other way.  Whom or who might that be?  Well, as someone very close to the law enforcement community, since the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Control comes under the wing of the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department, I can't help but point fingers toward them, too as the "governing" agency.  Someone in power had to know this was going on.  A decision to do it had to be made by someone.  And I highly doubt it was by someone on the bottom end of the staff totem pole.  They knew it was wrong by the shear fact they were covering their tracks by tossing the bodies into the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department Firing Range, rather than disposing of them appropriately.  Is that a red flag, or what?  And what a God awful way to make it rainbow bridge.  We must be thankful, as horrific as it is, that the killing field was not a dump site in the back woods off road in the boonies somewhere.  Had it been, would it have ever been exposed?

I've plastered various media coverage in the form of newspaper articles and television news stories on my Facebook for past three days in an effort to bring attention to the inconceivable incident. Which is turning into incidents.

I'm now turning my blog, so as not to wear out my welcome on Facebook with my friends and family.  Normally, I post encouraging messages, uplifting quotes and devotions, while sharing about my dog loves of my life, and my hobbies.  I'm sure it's been tough for many of my Facebook peeps to see the information and links I've shared pass by on their news feed.  I'm sorry, but it was *must* do for me.  Rather than share the whole story here, I'm going to add a couple of media links, even though I don't believe there can be any overkill in sharing the story. 

In a nutshell 22 dogs are now suspected of being shot (and not all shots were kill shots) to death by Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter personnel at the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department Firing Range across the street from their facility. Yes, I know... WHAT?  Well, then how could the Sheriff or Deputies not know?  However, it also appears that the original suspicion of 22 dogs will be the tip of the iceberg.  And that in fact, the the firing range has been a killing field of sorts for a yet to be a determined period of time.  It very well could be six months as the facility did away with their gas chamber last fall.  God, I hope and pray it's not been going on longer.  Also, as of last September their records show that they only purchased two vials of Phenobarbital to conduct euthanasias.  That's enough to put down 14 dogs.  Further, their records also show that 80 were euthanized between last September and now.  So, by their own record keeping and accounting, in essence, it appears they've recorded their guilt in the inhumane "disposal" of animals.  Not sloppy record keeping.  How long did they think they could get away with this?  Had it not been for canine rescue worker and volunteer for the shelter, Deborah Farhi with Paws 'n Claws along with the help of two other volunteers literally digging up evidence in the firing range.  The slaughter may have been hidden awhile longer.  Between she and Whitney Knowlton, CEO of Last Chance Animal Rescue the dirty little secret of epic proportions was brought out of the firing range into the light for public outcry.  Thank God for those two dedicated and devoted women and the other two volunteers.

As you can see from the link below The Cheraw Chronicle, the local paper in Chesterfield County, is doing a good job covering this horrific story.  A story which won't be over for a long time.  I hope that they stay on it.  I hope they demand justice via investigative reporting and by  keeping the pressure on while continuing to report the all of the facts when revealed.

Click to read:  Activists push for outside investigation of Sheriff's Department in dog shooting...

I count myself among those who believe that the Sheriff's Department should not be the agency to investigate the slaughter of these poor animals.  I say animals because recent stories have indicated that the remains of a cat was discovered, and puppies, too.  For real justice to be served, I wholeheartedly agree with those who are pushing for the South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement to investigate both the senseless inhumane shooting incidents, AND the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department's possible role in it.  Since Animal Control comes under the authority of the Sheriff's Department, that's a true conflict of interest and gives ground to a potential cover up.

Of the news coverage I've watched on television, I appreciated Charlotte's Fox Affiliate Channel 14's reporting and the fact they they were sensitive by blurring heart wrenching images.  They shared shocking details, but did so in a compassionate manner.  Their story, although, gripping, was well done.

Click to watch:  Shelter Dogs Killed, Dumped in Landfill...

Why have I taken this so personally?  Because my husband and I together have pulled three dogs from the pitiful Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter over the past 21 months.  Two of which are special needs dogs who were meant to have forever homes with us.  All three were heaven sent rescues. 

For those of you who may not know them, I'll introduce them to you...

This is our adorable liver and white mini Springer as we like to call her, Roxy... 

aka Rotten Rootie.  We pulled Roxy on June 9, 2010 while in foster care, arranged by the former Chesterfield County, SC Shelter Manager.  Roxy's prior owner called the shelter to come pick her up to euthanize her for Epilepsy.  Rather than take her to her vet to be evaluated and treated her "mom" believed it was better for her wallet to kill her.  She assumed treatment would be too costly.  Roxy is living happily with us and her rescue Springer family -- two sisters and one brother.  We are managing her seizures with low dose Phenobarbital.  Not only did the former manager show Roxy compassion by putting her directly into foster care, the officer that picked her up, did as well.  Acts of kindness for which we will forever be grateful.  The officer who took the call was really taken by Roxy the moment he laid eyes on her.  He even described her to us as a little show dog.  He shared that upon asking the "mom" if she was serious about putting Roxy down, she replied that she was indeed.  At that point, he said he couldn't get her out there fast enough.  Instead of caging her in the back of the truck that hot day, she rode in the cab of the truck on the seat beside him. Now, this is the place where I feel a sense of betrayal -- because he's still on staff there.  Having met him twice now, I can't imagine how he could condone what's been happening there since the former manager was dismissed.  Unless I'm totally crazy, the former manager had a heart for animals and was into saving them, rather than destroying them.  He fostered dogs on his own.  He found foster homes for others.  He worked with rescue groups.  He truly appeared to do the best with what the county gave him, and the rest he did from his heart.  Maybe he was conscience of that place?

Next up, is our beautiful liver and white with chestnut tri color, Summer, our first pull from the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter...

