Daisy, Crazy Daisy...and Praying for Woodchuck & Freckles

[PSmitty]

Has anyone heard from Art about Woodchuck and Freckles? Been thinking so much about all of them.

[amurray]

I sincerely thank all of you who have posted and contacted me. It means a lot to me.

Update:

Woodchuck and Freckles are both home and moving rather gingerly although they are very alert. Each has attempted some acrobatic feat that they would normally do only to flinch and fall back. My heart jumps into my throat when they do that.

Woodchuck had both his stomach and intestine opened up. He is on 3 different meds and has to be fed small amounts of food every 2 hours. He is behaving well and his functions are fine so far.

Freckles had only his stomach opened. He is behaving well but is about 30% of his usual rambunctious self. He is amazingly obedient. I was a bit worried because he did not eat the first 18 hours but has eaten since.

Infection is the big danger for both not only because of the surgery but because of the type of surgery they cannot have antibiotics. Neither has barked since being home. That is not surprising because Daisy was the Head Cheerleader who instigated every barking outbreak.

I'll post updates later in the week.

Thanks again. You are all special people.

Art

[4Tom]

I am just seeing this as I have been on the road doing two legs of a transport for Mary. Our other friends have said it well. Truly there are no words. As most of you know, I am active on this board in honor of my first BC Tom, whose post in this section still makes me cry after more than 20 years. The dogs Art has helped just since I have known him must number in the hundreds. Art, you have inspired me to share your passion for rescue. I now share your pain.

[crazyh0005]

Oh no. I'm hurting too. Run free little one. Praying for a full and speedy recovery for Woodchuck and Freckles.

[PSmitty]

So thankful to hear the boys are home and on the road to recovery. My thoughts are still with you all, Art.

[Seelie Fey]

I am shocked and so very, very sorry. My dogs have played with rope toys for over a decade. I have given them to people who brought new dogs home. I thought because the strings were cotton, they were safe. I stopped reading, found their current rope toy and threw it in the trash.

I am so sorry. Nothing is absolutely safe. I run my dogs in flyball, though Seelie was attacked in the lane. I take them herding, though I know they can get hurt. I feed them the raw meaty bones diet, though I know there are dangers inherent in that. But that so ubiquitous a toy, one that is often recommended for their teeth, could be so dangerous is astounding to me.

[starfish]

Oh, no! I'm just seeing this now. Art, I am so, so sorry to hear of your loss. That's so heart breaking. And to have to still worry about your other two while grieving for your Daisy. I can't even imagine. I went through something similar with my Ollie about a year and a half ago. Thank goodness, he survived. But, there was a time when I and my vet were afraid he wouldn't. So, I know that fear. I will send lots of prayers and good thoughts for a full recovery for Woodchuck and Freckles and for you and your wife to find peace with the loss of Daisy.

[gotbordercollies]

Hey Art my friend -

I just saw this post and all I can say is if I can do anything please contact me. I am so sorry for the loss of Daisy, and I hope and pray that Wookchuck and Freckles will continue to heal. Again, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

I will keep you all in my prayers...

Richard

[skywaybcrescue]

Art,

I am so so sorry....All I can do is echo the thoughts and comments that those before me have provided. Thinking of you....

Sending warm thoughts and vibes your way as Woodchuck and Freckles get better.

[amurray]

Freckles continues to improve. Woodchuck has suffered a slight setback so we'll be keeping a closer eye on him. He is going stir crazy. He wants to go RRRUUUNNN!!!

Lilly may be adopted tomorrow.

In speaking to the vet today about Woodchuck the vet told me they just got out of surgery with another dog that had eaten string from his rope toy. As with Woodchuck and Freckles in my case, the owners of the dog had no idea their dog had eaten any of the string from his toy. The string was packed in the stomach but had not yet passed to the intestines. The dog is expected to recover.

[4Tom]

Thank you for the update. We have all been wondering about Woodchuck and Freckles, and hoping things were going well. I shared your story with my rescue friends at the ARF meeting last week, and we all immediately threw out any rope toys. Some brand new ones had been donated to ARF, but those have been discarded, as well.

Best wishes from Virginia and the Border Patrol.

[MollyATL]

Thank you for the update. We have all been wondering about Woodchuck and Freckles, and hoping things were going well. I shared your story with my rescue friends at the ARF meeting last week, and we all immediately threw out any rope toys. Some brand new ones had been donated to ARF, but those have been discarded, as well.

Best wishes from Virginia and the Border Patrol.

I've seen the story shared far and wide, and I'm sure the landfills will be full of rope toys this month in tribute to Crazy Daisy.

[gsdbc]

I am truly so so sorry for your loss... I can't imagine what you must feel... I just wanted you to know, a facebook friend of mine (Susie from the UK) had shared the link to this thread with a warning about being careful about these toys, and I just saw it on my facebook feed. I immediately went and threw away the two rope toys my border collie / gsd / spitz mix Luka likes to play with... the thing is he won't just play with them, very often I find him nibbling or gnawing the ends and I know there have been times I have had to pry his jaws apart because I caught him slurping up a bit of string and I have to get him to spit it out (or I find chewed off bits of string on the carpet near the toy).. but I had no idea it could be so deadly!!!!! Both rope toys are in the garbage now... I honestly thought the string might harmlessly pass through his system... I had no idea about the dangers. Thank you so much for sharing this, I truly appreciate it... and I hope Woodchuck and Freckles continue to recover fast!!

[kc328963]

Art,

I just read your post!! I am so sorry!!! I hope the other two are doing better!! My heart is breaking for you and your wife!!

Kristie

[amurray]

Woodchuck and Freckles had their staples removed today. The vet said to turn them loose and see how they do. Freckles shows little problem running through the back yard and playing. Woodchuck is not the same dog. His gait is short and he arches his back a bit when he runs. Woodchuck will be day-to-day for the rest of his life. I've had Red Setters for 30 years and know from sad experience that once one re-works their innards they are on borrowed time. So be it.

Lilly was returned because the adopter's dog jumped Lilly once they got them home even though their Meet 'n Greet at the Adoption Center went well. That's the bad news. The good news: Woodchuck and Freckles have a great companion to help them through rehab!

Thanks again to ALL of you. I've known for a long time what special people you are. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have BC rescuers from around the world spreading the cautionary tale of rope toys, all in Daisy's memory. I am not a crusader by temperment. But I'm going to start a crusade against these toys starting with letters to the CEO's of the major pet stores and pet supply houses (PetSmart, Pet Supermarket, Pet Supplies Plus, Jeffers, Amazon, etc.) I will then communicate with all the breed groups and rescue groups. I will also send letters to the professional vet associations to ask them to remove those "Clean Teeth" posters they have in their offices showing happy dogs with rope toys in their mouths. Any other ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.