Meet Curley-he's an 8 yr old Cocker that was dumped in a NYC shelter by his heartless owners because he has glaucoma...and massive ear infections that were obviously never treated. The shelter got in touch with a wonderful organization in Flushing, NY called Abandoned Angels. They are dedicated to rescuing Cockers, but take other breeds on occasion as well (http://www.nyabandonedangels.com/).
I stumbled across them one day because when I mentioned to my boss that we're getting a puppy, he asked if there were any Cocker rescues and I didn't know, so I Googled. And my entire world changed. I found them about the same time they found Curley.
Their vet determined the infections were so bad, no medication would help. He would need a dual total ear canal ablation, an extremely traumatic surgery that would render him deaf for the rest of his life, but also pain-free for likely the first time in his life. So they began to raise money for his surgery through donations. I did not find their Facebook page in time to participate in the candy sale, regretably...
I frequently and anxiously checked back for word the funds had been raised and the surgery was scheduled. Instead, they posted an urgent request. In late April, their vet determined that unless the surgery was done within 2 weeks, Curley should be humanely euthanized. I sent check and when they dedicated the money raised through their most recent Hendrick Boards shirt sale to his surgery, I bought a shirt (that I would have bought anyway-it says "Be the person your rescue thinks you are."). And I resumed my vigile.
Finally, they announced his surgery would be done on May 16th. It was a long day. He was in surgery forever and the initial update wasn't good. His right ear was so bad, one of the worst he'd ever seen, that he wasn't sure he'd even be able to do the left ear. The calcification from the infection was so extensive it had attached to his skull. But they were able to do both.
He was in ICU for a few days and then in the hospital for a few more. He was finally released on Tuesday. Days went by before we heard anything further, until an update was posted yesterday. The general update is that his recovery is going very, very slowly and he's not ready for a foster home yet, but when that day comes, they'll begin looking at applications.
I got a little bit more of an update. After taking Chica to the vet for her heartworm test and meds, I stopped by the office. And I e-mailed an application to adopt Curley. A few hours later, my cell phone rang. It was Abandoned Angels calling to let me know that Curley's not ready to be adopted yet. He's very depressed and they want to get him through that and healed before sending him to his forever home. I can only imagine what it's been like for him, living in pain for so many years, then having that pain gone, but waking up one day unable to hear anything and unable to blink.
They have said I can call or e-mail any time to check on him. He's getting his stitches out this coming week. They figure he'll be ready to come home in late June, which will be perfect because we'll be within a few hours of them. However, they said they'd be willing to drive him up to us. Perhaps we can meet somewhere, like Mom and Dad's. That would let us take him for a walk to begin bonding with him before beginning the long drive home and into our new life as a family. And give us one night with him before we introduce him to Chica, who will be at the kennel.
Even before I knew he was ours, I had a pretty good feeling he would be and began researching deaf dogs. There's a great web site, http://www.deafdogs.org/. They had a lot of great tips and some recommended books, which I went ahead and ordered off of Amazon.
And, as if our new little boy isn't enough, Snuggie's puppies were born today! Sue's going to send out her announcement Tuesday or Wednesday. Hopefully she'll update her page again with the actual date. I'm just glad it's not Thursday when I have Aunt Jo Ann. If we're lucky enough to get one (prayers and fingers crossed!), Bailey will be coming home Sunday, July 22nd, and our family will be complete...for a few years....
So, I better hurry up and get through this Liability class! I have to finish watching Cesar's Master Classes, finish his books, learn how to meditate from my new DVD, finish the over-haul on the apartment because now we'll need room for 2 crates and 3 dogs, read my books on living with a deaf dog, and learn sign language to teach him so we can communicate with him. Nope-not overwhelming at all! Fortunately I've been getting a lot of support from my friends and family since we announced we're getting Curley yesterday.
Time to really step it up, get his lessons down and become the pack leader my three (3!) kids need me to be.
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