I chose this shot of Summer because she's resting peacefully.  Her story is very different than little Roxy's.  It's a story that involves a great deal of suffering.  Suffering she went through at the hands of her prior owner.  It's been easy to piece together her story.  She was used only for breeding purposes (from we can tell) and horribly neglected.  She was confined in a pen or a cage.  In the care of the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter, she was caged again with seven other dogs.  Several of them were intact males who in my opinion raped her during her days there.  She was third stage heartworm positive.  Her chest rattled so badly when she coughed or barked, it was heart gripping.  Of course, being in a common pen with the males dogs, the "breeding" caused her to become pregnant.  The puppies wouldn't have been viable, so sadly, we had to make the right, but difficult decision, to terminate her pregnancy.  Since we (our vet) and my husband and I were unaware that she had just been impregnated when we pulled her, heart worm therapy began immediately.  Two weeks later her pregnancy was discovered.  It was decided in her best interest, to let her body recover a bit more from the neglect and the effects of the HW treatment before spaying her.  It was a rough time for both she and I.  As mother dog who took her role seriously she was in pain emotionally.  She was in pain physically, too, because we had to put off another surgery she needed.  She had much going on all at one time.  There is much more to Summer's story.  Other medical issues which had to be treated and anxiety issues.  Some she will never be free of.  But, she's very much a special part of our family, and the most needy dog in our lives.  She's still not where we'd like her to be emotionally, but she is night and day from where she was when she came into our lives on June 23, 2009.

And then, our most recent pull last September 28th was dear Molly...

Sweet sweet Molly was a senior girl fostered by some close friends of ours after we pulled her.  She was given a wonderful funfilled dog friendly home.  Or better said, a dogs rule home and was able to live out her last months fully enjoying being a dog.  She reveled in sleeping beside her daddy at night.  She was deemed too much to handle.  The shelter contact volunteer advised us that she was only 7, well 12 or 13 was more like it.  So, something must have gotten lost in translation in Molly's story.  She came out of that place barking loudly and didn't stop for the next 50 miles.  She was SO happy to get out of that place.  She had been owned by an older couple who could not care for her and was passed on to someone else and was kept her outside.  She was strong and the moment she realized we were there to free her, she couldn't get out of there fast enough.  The person who greeted us at the gate and turned her over to us was an inmate.  He told us how special she was and how glad he was that she would no longer need to be there.  He was there when she was dumped off.  It was easy to see, he had soft spot for her.  He truly was the most compassionate person we encountered during this pull.  And he is one of reasons I'm having a difficult time reading comments on new sources pointing fingers at the inmates as the possible shooters.  That's just nuts.  They should not be scapegoats.

So, there you have three precious reasons why I'm torn up about the events that have been revealed the past few days, and why I can't let go of it.  Their faces to me, represent those in the dumped in the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department Firing Range and those still existing in that shelter.  ALL had stories.  ALL had stories that didn't need to end.  NONE deserved anything less than a happy ending, but what did they get?  Inhumanely SHOT!  Gathered together, walked across the street, and SHOT.  Who knows whether it was execution style one by one, or multiple shots being fired at once.  Anyway you look at it, it was massacre.  A tragic killing field at the Chesterfield County Sheriff Department's Firing Range.

In rescue we walk a fine line in our relationships with kill shelters.  Our first goal, is to rescue.  I don't want to do anything to jeopardize our first goal with this shelter, because Lord knows, the animals there need assistance to get out of that place.  At the same time, my mantra and the mantra of many of my friends and contacts in rescue is that "it's all about the dogs".  It truly is.  So, it's all about the dogs is ruling my conscience and sense of obligation.  If I step on any toes by being so outspoken, I'm sorry, but you're not in my shoes with this one.  And I'm the one that has to live with me and get up with me.  I've no clue as to whether I'm crossing a line of what's appropriate for someone who wants to maintain relationships with kill shelters to save the dogs, in sharing my feelings.  But, most assuredly the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter has crossed a serious line in human decency.  They've also broken the law.

The South Caroline Code under Title 47 Animals, Livestock and Poultry, Chapter 3 Dogs and other Domestic Pets, Article 7 Animal Euthanasia and Tranquilization, Section 47-3-420, Item (3) 

Shooting may be used as a means of euthanasia only in an emergency situation to prevent extreme suffering or in which the safety of people or other animal life is threatened or where it is considered necessary by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to eliminate or control the population of feral animals.

(B) In any of the previously listed methods an animal may not be left unattended between the time euthanasia procedures have commenced and the time death occurs and the animal's body may not be disposed of until death is confirmed by a certified euthanasia technician.

Click to read Title 47 in its entirety  (shows current through 2010 -- I could not locate any updates -- as the above snippet indicates, it's all black and white.)

I implore outraged animal rescue workers, shelter volunteers and the compassioned public to read this code and let your voices be heard, so this type of tragedy will never happen again at the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter.  If our voices echo throughout the country with a collective focus on the inhumane practices exposed at this shelter by making it an example, it's likely other inhumane practices will be revealed elsewhere.  So, there's a chance, they'll be stopped in their tracks.  Also, it's the only way to ensure that justice will be done on behalf of the 22+ animals in the Chesterfield County, SC Sheriff's Department Firing Range.  That in and of itself opens up another can worms.  Is it not illegal to shote and dispose of dead animals in firing ranges?  But, that is not a topic I care research at the moment.  I don't know about you, but as for me, I intend to be a "watchdog for justice"... until justice is served for the 22+.

