Big Paws Only Dog Forums

It has been awhile, I know.  So much has been going on.  We have been moving, Macey has been getting ready for and starting first grade, Sam has had appts and ECI for his visual impairment, DH has been home from and back to Iraq....there just hasnt been a lot of time, lately.

Today has been, undoubtedly, one of the toughest days of my life.  It is all my fault and I feel like I have failed miserably at parenting and dog ownership.  My son, 20 months, was watching TV and Tonka was asleep.  I wasn't paying attention, I wasn't watching Sam, I was mopping the floor.  I heard a loud growl, an aggressive and angry growl, it happened in a second.  Sam had gone to pet Tonka, I guess (God, he loves that dog...he doesn't say dog, all dogs are "konka"), and I don't know exactly what happened.  I heard the growl, by the time I turned around Tonka had retreated to a corner and was laying down, tail tucked, head, ears and eyes down and Sam was curled on the floor crying.  I snatched him up and his face was covered in blood.  I grabbed my purse and took him to the ER.  There was a nick on his eyebrow, his eyelid, just under the eye and under his chin.  They cleaned him up and, thankfully, it was mostly superficial but he did require 3 stitches in his chin and 3 stitches under his eye.  He is doing fine, thank GOD, and when we came home he wanted to go see "Konka".

My heart is breaking right now, I am so confused.  I KNOW, I KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is my fault.  I cannot keep Tonka, though, I can't live in fear wondering if it was a fluke or if it will happen again.  He has always been so loving with my children, though a recent event has made him nervous and fearful of other children.  What do I do?  I won't take him to the shelter, I don't want him to be stuck there, I don't want him to not get adopted and then be put to sleep surrounded by strangers and fearful.  I also can't take the chance that he will end up with a home with children and his next victim won't be as lucky as Sam.
Part of me says I need to take him and have him euthanized, and be there with him while he goes to sleep so he sleeps feeling loved and comforted.  The only other option I have is a rescue organization, and I don't even know if he would be a candidate.  I don't know what my options are.

I have become everything that I hate.  I have preached to people about being responsible and supervising children with dogs.  I have preached about not dumping your pets into rescues and shelters when they are no longer a convenience.  Here I am, though!  My baby has 6 stitches because I suck as a parent and can't do that job and I am trying to decide my dog's fate because I suck as a pet owner and can't do that job.  I have failed both of them in this situation and I don't know how to remedy this.

If anyone can help me or offer suggestions, I would appreciate it.

the sound of running water makes you jump up and yell, "OUTSIDE!"


you tell your dog to sit, and he backs up until he finds a chair


it takes 3 people to get your dog on the scale at the vets


you walk your dog and everyone knows him by name, but you have no idea who these people are


you can carry on a conversation with a dog's muzzle firmly in your crotch


you own a dog capable of pulling someone from a porta potty


your dog can hide an entire tennis ball (among other things) fully inside his lips and give you that innocent look that says, "What? I'm not eating anything!"


you carry a tape measure with you when shopping for a new vehicle


you keep at least one color-coded "drool towel" in every room of your house


after banishing your husband, the snoring in your bedroom still keeps you awake


you are hiking with a friend who later suggests that you ought to have an environmental impact statement done on your dog


visitors enter the house holding their privates protectively


you toss your dog a ball and cringe when he almost hits his head on the top of the doorway


you take your dog for a ride and he rests his head on your arm, causing you to make random right turns


you have given up on water dishes and you just use the bathtub


your two dogs decide to play in the house, and they end up pulling the ceiling fan down -- for the second time


you have to move over when brushing your teeth because your dog wants a drink


you show a picture of your dogs and kids together, and the first person you point out is your dog


while stopped at a stop light, everyone stares as your car rocks back and forth because the dog is panting out the window


you go to vacuum your car and most of the fur is up there on the ceiling


you avoid the dogs on your way out the door, so they won't smear your makeup


you've learned to force a smile when asked "do you have a saddle for that thing?"


the monthly dog budget exceeds your home mortgage payment


 your veterinarian has been able to put in a swimming pool, build a large home, buy jet skis and a personal plane


you have had to train your dog not to lick dishes, and the dishes are in the sink


the donuts you put on top of the refrigerator are gone when you get home and your dog has powdered sugar on his nose


your dog can see what you're cooking, and he tries to assist you in the preparation


you're holding him straddled between your legs when the doorbell rings, you take a short (but fast!) ride straight to the door


the pizza delivery people tell you to meet them at the end of the sidewalk


your dog stands in your lap and reaches over you to stick his head in the drive-through window at MacDonald's and nearly gives the cashier a heart attack when she turns around to give you your change


you purchase a large screen TV and you still can't see the program when he stands in front of the television


after surgery, your bored pup decides to get up and cruise around the vet's office-- pulling the rolling IV stand behind him

http://www.humanecampbell.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=197420

 

Have you guys ever heard of these?

http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html

http://www.royalcanin.us/

 

To contact Royal Canin USA,
please call
(800) 513-0041
for immediate assistance.
 


April 19, 2007

Dear Royal Canin USA Customer,

It is with sincere regret that I inform you of a new and unfortunate development with some of our pet food products.

Although we have no confirmed cases of illness in pets, we have decided to voluntarily remove the following dry pet food products that contain rice protein concentrate due to the presence of a melamine derivative. 

ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE® (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)

- Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult DRY DOG FOOD
- Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior DRY DOG FOOD
- Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult DRY DOG FOOD

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET™ (available only in veterinary clinics)

- Canine Early Cardiac EC 22™
- Canine Skin Support SS21™
- Feline Hypoallergenic HP23™

ALL PRODUCTS WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 19TH, 2008 ARE MADE WITHOUT CHINESE SOURCED VEGETABLE PROTEINS AND ARE SAFE
 

I finally got a new camera to replace the 2 I broke, so here are Tonka pics:

Well, Sam went back to the doctor yesterday and the new specialist has decided that surgery, at this time, is not necessary.  He says the only reason to do the surgery would be to put the retina back together, and since doing so would do nothing to improve Sam's vision, we don't need to put him through it.  He wants only to monitor Sam and, when and if necessary, will do surgery when it holds a benefit. 
I am so relieved!  My baby boy is not going to have to endure a painful surgery on his precious little eyes. The doctor says there is some vision, not much, but a little. 

Thank you all for keeping my little man in your thoughts and prayers.  The pay off was some very good news for my Sammy.