Ollie's Back

Hooray for Ollie!

Well, it turns out that his sutures can not, at this point, be redone because of a high risk of severe infection. Instead, Beata and I will have to clean and care for the unmentionable area. How lovely.

Anywho, the good Doctor told us that we will have to be more firm with Oliver and keep the leash on him at all times for better control. Probably a good idea.

When we picked him up we were provided with antibiotics, a new space collar/cone thingy, a Dog Whisperer style leash since we forgot to bring ours, and a bill for $4. Are you kidding me? I gave Doctor Smith $5 and asked him to keep the change, which, of course, he refused to do. Instead he gave it to Beata.

But again, Dr. Smith gave good advice. He told me I could now walk Ollie since the stitches could not be torn any more, but we have to keep him from licking that spot, and he has to wear the cone until it's all healed and he doesn't try to lick it any more.

I think we can handle it. He actually went easily into the crate for me (since he had the leash on). I could get to like that sort of cooperation from Oliver. Thanks Ollie.

So, with all that said, I truly hope that everyone has appreciated this update.

And may everyone everywhere have a wonderfully fantastic night.

Mike

Poor Ollie....Back to the Vet

Torn Stitches, Oh No!

Last night Beata noticed that Oliver somehow had managed to tear the fine suturing done by the tremendously qualified Doctor. How? Who knows? He's like magic.

We have done our best to keep him calm, but that's kind of difficult to do with a young Weimaraner who loves to run and play. Of course he's still scared too. In fact, when I'm sitting on the couch and he's lying on the chair next to the couch, all I have to do is stand up, and like a cartoon character, he's gone with only wisps of curled air remaining.

We tried keeping him in the crate more, but his energy level is too high for that. He just tries to get out and probably causes even more stress to the area in question. We try keeping him and Remeo separate so they don't excite each other. I think that, because of the high energy and excitement levels he has, the Doctor may have to give him some medicine to keep him calm while he heals. Otherwise, this same thing might happen again. I don't like the idea of that type of medicine, but it may be necessary for his own benefit.

We'll find out later today. I'm supposed to call in after 4 pm for an update. Hopefully all is well and Ollie will be well. When I get the update, and to keep everyone posted, I'll post it.

Thanks!

Why Me? Then Again, Why Not?

It's All in the Name of Looking Good!

Poor Oliver. Once again something has gone not quite right. He seemed to have a pretty good weekend after his traumatic surgical event (the trauma was really just the type of surgery). He was upbeat, trying to run around a bit, even though he was not supposed to.

We followed orders the best we could, but it's kind of hard to keep a Weimaraner from engaging in any activity whatsoever for two days, let alone two weeks. He's just energetic, what can I tell ya?

Anyway, on Saturday it appeared as though there may be some slight issues with his sutures, so we called the Vet. We were advised to keep him more constrained. We already were walking him in the yard on a leash for him to do his personal business, and we were keeping him in the crate as much as possible without driving him and us insane. We even keep Ollie and Romeo apart so they don't get each other excited and start running around.

Sadly, we were told that he would have to spend even more time in the crate. So, with heavy hearts we decided to try to keep him in there even more. Despite all of it, though, he had additional issues with the sutures. I think he's some kind of magician or something and he's just trying to get the things untied. Anyway, Beata had to take him the Vet today for a look at his unmentionable area. It turns out that he was still causing difficulties for himself, apparently through some sort of contorion exercise in which he actually uses a technique that produces salavic relief for the aformentioned unmentionable area.

So, this is what they did to him...

That's right, they enrolled him in the wildly popular and hugely successful SETI Institute. He's proud to be the only one there to have ever actually found any intelligent life while searching. Turns out it was him.

At least that's what they claim.

Errrrrrr (annoying screeching tires sound), back to reality. Come to find out, this is just so Oliver can hear us better and maybe start responding to our very gentle requests for cooperation with his healing process....you know, things like, "Please don't run Oliver," "Kindly remove your rather large paws from the dinner table, Ollie, so you're not so stretched out and risking tearing your stitches," and, my personal favorite, "Crate Ollie, Crate. It's good for you, and besides, you know you want to."