A few links to assist you in making your voices heard:

South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division

South Carolina House of Representatives

South Carolina Senate

South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley

South Carolina State Attorney General, Alan Wilson

Chesterfield County, SC, Sheriff. Sam Parker

Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter

By the way, Sheriff Parker's direct email link is not included, however, considering that the following is his department's mission as per the following web site, he should welcome hearing from his citizens via telephone or fax, or the admin email address.

The primary mission of the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office is the protection of life and property of Chesterfield County citizens and the operation of the county's Detention Center. With dedication, honor and commitment, the Sheriff's Office works to provide quality law enforcement services to all residents of Chesterfield County. Officers and staff demand the highest standards of honesty and integrity and recognize the importance of investing in the future of their community's children. 

The question is, do they walk their talk?

Due to the nature of this post I will not be cross posting to my other blog All Aboard Hamlet as I'd previously stated in my last entry.  I'm not sure if I'll be following through with more Epilepsy Awareness posts prior to March 26th.  But rest assured I'll be wearing purple that day, and Roxy will adorn her collar with a purple ribbon.

If there are any questions to content I've shared here, please feel free to ask.  If you need a place to share your outrage (vent), feel free to, as well.  You can do so anonymously if that enables you to share openly.  May God bless each of you who have taken the time to read this.  I ask that you please add your prayers to mine that the truth will be revealed in its entirety, however awful it may be, so true justice can be delivered.... that NO one will get off with a slap of the wrists.

Where am I at with all of this?  I can't look at my two precious rescues, Summer and Roxy from Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter, without seeing the paw prints in the dirt at the landfill.  I can't look at Molly's photos and not see and feel the same thing.  Those paw prints have now been embedded into my heart and I will never ever forget them -- my dogs wear their faces.  I'm still flowing between moments of being heart sick and outraged with sadness and anger in between... with moments of utter gratitude and thankfulness to Deborah Farhi and Whitney Knowlton and their volunteers.

To show your support for Paws 'n Claws consider joining their Facebook Page, Where Hope Lives.  Right now they need and deserve all of the encouragement they can get.

I ask as favor of all who read this, and that's to please share it and link others to it.  Feel free to pass it on to legislators, so they can see how rescue changes lives.  And those 22+ won't get their chance, but may pave the way for others to be rescued.  I've learned in my struggle with Epilepsy, that unless someone has face, they don't often truly get it.  This entry my way of helping to get the word and to put faces on the precious animals dumped in the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department Firing Range.  It is NOT about me, it's all about the dogs.  The dogs in the firing range have no voices, so those of us that can, need to speak for them as best we can.

Some of the information shared are my personal opinions, but all are based on facts that have been shared and by my own experiences in dealing with the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter. 

A special ♥ felt thanks to the editor of Virginia News Source for featuring this important story!
 

Updates to this story will be linked below...  

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March 8, 2011 -- Let's ♥ WSOC & WCNC & other news agengies for doing a great of investigative reporting...

March 11, 2011 -- Exposing the Chesterfield County, SC Animal Shelter... and further exposing the killing field

 

Oh my gosh, I'm writing a blog entry, an update on Summer... finally!

Yes yes! I know know! It's been forever since I've entered anything here! I've peeked in and started to write often.  In fact, I even have a draft of a long entry, but it's not the right time to post it. It's quite long. Whether I feel compelled to post it or not, who knows? For now, I'm just going to sit on it!

So, what's been happening with me? Why am I dragging my blogging feet? For one thing, it's been busy around my house. Admittedly, I'm having some word issues in writing which is a bit discouraging... and also, I'm still very focused on Summer. How could I not be? Her recovery process is NOT over. Although the little sweetheart is making strides daily and is MUCH better!

Last I mentioned her we were dealing with her eye... well, the ulcer on the cornea of the eye where the cherry eye was repaired steadily worsened. Finally, after three trips to "her" vet hospital in Sanford, NC it was determined that she needed to be seen by a DVM specialized in animal Ophthalmology. To be honest, it's what I wanted from the moment she first scratched her eye.  I knew she needed to be seen by such a specialist.  Yet, these things take time at times. For one, she needed a referral from her vet before the animal eye care clinic would set up an appointment. Two vets (at the same hospital in Sanford) and two types of antibiotic eye drops, another course of oral antibiotics and another round of an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, we were able to schedule an appointment with an animal Opthalmologist in Cary, NC to have Summer's eye examined.

To catch my readers up on her current state... unfortunately, there was a suture in the fleshy part of her eye that hadn't dissolved which kept rubbing on the cornea causing it to become ulcerated and continually increase in size. Without the specialized hi-tech equipment the Opthalmologist has the vets never could have seen the suture as it was "lost" in her eye.  Also, it's important to keep in mind that vets do not typically have the type of an instrument an Opthalmologist uses to operate on a canine's eye beyond the usual cherry eye repairs. Bottom line, the ulcer never would have healed unless we'd taken Summer to the Opthalmologist. I do want to point out it wasn't a case that we weren't trying for Summer, nor her regular vets. They were focusing hard not to cause her any undue pain the three times we brought her in when and after she scratched her eye.  Much pain was involved and Summer was struggling even with me when I had to put drops into her eye.

After the Opthalmologist removed the suture within three days the cornea of her eye was MUCH improved.  Then, when we took her back for her week follow up visit, her cornea was totally healed. Things go bad quickly with eyes and on the flip side an eye has the ability to heal extremely fast. The fleshy part of her eye still looks raw and there is a tiny piece of cartilage protruding from the cherry eye repair, but so far the repair has remained in tact. Unless she has some further issues with that eye, I'm not going to have the piece of cartilage removed. It's just a cosmetic thing anyway. She's already been through enough as it is and is better, but definitely we have a way to go before she's 100%, if that's even possible.  Hearts are difficult to repair and totally recover.  But, I'm going to my best with a combo of vitamin and mineral supplements and holistics to get her there.  So much is about healthy nutrition and exercise, just like it is with we humans.

