Meet Gracie our latest rescue

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I have a very special friend named Terri. Terri is a school teacher in Pennsylvania. When she is not teaching, she spends her time rescueing and rehoming dogs. In her area of PA, puppy mills abound.

She has made friends with several of these puppymill owners and constantly talk them out of dogs. It is a business to them. She just rescues what she can. Most of them are boys as little girls are faster sellers and used to continue breeding. She also takes the ones with special needs as they mean nothing to the mill owners. Defective does not sell. Anyway, Terri and I met a few years ago and I have been helping her find homes for her furkids ever since.

Every now and then, I fall head over heels for one.

Meet Gracie

Gracie is a Boston Terrier with a severe heart murmur. She was going to be destroyed. Instead, Terri talked the owner into giving up the pup. She was mine within 3 hours! Terri and I live a few hours apart you see or it would have been sooner.

I know she isn't in good health and we may not have her long. But until that day comes...we will love her and she us!

 

[SunAngel]

Awww she is adorable!

I'm sure the time she is with you, she will be happy and well taken care of

 

[mekasmom]

What level of murmur? Dogs with low level murmurs can live years on lasix and sometimes digoxin. And many low level murmurs actually close up. You might have her a long time.

She is adorable. Congratulations.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Quote:
5/6 is the level. Thanks for the info. I know a dog who is on lasix for congestive heart failure. We will need to be watchful that she does not become overweight. I need to find a pet food (preferably dry) that is low in sodium. Any suggestions?

I also plan on always having good air flow for her as I don't want her overheated. She hasn't had to be crated other than when I shower yet. She is going to work with me all week so we can establish a bond.

Any other BYCer's out there that have adopted a puppymill dog? If you haven't here are some things that always break my heart: they often suffer from PICA where they eat their own feces, they have never touched grass and are often afraid of it, they drink from rabbit cage type waterers, they do not know how to accept things (treats) from your hand, often they have no front teeth from poor nourishment, they also lose teeth to constant knawing at the cage wires out of boredom, etc. The list goes on and on.
Over time I have welcomed 4 such dogs into our home. Each one has been exceptional as far as loyalty and obiedience. Dave and I hope to have Gracie with us for many years to come.

She is a snuggle bunny!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Ahhhh, What a beautiful little lady she is. So glad she found you!!!

 

[Barnyard]

Ok, I am a cry baby....

She is adorable

Kiddo's to you for taking her in

I hope you have many, many, many years with her!!

 

[Love my Critters!]

She is Precious!!

I hope she has a long happy life with you! congrats

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. She is just lovely. We are on day 5 and she now knows her name, allows me, but only me, to pick her up, and is begining to drink water from a bowl.

We are both happy girls!

Hubby even likes her

. Just don't ask my two sons and one of the dogs what they think...

 

[mekasmom]

I don't believe 5/6 is a low level murmur. Can the vet spay her? If so, I would do that to prevent any possibility of pregnancy. You don't want that stress added to the heart. Some will spay even with a higher level of blood leakage depending on whether or not the dog can handle anesthesia.
And keep her on HW preventative to avoid worse complications. As heart failure progresses, some vets will use a tiny bit of digoxin for the dog too, but it is a tiny, tiny amount. Not all vets even do that.

A level 6 is a pathologic murmur. It won't close. You may not have her for a whole 10-12 years. But she will love you and be your baby while her body is able to stay on earth.

Good luck.