in case you did not get george's correction re the morphine
Correction to the doggie daily
George gives an injection of morphine to the dogs to help sedate them so that less other anesthetic drugs are needed and there by safer for the patients, to give pain relief for 6-8 hours, and help them have a smoother recovery waking up.
Oh, the morphine does have a side effect that induces vomiting and we can see if Carlene followed instructions! :-))
George gives an injection of morphine to the dogs to help sedate them so that less other anesthetic drugs are needed and there by safer for the patients, to give pain relief for 6-8 hours, and help them have a smoother recovery waking up.
Oh, the morphine does have a side effect that induces vomiting and we can see if Carlene followed instructions! :-))
g
applicants--- and the process we go thru...
basically theresa gets some paperwork etc-- puts them in a book... in the order received... then puts the basics--- name diagnosis and state- military connection on a spread sheet.
i do the other half--- i line up the pups coming along- and try and get a line on the basic personalities and quirks--- and consult the spread sheet
then theresa and i sit down.
priorities--
ADI by whom we are accreditted- has the rule anyone needing a replacement dog gets the highest priority--- and since 99% of us will outlive all the dogs now out working and on the property--- that is a fact we have to deal with.
then--- we give military veterans and their families priority per our mission statement and board of directors.
all that organization goes south when you start to consider the dogs.
short current run down--- which could change by an hour from now--- these are animals-- things change---( ask bobby--- who was neutered yesterday)
pistol-- lovely dog-- quirky about trucks on the highway--- otherwise a well trained dog... except... we have not yet spayed her because we may need a ltter from her first..... so she could be placed as a companion dog (* service dogs are supposed to be neutered)
crimson-- 7 months .pleasent gal--- working well-- mature for her age-
not yet picking up anything in her mouth- so currently retrieving is OUT. will tolorate kids but i don't think she basically likes them.
charlie sooooo happy- thrilled to see everybody and preferably lick their hands and face... can not sit still for 7 minutes anywhere-- so he won't do for an office person-- or college student. but he could pull a wheelchair- he could tow 4 wheelchairs - or a small truck--- verry solid very happy
would overwhelm many people with his size and enthusiasm.
etc--- 18 more times---
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and then there is the problem of people who just would not benefit from one of our dogs-- for one reason or another.
a dane is not yee olde beagle --- or golden --- or lab. they are usually sophisticated educated creatures who sometime s get stuck on an odd bit of logic with which their recipient has to deal--- somehow...
as in heydawg and his aversion to slippery floors--- or arrow's dislike of noisy crowds as in conventions or cocktail hours..
they all have something.-- sometimes as yet undiscovered..
and they do not do well to be handled with a heavy hand-- these are not obedience trained dogs who behave perfectly when marched in circles in a dog show....
bailey sorts out some---i can not tell you how many people ask if she is trained--- i say "yes"-then they stick out a forefinger and yell "sit" at her to prove they know how to give commands or whatever...
bailey looks at me and says " interview over ---you are going to have to train this person better." as she walks off in disgust.
there seems to be a correlation between the number of books read and the number of times a person will scream "sit" at a dog. there are people who would need extensive training...
having a dane maybe be lovely---- but it is also a responsibility-- their devotion can not be turned on and off----- our one biggest disaster was a woman who took the dane to work- and when she came home she put her in a crATE AND PLAYED WITH HER PET DOGS--
WE GOT the dog out of there before the dog solved the problem her way.
this is the reason we are concerned with the address of applicants--
it is absolutely necessary for us to "inspect" the dog on a 6 months basis to be sure the dog is leading a nice happy work life...
after all--- we ---the volunteers---are concerned with the dogs first...
sorry-- that is just the way it is---and even tho we donate these dogs to
recipients-- i am perfectly capable of yanking a dog out of a situation and letting them chase me.
so --- the address--- tho we once said "not south of the hudson river". we have reconsidered that to "within the working area of someone we could trust to look over the partnership once and a while"
like kentucky--- i am sure tom nugent ( who has cuba) could manage to be taken to lunch by someone with a new dog in that area...
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now....
quirk???? as in stupid person???
sometimes- when it rains - there are puddles in the laundry- after extensive investigation of leaking roofs--- i discovered these puddles were yellow and smelled funny--
ah ha---- dogs in the laundry pee inside-!
but only sometimes...and it was raining at the time.
it took me years to reealize when i went in the laundry door, i had to duck the rain off the roof--- so i put a rain deflector ovr my door--- still wondering why the smelly yellow fluid in the laundry kennels.
i bet you all have that one figured out---
and i have been meaning to construct the 3' long tunnels outside those kennels--and i have leftover t-111 from the nut house
well there is a north easter expected--- and if i get those simple tunnels made this morning--- it would save 4 washloads of towels and bedding. which would ease the overflowing laundry dry well.
danes do not willingly pee in the rain-- i think katie has 24 hour record of holding it.
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Keeping in touch from the snowy Berkshires. We had around 2 inches last night and expecting 5 or more Saturday. Earlier this week Tess met Her new Doctor and had Her nails trimmed. Her Doctor said those aren't nails they're railroad spikes! Tough! As She was trimming them on Her hands and knees she said she felt like a mechanic working on a car up on a hoist....I asked if she wanted Tess to turn around so she could reach the other side better? The Vet replied don't you dare...I'm having fun! I've never crawled under a dog before to cut their nails! She was awed by Tess, remarking you need sunglasses to look at her, her coat is so shiny and She's so muscular. Well enough bragging........fat chance of that! I'm just getting started! Tess the fearless took a walk up by a pond the other day and as we rounded the far end with all the rain it was swampy so the state had erected a walkway of two 6 by 6's with about 2 inches space between them. Some dogs would baulk at walking on them but Tess just went right along at a our regular pace never wavering or timid She's a good girl! Today (Friday) I had a Doctors appointment (new place for Tess) She was great! We got out of the van and went into the building pushed the button the elevator opened and we just walked in rode it up a floor the bell dinged, Tess tilted her head, the door opened and we walked out. Simple as that. Into the Doctors office We went, all the staff just had to see and ask about her, She met the Doctor, laid on the floor during my visit, we left to the ooh's and ah's of the office (funny I don't remember such adoration when I go there alone? Maybe it's just my imagination or forgetfulness?) Back on the elevator (Tess is a pro by now she's done this once.) ---Down a floor and the door opens and out Tess struts. Back in the van a stop at Wal-Mart and home....another great job Tess!
Our bond is deepening, She trusts Me to not lead Her into anything that might harm Her and I trust Her to not panic or start if something comes up unexpectedly and knock Me down or pull me over. We're cementing into a good team out here! More later....sincerely Al&Tess.
i am thrilled to hear it is going so well--- but be assured tess has done elevators more than once--- maybe a couple dozen times during our walk-abouts