At the moment Summer is being treated for a bladder infection and is on horse pill sized Amoxycillan caps, 500 mg twice a day. I've had to take the same antibiotic quite a few times during my lifetime and it was 250 mg caps three times a day. So, that's a lot of antibiotic for a little 34 pound dog. She'll be on it for two weeks. And again she's on an anti-inflammatory for a few days. Since she first came into our home in late June, the poor little girl has been on antibiotics straight with the exception of only about 3 weeks off. She also has a fungi infection, no doubt due to all of the antibiotics and she's being treated for that, too.   I've had her on Probiotics for weeks now.

In spite of everything, Summer is happy happy happy and is finally enjoying being a dog a little bit. She's still recovering from all she's been through the past few months, and Lord only knows what her life was like prior to coming into ESRA rescue care (straight into my care)... but she's begun to play some with Chance and Sydney, as well as run around the backyard a bit looping the pool.

She's also still very much glued to me as one can see from the photo above and to the right.  She actually crawled under the arm of the deck chair to get next to me.  Rarely is she more than 5 feet away from except in the backyard for energy "spurts".  And, in the house, she's at my feet, even when I prepare dinner I either have to slide her out of the way when I'm working at the counter, or lean over her. Although she's the most loving dog I've ever had, I don't believe she got much loving prior to coming into our home.  Except for her over protective growlies, I'm not in a groove to discipline her or make her find another spot where ever she decides to rest.  And crating is totally out of the question for any length of time.  No way.  Ever. 

More and more by her behaviors and simply from the scars on her lower chin extending from her mouth to under her chin, and by her the grooves in teeth, as well as the misaligned teeth on the bottom, I'm certain she lived her life in a wire cage or in a pen with a dog house.  She cut herself by trying to chew her way out!  Some of the scars were "fresh" when we pulled her from the shelter, but others have been there for a long long time.  I'm also certain she was USED primarily for breeding purposes and lived with other dogs.  Quite possibly in the same cage or pen.  She also backs under tables and into even my pantry.  Neither of my other two Springer put it into reverse very often, unless I'm coming towards them getting ready to throw a toy.  She also lays with her legs positioned as a dog would partially out of a dog house.  Why do know this stuff?  My grandfather raised Beagles and I spent a tremendous amount of time observing them from the time I could walk until I was 13.  If a person is observant and knows about dogs a rescue will reveal part of their story.  Summer's pieces are coming together.  Her triggers, as well, give much insight.

Lastly, before I close this entry.  My hubby and I had the sincere pleasure of working at the Carolinas' ESRA twice yearly yard sale in Liberty, NC.  It's held in conjunction with a gigantic Antiques Festival the town of Liberty has in the Spring and late summer.  On Friday we had to take Summer back to the vets for the bladder infection I mentioned above and from there it's just a short 30 minute trip to Liberty.  Well, Summer got to be the "ambassador" ESRA Springer for the day.  Normally, it's best not to bring our dogs to this particular event because it's usually hot and very busy.  It makes for a long day for the dogs.  Dawn to Dusk are the hours, although we weren't there that long, but our coordinator and/or her hubby were.  For us to participate, it was necessary to take Summer with us on Friday.  The trip to Sanford is already a bit of a "hike" for us -- an hour one way.  Need I say Summer had a good time and everyone who met her fell in love with her?  The children were crazy for her and petted her so sweetly.  It was interesting explaining "rescue" "adoption" and "fostering" of a dog on a child's level.  Technically, Summer is still my foster, and one little guy boldly asked why didn't I just adopt her?  His face was squnched up very unhappy like.  But, immediately I told him she was going to be all mine forever.  Fortunately, he got it!  Then, when, I pointed out to him the scars on her chin his eyes became watery... he almost cried, but held it back.  The kids also couldn't get over her curly fur on her ears and down her back.  They thought it was so pretty and loved petting her.  She was so GOOD!!!  I truly see her as a therapy dog one day, and so hope to make it happen!  It was fun fun fun showing Summer off and very rewarding.

She's come so far since the first day of Summer when we pulled her from that shelter.  It's been painful for her and for my husband and I as she's had to endure much to recover to the place she is now.  She's such a lap dog and craves attention SO much and is SO humble and SO amazingly submissive (God only knows why she is THAT submissive) she was either in her "poppy's" lap or mine the entire time being held like a baby with her legs up in the air at the yard sale.  People really made over her and she gobbled it up.   It was a damp yucky day, but because we were there on behalf of ESRA to raise funds, and because Summer was there with us, I feel nothing but warm and fuzzy over the experience.  The work ESRA does is incredible.  The work our Carolinas coordinator and her hubby do... countless hours with hearts of gold... there are no words to thank them enough, no bounds to what they do.

