Close Call, letter I sent to dog owners -UPDATE -Ellie just attacked

[birdlover]

Hi Judy,
Just wanted to send prayers and good wishes to you, Ellie and BJ. I hope her leg is getting better.

I can't help but think Ellie is lucky even though she has been through hell because there aren't many who would go the extra miles that you have to get her through this. I hope you have a good week and New Year.

Ellen

 

[jjthink]

Thank you SO VERY MUCH and I'm really sorry it took so long to post an update. I have been immersed in a major mess with flooding from a development next door that had a lot of violations - the property owner has refused to remedy and the town has failed to compel them to - it's been an all consuming mess with no resolution as yet. This, combined with computer troubles..etc. etc.

Anyway, I am thrilled to report that Ellie has improved significantly. It took quite a while, but she is back to walking normally and has grown back a lot of feathers (interesting that some of her wing feathers now have white tips and they didn't before). It is just amazing what these birds can heal from with the right treatment and TLC to the nth degree. Ellie's comb returned to red and she began laying eggs again - every 48 hours (tho she just seems to have stopped again because she skipped this morning, which would have been the 48 hour mark, hopefully not another problem in the making). One weird thing she is doing is eating straw like a maniac - she never did this before. Naturally, I worry about her getting an impacted crop. I am not sure what she is seeking from the straw that she is not otherwise getting. Her water has Avia Charge 2000 in it daily and so she has been getting nutritional supplements. In addition to having layer food and game bird maintenance available 24/7 (the latter to help avoid BJ getting too much calcium), they also get fresh fruits and veggies, sunflower seeds and other things to round out their diet. I've been giving them some grain bread soaked in olive oil to help ward off a crop problem. Oyster shell available always.

Ellie has fallen head over heels in love with BJ roo, who took exemplary care of her and never left her side during her troubled times (and he is proud and standing tall, feeling appreciated - it's beautiful to watch him - he is so gentle with her, as he was with Annie before Ellie, and Betty before Annie). Ellie has forgiven me for torturing her with meds because she runs to me every time she sees me. I breathe a sigh of relief each time I see them together. They are pretty fearful, no longer happy go lucky, and that is the perhaps the saddest thing about people's irresponsibility with dogs. Hopefully they will be able to relax in time. If I stand right next to them, they relax.

The folks with the dogs paid the vet bill. Amazingly, they called recently and left me a message letting me know the dogs got loose again - luckily, BJ and Ellie were indoors or it could have been catastrophic if it had been during their now very limited free range time that occurs with me standing right over them, no matter how flipping cold it is and how much I wish I was inside! The people sounded distraught and their message indicated they were thinking that maybe they should no longer have the dogs because they can't control them. I don't know the current status. Dogs are such a constant worry because of human carelessness.

But back to the good news - Ellie is happy and back in one piece!! THANK YOU for your incredible kindness, concern, good company, and good wishes. It means more than I can possible express in words.

JJ

 

[Zookeeper9000]

I haven't been on much since my knee surgery but I sure am glad the update is good. Keeping you all in my prayers.

 

[birdlover]

YAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

That is SUCH good news!!!! So happy for you three, Judy.

 

[FrChuckW]

JJ, I am so happy for you and to hear the good news about Ellie. At least your neighbors are co-operating to an extent and paid the vet bills for you.

I am sure that once they feel a bit more secure they will begin to relax.

 

[enola]

O M G !!! I am new here and have just read about all the trials and tribulations in your life

All of us here are hoping Ellie pulls through all this with just as little physical and emotional scarring as possible.

I know just how annoying a neighborhood full of irresponsible dog owners can be. I NEVER blame the dog....a dog will just be a dog until he is trained. WHATEVER a dog does is not his fault, it is the fault of the owner.

That said..... this is what I would like to do to several of my neighbors at this time

I have one little hen at the present time, who will never get to know what it is like to go out of the hen house and roam free over my tiny yard. There are approximately 7 large dogs that would just love to have her for breakfast if she took a morning stroll.

So far, I have only had to have one dog hauled to the pound by Animal Control. He was a lovely Chocolate Lab owned by some of the most ignorant people that I have had the unfortunate chance to meet. (He was rescued from the pound by a friend that runs a Laborador Rescue. He now lives in a home surrounded by a loving, intelligent family.)

I tried on two different occassions to talk to my neighbors about why he had to be kept home. The second discussion ended by the wife telling me that if I EVER called her again a 2 am in the morning to tell her that the dog was at my house again, she would personally come up and kick my A$$. The Animal Control Officer was at their house for the second time when he gave up trying to talk to them, he stopped by and told me to call him the next time the dog stopped in.

A week later, the dog was entertaining himself by harassing my poor little hen, again. I called the ACO, he came by, picked up the dog and took him to the pound. They didn't come to claim the dog until almost a week later, could (or wouldn't) pay the fine and then blamed me for the loss of their "beloved family member".

From there, things got out of hand, starting with the husband coming by my house one night and letting me know, "That he knew how to take care of busy bodies like me." That was when the sheriff got involved. The situation ended up with me getting two trespassing orders out, one for his wife, one for him.

My hen is safe, her "home" is more like a jail, but she is safe from the dogs. But, I have a miniature pinscher that has to be taken out, on a leash, to do her business. I never know when a dog will pop out of the bushes to grab her.

The ACO has been contacted, he has visited neighbors, and they all claim the dogs do not belong to them. Because of shortage of funds, thus shortage of man power, live traps have not been set for them yet, however, they are in the works.

I hate to think that part of my measly tax return might have to be spent on the largest Hav-A-Hart trap I can find

But, at least if I have to resort to buying my own trap, I will have one any time I need one !

By the way, I love this site !

 

[bwebb7]

JJ- so glad Ellie is well! And of course she is all over BJ! I'm glad your neighbors met their resposiblity and paid the vet bill too. I hope the new year continues to bring you good things.

enos-sorry your hen stays in Ft Knox-but glad you take care
Thanks for helping the lab get a nice new home too

 

[SpottedCrow]

Enola, You can also take your hen out on a leash too...jes sayin
I am SO glad that Ellie's doing so well and lovin her man, Judy...