Broken and Cracked Teeth

Bill was at the vet yesterday to have his broken canine tooth removed and I was told that I could check in with them around 3:00 pm to see how he was.  Before I had a chance to call the clinic, they called me. When they were cleaning Bill's teeth they discovered that he also had two cracked teeth, one with the pulp showing.  

I had wondered if his bug catching was a possible cause of the broken canine tooth since his teeth come together with such force as he chases and catches bugs.  Now with the addition of two other teeth being damaged, I suspected there was another cause.  In speaking with the veterinarian, we determined that it is likely from chewing on antlers.  Since the antlers are so hard they could damage teeth. Like humans, some dogs have softer teeth.  

We will now be trying softer chew items, so a trip to town and the big store is planned soon.

Meanwhile, Bill is home, being kept quiet and recovering. (just another excuse to lay outside in the sunshine)

Chuck and Molly

Our deaf boy Trail found the blue "chuck-it" ball when he arrived and it has become his most favorite toy. No other ball will do, it has to be the ball now known as Chuck.  Then along came Molly. She also found Chuck and they have become almost inseparable. Uh-oh. Two Chuck obsessed dogs and only one Chuck.

Yes, we went and found another Chuck.

Now we have two Chucks and two happy dogs.

Wordless Wednesday

A toothache

Our Bill has a toothache.

Here is why -

See what is missing?

Yes, Bill has broken off one of his canine teeth.  Not sure how.  The only contributing factor is that he is a bug catcher and a noise often heard outside is his teeth clicking as he catches bugs.  Possibly he had cracked the tooth after repeated snaps and it finally broke off.  We don't know. What we do know is that he is having the remainder removed tomorrow.

A black lab

A couple of days ago, at work, one of the front end staff called me:

“There is a gentleman here who is looking for someone to take his dog. Would you like to talk to him?”

I went up to the front of the store and followed the elderly man out to the parking lot and heard his story.  He said that it was just him and the dog. Last winter was really hard on him with all the snow so he had decided to move to a senior’s residence.  (He did say that he was only staying for the winter but we all know that it is not a seasonal residence. He will be staying) The man went on to say that he had been asking around but “nobody wants her.” 

Further conversation revealed that his dog was a 14 month old black lab named Molly that he had gotten as a puppy.  (Lets not even bother with why an elderly person gets a puppy) She had broken the chain he “put her out on” a couple of times and went to the neighbor’s dog to play. “The neighbor don’t want her either.”

I asked about Molly’s health - “real good”  and was she spayed? Yes. 

Well, you know where this going, don’t you?

I told him that he could get in touch with me at the store, expecting sometime in October/November.  

An hour later, he returned with Molly for me to take her home.  He said, “I just want to get this done and I am afraid that you’ll change your mind.”

Between you and me, I think that he was overwhelmed with such a young and rambunctious dog. My main thought through all this was that the man was desperate and I was afraid that he would give her to the first person who would take the leash (which is actually what did happen) and who knew what type of person or home she would end up with. At least here, she will have a warm, dry and safe inside place to be, a large, secure fenced area to play and regular nutritious meals. On top of that, there are playmates, lots of love and of course, the treats.

I met the man the following day and I brought her home.  

Molly does not know anything. Nothing. I’m not sure she was called by name very often since there is no reaction. She is, however, a very typical, lovable and very rambunctious lab.

There is going to be a lot for her to learn but I know we can do it.

So far, Trail loves her (somebody his size), Brook is excited, Bill is nervous, Hiker does not really care and Callie is annoyed.  The reactions are about what I expected.

A few people have commented that I might never see the man again. I realize that. My primary goal in this is to help Molly. If I don’t see the man again – all I have is his name, nothing else – then I will, at some point, re home her. It isn’t that I don’t want her forever, it is, as I always said about our foster dogs, she/he is not who I would chose to add to our home.

For now, she is staying with us and will learn to be a part of the pack and learn basic obedience.  We’ll keep you posted and have better pictures of her too!

Trail and the creek

Just in case you only glanced at the title, no, creek is not the name of a new addition! A name like that would certainly fit though, wouldn't it?!

The creek we are referring to is the creek on our property.  

I decided to venture out the back with Trail, through the overgrown fields to the wooded acreage.  As we approached the creek, we thought of Blueberry due to what we saw on the remains of a beaver dam.

It isn't Mr. Bill, but a Santa toy.  Likely from the tenant's dog or maybe just maybe the coyotes have toys?

Trail was very interested in the creek.

"Should I go in?"

Once he got his feet wet, there was no stopping him.

Of course, after a swim, there is nothing better than a roll in the grass.

Since Trail is deaf and the entire acreage is not fenced, we had to leave the leash attached but that didn't bother him at all.  Note to self for next time: use two or three roaming leads.

Dirt

Hiker loves dirt. She doesn't eat it like Bill does, she just likes to lay in it. 

It wasn't quite to her liking after resting for a while, likely due to how hot it was in the sunshine.

Some human assistance made it more comfortable.

Then along came a friend to hang out.

That is how a blind dog spends the afternoon when it is too hot to go to the beach.