On Saturday, it rained, but it didn't stop our event.  We did shut down early, yet the Antiques Festival had already closed down due to the weather for all intents and purposes.  Quite a few sales were made toward the end of our time there.  We were drenched, chilled, but not a single complaint was uttered from any of us.  For us... it's all about the Springers!  And after we volunteers left... after the take down and the clean up... there was still things our coordinator and her husband had to do on their own.  God bless them for all they do and ESRA.  Without ESRA, I'd not have my precious Sydney who brings me unending joy each day... she is comic relief and so smart... so observant and has BIG feelings.  She's also very much still a puppy and has some triggers we're still working on.  And, of course, without ESRA, I would not have my Summer... and Summer truly makes every day special.  The unconditional love and affections she gives, the bright smile on her face which is almost constant, is a pure gift from God.  She's helped distract me SO much from transitioning off the Keppra and focus my attention towards her when I'm being challenged by pain and neuro activity.  The physical pain she's had to endure to recover from the Heartworms alone, makes any pain I feel pale.  Even though I didn't ask for whatever has caused "seizure" issues within my brain, it's very likely many things have contributed to it... none was due to neglect!!!  And I know and understand treatments and medications and the effects... a little dog doesn't.  All Summer knows is that we love her and are in her life to help her.  She trusts us.  The pain she was in with her eye so upset me because I've ulcers on my cornea.  All I could do is wait it out with her even though I couldn't have been more on top of the situation with the vets and my coordinator and the Oopthalmologist.  There are other ways I identify with the pain Summer has experienced since she became my foster, but too personal to share any further.  Suffice it to say, I've told my coordinator many times, if I were a dog, Summer would be me.  And the rain, was no different that rain or shine many many auctions I had to "manage" during my old career with Morningstar Properties.  Plus, the type of rain we experienced was exactly like the rain I became accustomed to during my Seattle years.  So... it was no biggie!

Okay... so I'm going to do my best to post more frequently.  I ran out steam with my words over the Summer and feel that way over a few things at the moment.  Just feelings I need to push through.  And, I'm very good at pushing through.  With God's help and love... His Word... I'll get to the other side.  As far as focusing on Epilepsy, putting a face on it, I'm not sure I can do it.  Speaking of it so much in this blog has been a testing ground for me.  When I'm in the real world,  I prefer not to talk about it.  This past Friday and Saturday was a terrific example of it. Except for the feelings in my head that never seem to stop and random twitches and sensations in my body, it was as if I was normal.  I want to be healed and normal.  So... rethinking calling more attention to myself locally and on a state level.  Youtubes will stay up for the time being... until I've fully thought "this" through and prayed about it.

AND Blogger, where did the spell check button go!!!  Bug report here I come! 

Breaking the blogging hiatus...

One way or another is was my "what's on my mind" statement on Facebook a few days ago. An ESRA friend commented saying that it sounded ominous, but I posted a reply to her in essence saying it really isn't. It just sounded that way.

More or less, I am a place where I needed to set a goal to get back to writing "here" again. I've attempted to several times, but although verbally my speech has remained the same since I took myself off of Keppra, which is great! I am experiencing some difficulty with word retrieval and composing sentences. In no way is it as bad as it has been in the past, since my initial diagnosis of Epilepsy, yet, admittedly, it bothers me. Does it bother me enough to go back on Keppra. No!

I've not been able to focus, either. I'm sure much has to do with Summer. She's had so much going on which really has required me to watch her like a hawk. No exaggeration. I've been keeping up with updates about her on Facebook, but not here. See, on Facebook I have a pretty good sized group of ESRA connects in my friend's list and quite a few I've gotten to know and they're all special people. So, I'm always mentioning Summer and my FB friends also ask me how she is. So, it's only logical I'd be updating there via comments and photo albums I've shared. In fact my profile blurb states that I'm on Facebook essentially to add a face to Epilepsy and ESRA, as well as connect and reconnect with old friends and loved ones.

This is one of the downsides of having a Facebook. And, at the same time a personal blog that's evolved to include several interests. Interests that are close to my heart, such as my Springers and ESRA. Often, that means double "postings". It's not a biggie, but it does mean playing catch up here. I could simply copy and paste. But, it just doesn't get it for me. That kind of defeats the purpose of Project Rewire. Starting from scratch with my entries here, is a method I use to keep my words flowing. It's certainly become a tried and true method. So......

anyway...

Briefly, before I can share any more about myself, this is what's been happening with Summer.

The last I entry I made about her "here" we were a week past her first Heartworm treatment. Well, here's for some excellent news right off the bat. Summer is Heartworm free!!! We had the Dilfil test performed during a trip to the vets recently (you'll see why below) and the results were negative! That is a blessing! Much prayer has gone up for Summer. She very likely could have had to go through another painful injection, but I believe God intervened. In fact, when we first took her to All Animals we were advised of the steps she'd be going through. And there was to be another injection. Thankfully, we were able to side step that one! She'll be on her monthly preventative and tested annually as should be the case with ALL dogs! Not going to get on my soapbox about that! At least not now. ;)

Now, on to the rest of "her" update...

I also shared that the vet had discovered she was pregnant. Well, after a chest scan and blood test on August 4th she was spayed and the vet repaired the "cherry eye" condition in her left eye. She wasn't very far off from having puppies, so it was imperative for her to be healthy enough to go through the surgery. Fortunately, even though she wasn't overly strong, she was good to go for them to proceed. The chest scan revealed that there really hasn't been any change in her heart, meaning that it was/is still enlarged. However, her lungs were clear, which is terrific.

Now, the blood test did show that there was Microfilaria. (Microfilaria is the parasitic embryotic "larvae"stage of the Heartworm in a canine's blood system. In simple terms, they're the minute offspring of the adult Heartworms and are evidence that they're actively reproducing. In order for a dog to have any hope for a normal life and to regain health, this cycle MUST be stopped and the Heartworms MUST be killed. The protocol to eliminate the Heartworms in their entirety is usually done in two or three stages. I'd provide links, but there is so much information on the treatment of Heartworms in canines, for any of my readers unfamiliar and interested, please simply "google". There's tons of worthwhile information available.)