Alright, let's try this again. Back to reality. Just briefly, though.

He needs to wear this thing all the time for the next week. It's a good think I've been able to convince him that it's okay to eat from my hand (bonding, you know). Otherwise, it would be awfully entertaining to watch him try his best to get to those small crunchy bites. Sadly, he can't fit in the crate now. I'm sure he's disappointed.

It's all for the best, I guess. I just hope he isn't too self-conscious when he's standing out in the middle of the yard squatting for his aeromatic extra curricular activities. It will all be over in a week if everything goes well, and, why shouldn't it?

That's all for now. Remember to check back soon for a nother installment of Oliver's Journal, where you can get all the lates sports, news, and weather.

Good Day, and Good Night!

Home on the Range

Or, Return of the Oliver

Well, this ain't Kansas*, and he surely isn't Toto (a quick play on The Wizard of Oz -- you know, Kansas and all), but we're happy to report that Ollie came back home today. More precisely, Beata and I went to pick him up from Beltway Animal Hospital and bring him back home to glorious Dundalk (Ahhhhh, Sighs, Feelings of Calm and Relaxation, Happiness, Maybe Even Some Fireworks for Excitement). How lucky can a puppy be?

Anyway, his procedure went very well, and he was awake and recovering yesterday afternoon when we called the Vet for an update. We're so happy to have Beltway and the quality doctors and staff at the facility. It's a great feeling to know that we can leave Oliver with them with confidence that, not only will the work be done correctly, he will be treated as if he is one of their family. They care more about the pet care they give than about the dollars they can extract from you, which is not the case everywhere.

We wanted to go to the beach for the weekend, especially since it is our 11th wedding anniversary, but this was a perfect time to get this done, and we're happy to stay home to make sure that Ollie gets the calm, compassionate care he needs this weekend. Plus the PetSmart class was cancelled for Sunday because the instructor had to go out of town for the weekend, so we won't have to miss a session while Oliver recovers.

Maybe he'll even be willing to let me get a little closer to him this weekend since he won't be feeling a hundred percent. It's worth a try anyway. I should note that he did allow me to put his collar on at the Vet and walk him to the car, where Beata was anxiously waiting for him and soon all of his dreams came true. I'm not sure if she wanted us to bond a little or if she just wanted me to take car of the bill. Anyway, when it comes to my interactions with Ollie, I MUST BREAK HIM......I mean, eventually he'll come around :)

I'll try to report on his progress over the next few days as his recovery continues.

On a good note, I was able to spend the last few days prior to this working with him as the instructor advised. He has shown that he is willing, on a sort of "mood" basis, to let me get a little closer to him. He's even been eating his meals directly from my hand without running away after each nibble. Wednesday he let me pet him under his chin while he ate my hand....I mean from my hand.

I'll try to keep everyone posted on that progress as well.

Thanks, and here's to you, and you, and you. And whoever else might be out there in the vast wonderland know as the universe, taking a short break from daily activity to read what I write, right?

-Mike

*Home on the Range is the State Song of Kansas

Poor Oliver, Off to the Vet Today ... Ouch!

Or, It's All for the Better, Believe Me.

Oliver had to go today to have the unthinkable done ... he had to get fixed. As he left this morning with Beata, the heavy hand, I could have sworn I heard him cry out, "But I'm not even broken."

Poor thing. One day he'll understand that it was all for the better and for his own good and the good of all dogs everywhere. Then again, maybe not.

However, since we agreed to have it done when we adopted him, and since there are already so many homeless, abused, and even unwanted dogs (and cats) out there, it is certainly the right thing to do. While I am sure that he would have produced amazing puppies, just as our wonderful Romeo would have, there are enough breeders out there producing amazing dogs already.