Back to Summer. She made it through the spaying and cherry eye removal just fine on August 4th. So, the next day, Wednesday, August 5th, she was given an oral dose of Ivermectin to kill off the Microfilaria. She tolerated it well. Just like with the HW injections, it's a situation where she must be confined and remain as still as possible as there's a risk involved. The following day she was sick on her stomach, but the vet assistant contacted me to let me know that we could come pick her up. Since she was throwing up, I arranged for us to pick her up at the end of the day. We're an hour away and I didn't want Summer to be nauseous in our car, or possibly get sick on the way home. If I have nausea, I certainly don't care for riding in a car, so there is no way I'd put my dog in that position. Fortunately, when we picked her up, she was feeling a little bit better and just wanted out of there. So, we obliged her as quickly as we could. When the vet assistant brought her to us, she headed straight for the door! Who could blame the little sweetheart.

Summer's eye looked better right away. The incision in her belly is about 4 inches long and had quite a number of sutures from the spaying and "removing" the puppies. That's something I can barely write about, much less talk about. In fact I requested when we brought her in for the surgery not to give me any specifics as to the puppies. NO details whatsoever. The vets and staff at All Animals are very kind. It's a super veterinary hospital and each person I interacted with in person and over the phone was sensitive and didn't elaborate, thankfully.

Summer was coming along pretty well. She was in slo-mo, but was recovering from the spaying and cherry eye removal okay, until she decided to tear out a few of the sutures over the weekend. My hubby wanted to go flying in our powered parachute ultralight late Saturday afternoon/early evening. I was torn whether to go with him to take a break, or stay home with Summer. I chose to go because I just feel safer being at the airport when he flies; even if I don't go up. It was probably within moments before our return home that Summer had begun biting the sutures out causing her tummy to bleed. To make matters worse, Chance had dug a hole under a big Hydrangea bush beside our deck to cool off and we didn't know it. So, when we let her out, this was before we saw what she'd done to herself, she dove into the hole. It was as if she knew she'd been a bad girl and decided hiding was the best course of action for her. I don't know if that goes back to something in her past, meaning how her prior owner treated her or what, but she was pitiful. When we got her out from under the Hydrangea bush, her foot was bloody and her tummy was covered in dirt. Yep! In the incision, too! She'd also scratched out the one stitch holding the "tuck" for the cherry eye repair. With the blood on her tummy it looked bad at first, but after a clean up and antiseptic treatment I was able to assess the situation more clearly. With her eye, all I could do was use a warm white wash cloth to wipe it off.


Thank God for Liquid Band-Aid! With us, the trend seems to be that stuff happens on the weekend. It wasn't quite an emergency, since I was able to seal the incision. Three times between Saturday night and Sunday night because she kept fooling with it! I was keeping a close watch on her eye, too. On Monday we took her back to the vets. She'd not only tore the cherry eye repair, but scratched the cornea. Although the incision looked okay, it was becoming inflamed, so we left with a triple antibiotic ointment for her eye and an RX of Cephalexin. Well, I saw no improvement with her eye whatsoever and had a feeling she was having an adverse reaction to the ointment. And, she was showing signs of an ear infection, so back to the vets we went. To make matters worse, an ant bit Summer's rear right paw the night before we were to return to the vets which caused her paw to swell. So, she chewed on it off and on all night causing a dermatitis to set in. Poor Summer! She's like me in that they've determined she's sensitive to medications and obviously bug bites, too. I'm allergic to ant bites, so I so get it!


Wondering where we are now? Her paw is all better. One ear is clear the other still has a way to go before the infection is totally gone. But, her poor eye! Her cornea has an ulcer the size of her pupil when it's fully dilated. We've been back to the vets twice and "finally" have a referral to a canine ophthalmologist in Cary, NC for Friday. I'm elated about it for a several reasons. The first being, I knew the moment I saw the scratch with black light and the staining agent, what it would possibly lead to. Things with eyes can go bad quickly. Secondly, I know what an ulcer feels like on the cornea. When I lived in Ohio many many years ago, I reacted to some eye drops I was using and had 7 ulcers on the cornea of my left eye. It was painful!! I couldn't wear makeup for 6 weeks. Sunlight made my eye burn and sting like crazy, of course, tears flowed when bright light hit it. So, with the size of the ulcer Summer has, I can't even imagine. And it's not like I can put sunglasses on her! I am keeping her out of the sun as much as possible and being careful with the lighting indoors. And, thirdly, the group we're taking her to is part of Animal Eye Care Veterinary Ophthalmology Associates. They have offices in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. So, I can't help but feel pretty good about that!

Since then, things have been challenging with her. We're having to drop her eye with Ciprofloxacin and she is resisting it big time. They sting her eye and the fleshy part where she tore the cherry is very inflamed. I so wanted to get her into canine Opthalomologist sooner, but it was impossible and we ultimately got the first available appointment as it is. Am I sorry in anyway for taking on a special needs Springer. No way!!


There is no way NOT to love Summer. She is such a dear dog. She is incredibly humble and submissive. But, between making sure she didn't tear the incision any more and keeping her from scratching her eye further, well... I've kept a close eye on her and when I say close, I mean during the night hours. And during the waking hours. She's rarely more than a foot or two away from me. For all intents and purposes, she has been almost all consuming because there is such a potential for her to re-injure her eye and cause more damage and possible blindness. We could have put her in a "lampshade" collar, however, that would just cause her more stress and anxiety. With the toxins still in her system from the HW treatments and an enlarged heart, stress is not a good thing.

She's become my side kick in a different way than Sydney or Chance. For one thing, she's extremely needy right now. Her disposition is like no other dog I've ever had she's that affectionate. When I'm at my work table, she's under it. She loves it under there. It's her safe place. When my hubby and I leave the house for any reason, she waits at the door leading into our garage. The top portion of the door is glass and when she hears us driving into the garage the first thing we see is this pink nose bobbing up and down. She's on her tippy toes and her nose just makes it to the very bottom of the glass. It's precious, but it also shows she's anxious and has separation issues.

Summer is beginning to feel better, in spite of the situation with her eye. As her body rids itself of the of the Thiacetarsamide and Ivermectin, plus all of the antibiotics she's been on, she'll be feeling better and better. Her personality is truly beginning to come through. She's funny. And just this week for the first time she barked for her breakfast on Monday and Tuesday. Today, though, she's very subdued. But, a lot was done to her eye yesterday at the vets and she's on Carprophen to help reduce the inflamation and pain. It slows her down a bit. She's actually been on Carprophen since her first HW treatment. I'm doing some alternative things to help her such as adding supplements to her food. And, she's on a totally holistic diet. She and Sydney and Chance also get treated to meals of chicken and brown rice, and sometimes a few nibbles of fresh fish like Coho or Sockeye Salmon. Yum!

Not so much in a nutshell... that's where I am with Summer! Next entry I may be sharing some powered parachute photos! But! There's something more important coming in just a few days... my first year with Sydney! My miracle puppy!!! She's the joy of my life. I'm going to try to snap special pictures of each of the Springers... Chance aka Mr. Puppy. He's very camera shy and timid, so we'll see if I can encourage him to look at the camera for once! Then, the beautiful Miss Summer. Now that she's in my life, every day is Summer! And the star, Sydney Australia! Believe me, she knows how to work it. So stay tuned!

There will also be another YouTube soon, I just need to find the right time. Hoping for a good day outside when it's not so blasted hot! However, I adore Summer the season!

All photos of Summer were taken the day before she was spayed and had her cherry eye repaired. Today her eye looks much worse! Notice that she never dropped her little Hedgehog. She is rarely without the one in her mouth. She carries it everywhere. It goes to the vets with her and stays with her. She has a larger one that she uses as a pillow and one of my best friends just treated her to two more that she sent to us from Atlanta. Summer collects her Hedgehogs and other toys and surrounds herself with them. It's part of the "nesting" and "grieving" process. It's obvious she's been bred before and was a good mother. She mothers Sydney, even me at times. So, it's been pitiful to watch. But, except for her medical problems, she's happy and content and adores living here with all of us. The cats, not so much. But, as far as Sydney and Chance, except for a few growlies now and again, they're living in harmony. Can't beat that!

Promise my next entry will not take nearly a month!

Summer one week after her first two Heartworm treatments

Well, it's been a week now since Summer went through her first two Heartworm Treatments. I was going to post earlier, but thought one week would be a bit of a milestone and would provide a better picture about what's involved in caring for a Heartworm positive dog after the initial two treatments.

I'm happy to share that Summer has been doing well. So well, in fact I took her off the Carprofen (pain medication) night before last. I'd been giving her 1/2 tab every 12 hours, then tapered that down to just once per day on Sunday. She was very sore through this past Saturday and yelped whenever we tried to pick her up or move her. So, my hubby and I would coax her to lay down on a towel making a hammock for her, then we'd hoist her on to the sofa or bed. If we didn't, she'd try to jump up herself, which caused her more discomfort. We can easily pick her up now, but we're trying our best not to allow her to jump. She's attempted to spring onto my bed a few times. It's not a good thing, because she doesn't have the strength nor power to make it.

We tried crating her once and she tried to bite her way out. In the photos of her it doesn't show up but she has healed over cuts on her chin. There's one which has broken open a couple of times. They're a matching set, so it appears as if she struggled to bite her way through the shelter kennel wire, or somewhere else. She's perfectly house trained, so there will be no crating for Summer here in her "forever home".

Her nose has continued to be cold when she gets up in the a.m. the past few mornings, which is great! Then, yesterday was the first day it turned cold for a little bit in the afternoon. So, everyday she's getting better. She loves her holistic diet and with the exception of this a.m. she's had no tummy issues at all. And the experience this a.m. passed quickly. She ate her breakfast and would have welcomed seconds. She's had no coughing spells (something the vet tech told us to watch out for). She's still on Doxycycline and knows when it's coming, so we're having teeny tiny little peanut butter sandwiches. She woofs them down, then wants more!

Summer sleeps a good part of the day and evening, but enjoys her time outside. She runs to the door when it's time to go out with Sydney and Chance and they squish through the opening all happy and kissing and nosing each other. She's pretty much taken on the role of pack leader, much to Miss Sydney's dismay, but those two are getting closer. They stroll around the fenced portion of the backyard like two little sisters, either shadowing or mirroring each other's behavior sniffing the air, flowers and bushes, Once and awhile, she'll flush birds out of one of our Wax Myrtles around the pool.

Chance and she have totally accepted each other, too. She's a terrific watchdog, as is he. He actually appears to be enjoying the back up! He has a deep bark, but Summer's... well, I wouldn't mess with her. It is scary for such a small Springer! I'm just delighted to be on her good list! With those two at my living room windows, an intruder had better think twice!

Now, a few of Summer's *fans* know this news already... but sadly... she's pregnant. "It" either happened at the shelter before we pulled her, which is very well possible since she was in a kennel with 7 or 8 other dogs. Or, right before because there were no indications when she was initially assessed and treated at All Animals Vet Hospital in Sanford, NC. Prior to giving her the Heartworm Treatments, of course, the vet performed a scan and soon discovered the puppies. We'll be taking her back to All Animals on August 5th to be examined and spayed. They'll be performing another scan and a blood test to make sure she's in good enough health before they proceed. But, with the progress she's making, it's inevitable.