Sadly, there are also those "breeders" who use an abusive, factory style to produce dogs they will sell to anyone just to make a few bucks. Which is just one more reason for all of us to have our pet family members spayed or neutered. Read about Puppy Mills here. You can also get other stories and join the fight to Stop Puppy Mills.

There are many other reasons for spaying and neutering pets. Some information can be found on the all-knowing and clearly authoritative Wikipedia. But for laughs you can also check out The Humane Society of the United States, which provides a alternative explanation of the reasoning behind having pets spayed or neutered.

So, when all is said and done, having Oliver neutered is one of the best things we could do for him and the dog population and for our good friends at the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue who are already overwhelmed. While we are confident we could handle additional dogs if Ollie were to do his part in producing more puppies in the world, we would rather adopt again and give a home to an otherwise unwanted animal.

By the way, you can support the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue, by shopping online at DogStuff.com or simply by donating on their website.

Thanks for tuning in. And remember, all dogs deserve to know all the time that they have dignity and that they matter.

See you next time, same bat-time, same bat-channel. Wait a minute...

Thanks for Your Patience

While our initial intention was to write a more regular journal of Oliver's (and our) activities and growth, it became quite clear rather quickly that we would have to spend more of our time actually caring for Oliver and interacting with him than writing about him and our efforts with him.

It is probably the case that everyone thinks in the beginning that they will have some heroic ability to overcome all obstacles to rehabilitation. Before long, though, most people probably realize the same thing we did, there is no simple way to overcome them. You just have to spend time, and lots of it, working through the obstacles, trying your best to do everything you know how to do, and learning from others how to do things you did not know you needed to do. As "they" say, it's a long and winding road, with lots of bumps and forks in it, leading you down all sorts of paths to places you've never been, some of which you never want to go back to. But I digress...

As time permits, we will add to the Journal our experiences, both good and bad, as we continue on our journey of hope with Oliver. And, since now is one of those occasions in which time permits, please allow me to add the following.

Fade in:

From day one Oliver has been a real challenge, but I don't think we had any idea of how much of a challenge he would be. He started out abused, hurt and unsure whom he could trust. Then he was shifted from place to place in the matter of a just a few weeks, which probably helped a little with his feelings of insecurity even though it was all for his own good.

Shortly after he joined our family he had many positive experiences, but he also showed us that he was still very unsure of what was expected of him, and, more importantly, he was unsure of what to expect. He then has some minor health issues, mostly involving digestive difficulties, which, considering what he had been through and how undernourished he was, became very big issues to us.

Fortunately, though, we were able to get him on the right track with the help of Dr. Smith at Beltway Animal Hospital on Loch Raven Boulevard near Joppa Road in Baltimore. Dr. Smith gave Oliver a thorough exam, evaluated him with great love and care, and determined the best course of treatment for a fast turnaround. So, with a few pills in hand, a dietary directive, an outrageously small medical bill, and a soon-to-be much happier puppy, I headed back home...by way of PetSmart, of course.

Oliver is now on a steady diet of adult dry food only, and he seems much better. He's back to running around the yard, playing with the kids, and avoiding me at all costs. He does like when I give him food and treats though, even if just for a few brief moments, which I like to think of as little reminders of how fragile he really is.

Dr. Smith also discovered, as did I :(, that Oliver is a bit of a fear biter. When the good doctor attempted to draw some blood, Oliver was a little unhappy and showed his teeth to prove it. Another time, while trying to get him into his crate, he clamped down, ever so gently, on my index finger with his rear teeth...ouch! My bad. I'll have to find a new approach, so for now we'll let Beata handle that part.

Partially because we thought it would be a good idea, and partially because Dr. Smith recommended it, we enrolled Oliver in a pet training course at PetSmart, which, as it turns out, is really more of an elaborate training course for me. We decided that, since Oliver's issues seem to mostly be about men, it would be best if I took him to the classes. The combination of going to the classes and spending time practicing with Oliver, as well as walking him, should really help to build a much stronger bond between us, and hopefully it will get rid of at least some of that fear issue.