It's the course of action the vet wants... so even though it's not the type of decision anyone wants to make, it's what's best for Summer. (It's one of the difficult things that comes along with rescue work. And a phone call I did not really want to make to our wonderful NC/SC ESRA Coordinator, Pam Civile.)

Whew! Including two slide shows below. You'll see Summer last Wednesday right after we picked her up. She was happy to see us, but very timid, as if she wasn't sure about what was going to happen yet. She'd been sick on her stomach early in the day and wasn't feeling well at all, yet she was ready for the back seat of our car. You can see her expression change as we got closer to home. Then, her smiles returned when she saw her yard and her home. The last few shots, I took today.

Again, Summer the calmest dog I've ever had. Such a dear! So peaceful and sweet natured. She's as happy to be with us as we are to have her. I believe the same thing about her as I do about Sydney & Chance... God "gave" her to me to care for & love.

Last week...




Today...

What a difference one week can make!

Before I close this post, I'd be remiss if I didn't say if any of my readers feel compelled to adopt, foster or sponsor an English Springer Spaniel, please click the link below...

Thank you!

English Springer Rescue America

Summer's goes for her first of several heartworm treatments...

An update on Summer. If life would tame down a little, I'd set up a separate blog for my Springers, but evidently, now is not the right time... so Project Rewire it is! Part of the prob is I'm pondering (as usual) directions, what an appropriate name for such a blog should be? The set up part would be easy easy! Any suggestions, please pass them my way via comments or via my blog email addy.

Anyway...

Summer began her first in a series of heartworm treatments yesterday for stage three heartworms at the All Animals Vet Hospital in Sanford, NC. I received two phone calls from "her" vet tech, Candie, yesterday advising me that her chest and lung scan looked good and they were going to proceed with the first of two HW treatment injections (for this go round). Well, all went well with the injection. They'd followed the HW injection with a pain medication, so Summer was resting. Candie advised they'd also be keeping her on Doxycycline for the time being. Bless Candie's heart, she called me twice yesterday.


Summer had her second treatment this morning. Candie called me again to let me know she was doing fine and described her as being downright drunk. As long as she's feeling no pain, I'm happy!

Summer truly is a trooper. From the photos I snapped yesterday a.m. at about 6:00 a.m. you can see she knew something was up. Neither she nor I had much sleep the night before. She was very restless. Me, too! In fact, she'd crawled up into an old chair in my bedroom... a chair my mother bought back when I was ten, actually. It's a spot where Sydney plops herself at times when she needs a bit of comforting, too. Summer played dish rag dog and wouldn't stand up for anything, so her Poppy had to scoop her up to carry her downstairs.

You can also see from the shots I snapped in the car that she had one of her favorite toys with her. A hand me down hedgehog from Chance. She was calm, but it was obvious she wasn't content. There was no tail wagging nor smiles. I believe she knew she was headed to the vets. A couple of these shots are fuzzy. Climbing around in a moving car is not necessarily the easiest setting for photo taking. ;)

When we arrived, Summer was afraid. She walked in on her leash, but climbed into my lap almost immediately. When the vet assistant came out to get her, she locked down. I decided it best that she not become a Springer "Swiffer" and picked her up, then carried her to her kennel. She wouldn't go into in on her own, so I actually had to pick her back up, then put her inside of it. I left her hedgehog with her, so she'd know she belonged and we'd be returning.


Summer truly is the most calm and peaceful dog I've ever had as a part of my life and I've opened my heart and home to many dogs. She's amazingly humble.

Even though, she's only been with us since June 21st, her transformation has been remarkable.


When we first brought her home she literally rattled when she barked and during growling moments in mothering Miss Sydney, or cough. She'd also get a bit winded just walking around in my backyard. The rattling is better now. Her energy level had improved, too, prior to yesterday. Although she spends much time sleeping, she is happy and totally content. I'm sure when we retrieve her tomorrow (which won't come fast enough) no doubt she'll be tired, but overjoyed to see us. The same will be true of her Poppy and I.

During the past week or so she did begin to spend a little time chewing on a safe "doggy" bone and started discovering and placing lots of toys on our sofa and bed. One day my sofa looked like the closet in the movie "ET" she had so many toys piled upon it. Except for her trip up the road yesterday, she rarely stops smiling.

It's been such a blessing to have her become a part of our family and Springer pack. Sydney and Chance have both totally accepted her now. My husband (her Poppy) is constantly telling Summer, myself and everyone he's shared about her how precious she is. He's even begun to show her off on his Facebook! :)


Once we get Summer through her heartworm treatment, spaying and repairing her "cherry" eye, as many already know we'll become her "forever home". The rewards she's given us are many. She's a complete and utter lapdog. And is never far from my feet or side. Where ever I am, she wants to be. She's totally housebroken and we can leave her loose in the house with Chance when we're out. However, our wild child, Sydney, still must be crated when we're out. The girl needs the nap time. She plays and enjoys her days. Swims every single chance we'll allow her to -- she's now leaping into the air as she dives in!

To my readers...

If you've never considered fostering nor adopting a Special Needs Springer, give it some quality thought. All have amazing stories. All are sweethearts. Survivors! We've three dogs here in NC whose medical expenses are way up there. There's another in Cleveland, Ohio by the name of Riddle. He has quite a story and just went through surgery earlier today to have his leg amputated. Thankfully, his surgery went well and he's in recovery. He now has a chance for a full life, thanks to the efforts of ESRA. All of our Springers are fully vetted, rehabbed and ready for new homes once they placed on our "available" lists. The rewards you'll reap are endless. And, if you can't foster nor adopt, considering sponsoring. There's a huge need within ESRA right now across the country. More dogs are coming into rescue daily who need help. More than ever due to the economy!

Little slideshow of Miss Summer yesterday...