I was thrilled at the results of the class. We were fortunate that Oliver and I were the only students in the class yesterday, 7/19/09. Since it's summertime, most people are on vacation or playing too much to come to the class. It was great to have the first session be private so the instructor, Melissa, could spend time to evaluate Oliver on her own instead of just listening to my description of his behavior.

Happily, within just an hour, using the correct methods and a calm, assertiveness (hello Dog Whisperer...), Oliver was not only coming to me for treats, he was actually sticking around for a while after getting his reward. Eventually, he let me gently attach his leash, which was a first, and he let me rub him under his chin. Later, when we got back home, I was able to demonstrate the whole thing, even with Beata, Ania, Emmett, and Romeo hanging around while we performed our new daring feats.

Since Melissa will be away next weekend and there will be no class, Oliver and I will have two whole weeks to practice our new skills. I suspect that with a little encouragement Oliver will have me doing everything I'm supposed to be doing, and correctly too, by the next session. I like walks anyway, so that part shouldn't be too hard for me to figure out.

So, even though it's been a while, I hope that everyone is able to appreciate why there is just now a new installment of Oliver's Journal. From time to time, and hopefully without objection, I may go back to earlier events just to fill in the blanks a bit. But, for now, I'm just happy to get back on track a little with the Journal. Thanks to Beata for adding pictures to her Facebook page more frequently so people could get a look at Oliver's progress.

With all that said -- and that was a lot to say -- may your family be as happy as our family, ready to take on every new challenge and conquer any and all fears that may arise.

Fade out.

The Story of Oliver

Oliver is a wonderfully curious Weimaraner with a fantastic disposition. Until now, however, he has not been able to be himself and show the world how fantastic he truly is. Sadly, Oliver was abused, starved, and left tied to a woman's fence without regard for his safety or wellbeing.

For approximately 10 days, the woman who found him tried to care for him and keep him clean. Eventually, though, she realized she needed help, and she contacted the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue, which is part of the Weimaraner Club of the Washington DC Area.

Fortunately for Oliver, Colleen Dugan came to his aide on behalf of the Rescue. She and her husband, Trav, along with their two Weimaraners, Gertie and Ethel, became Oliver's foster family. They carefully worked with him to help him feel welcome and loved, and they showed him that he has value and meaning.

Colleen patiently sat with him, trying to comfort him, but it took quite some time before he understood that he was able to approach her without the fear of being abused. She fed him, bathed him, and loved him as she watched his gradual transformation.

Colleen shared the story of Oliver and some pictures of him with my wife, Beata, who later shared the same with me. As we learned of his situation and of the efforts of the Rescue to place him permanently with a family through their adoption process, we knew he would be a perfect fit for us.

Our long-time family best friend, Romeo, a Black Lab/Greyhound mix, was a rescue as well. We got him approximately 12-13 years ago from the Humane Society of Harford County when he was about 7-8 months old. His story was very similar to Oliver's so we knew we could help him. We spent a great deal of time and effort to patiently bring Romeo out of his shell and watched as he was transformed into the playful, happy, and loving animal he is today. He's a little older now, but he still needs love and caring, and he gets plenty of it from me, my wife, and our children, Ania and Emmett.

Working with Colleen and the Rescue's Karin Bakken, we were able to adopt Oliver and welcome him into our home and our family. The kids are super excited about having him at our house, Beata and I love him already as if he had been with us for years, and Romeo has taken him under his wing and is showing him the ropes.

It is our hope that this Journal will help others to understand the wants and needs of animals as we all watch together how Oliver changes and grows. Perhaps just one person who reads this will feel inspired to adopt an animal in need of love, compassion, and, most importantly, a safe and happy home.

Please feel free to add your comments to our posts at any time and share your pet adoption experiences with the rest of us.

For now, thank you. And may you too know the warmth of a cold nose.

Michael Carnahan