Why is it that people don't seem to understand that children and animals are not disposable.  They are yours.  They are yours forever.  They are not trash to be thrown out when you are tired of them.  They are living, and breathing.  Why have children if you don't want them?  Why buy a dog if you just get rid of it a few months, or a few years later, when it becomes inconvenient?  When the medical bills are too much for you to deal with?

How did our society get to this place?  When did it become acceptable to have 8 children at once, just to see if you can?  Did that woman really gain anything out of that other than 14 sick, needy children?  Why buy a dog or a puppy, then decide a month later, it's not what you wanted, and throw it away?  That puppy is not a pair of shoes.  You are not window shopping for something entertaining.  Something to keep you occupied for a little while.  If that's what you want, buy a TV, or a gaming system.  Heck, buy a book.  Don't buy a puppy, or have a child, just because you want someone to love you forever, just to have something "to do"

I wonder all the time, how someone could drop Sophie off at the shelter, and turn around and walk away from her.  Someone did.  How could they walk away from this sweet, beautiful, loving dog?

Some say that dogs do not remember.  I would beg to differ with them.  I can't put Sophie in a cage (groomers, vets) without her crying, barking, and pawing at the metal.  It took months to teach her that a crate was not a punishment.  That it was a safe place, and that i was not leaving her.  It took 2 years, to feel comfortable and snuggle with me, really snuggle with me, not me forcing her to do so.  How could someone so willingly leave this dog at the shelter?

How can people just dispose of animals this way?  I am glad I have Sophie.  I am so happy that those people do not have her anymore.  They did not take care of her, and did not love her, but WHY NOT?  How do you own a dog for 5 years, and drop her off at the shelter without leaving so much as a name with her???

How do we make society understand that this is NOT acceptable?

Going to the vet....

My momma says she is taking me to the vet on Monday.  I'm not too sure about this.  I'm not sure i want to go to the vet 

Momma also says she's going to collect a "sample" from me .... hehehe i'd like to see her try! 

Do unto others....

Sophie has lent me her blog for the evening to write on ... isn't that nice of her to share?

As a child i heard often "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" ... i am sure many others have heard this saying as children from their parents, or other adults in their lives.

I do try to live by this principle. Now i am not perfect. I get angry, spiteful, and vengeful more often than I'd like, but i would never intentionally hurt another person for "fun." This seems to be a sport for some. It seems as if some try to get a reaction out of other people, just for the fun of it.

These are the people i struggle with the most. I have a vengeful, spiteful, devious side for people like this, that are out to hurt others. Maybe it's simply the protector in me that dislikes these type of people, or maybe they are sent my way to teach me patience, and the ability to hold my tongue.

All of that said, I do hope these type of people get their "just desserts"

Back Yard Breeders

I'd like to share Sophie's story with everyone, and why breeding is not just for those that can get two dogs together and breed them. It is for people knowledgeable about the breed, do the proper testing, and spend years learning genetics. They care about the breed, and they work hard to better it.

Meet Sophie. Many of you know my Sophie girl either from seeing her on the forum for the amount of time I've been a member, or from meeting her in person. She has a beautiful personality, loving, and sweet, with of course, the Cocker quirks.

Sophie is from (I believe) a back yard breeder. Whoever owned her before me, dropped her off at Carson Shelter in CA on July 1st, 2007. Whoever "owned" her before, did not even leave a name for her. This girl has not always had the pampered life she is accustomed to now.

When I picked her up from the shelter, on July 3rd, 2007 she was 40lbs. That's about double what an average Cocker should weigh. She was matted, and hadn't been bathed in months. Her skin was flaky and peeling, and her coat was dull. Her ears were coated inside with a brown goo; it looked like someone melted peanut butter and dumped it into her ears. Whoever her previous owners were either had a collar on her that was too tight, or had her tied to something, as she had a bleeding wound on the front of her neck as well. A week after bringing her home and $400.00 dollars later, she had clean ears, clean teeth, was shaved down, a full array of medications, and had a new lease on life.

Now the work began. I put her on a diet food, to try and get her weight down, but it wasn't working. I was putting oils in her food to get her coat to shine, and it started working, but her ears weren't getting better.

Now starts the constant battle with her ears. Vet after vet prescribing ear drops and antibiotics, and nothing was working. Different ones, and still nothing. Less than 6 months after bringing her home, she came down with pneumonia. Another $800.00 dollars to get her healthy.

That Christmas was her first Christmas with us, and although i would love to tell you, much had changed with Sophie in that 6 months we had her at that time, it had not. She was still 40lbs, her coat was still dull, her skin still flaky, and her ears still full of goo.

During the next 9 months, I went to vet appointments, and searched online for answers to her issues. I learned a lot, and we kept trekking through, trying to find a solution to her problems. I tried a dozen different cleaners, homemade "fixes" and such for her problems. I finally stumbled upon the forum, and learned a lot more. Finally in October of 2008 I learned more about foods, and how they could help her skin, coat, ears and weight. I found yet another vet to try and help me, and off we went. She prescribed different things than the vets before, so i was hopeful. This approach worked for one ear, better than the other, so for the past year, i have been cleaning Sophie's right ear, daily, to keep infection at bay. This wasn't a fix, but a bandaid. Finally in December 2009 I took her in to yet another vet, just about to give up hope for her, and request that he quote me for the amount an ear ablation surgery would cost.

In tears I drove Sophie to the vet. After 2.5 years of different vets telling me there was no hope for that darn ear, I had finally given up, I couldn't stand seeing Sophie in pain, and knowing how badly she was hurting. This vet gave us some hope on that front.

Sophie has allergy problems, which are causing the skin, and ear issues. She has minor hip problems. She is much larger than your average female Cocker should be, and larger than most males should be as well. Her front legs are shorter than her back legs, giving her the impression of walking downhill, which (i believe) contributes the minor hip problems. I still have problems with her skin, but it is much better. These issues are minor compared to the horror stories i've heard from others who bought from a back yard breeder or a pet store/puppy mill.

The back yard breeder that bred her parents 7 years ago, probably sold her for $200 dollars. The people that bought her didn't care enough about her to even leave her name when they dropped her off at the shelter. They had never cleaned her ears, in the 5 years they had her. They hadn't bathed her in months, and she was more than likely an outdoor dog.

I spent more on Sophie's health problems in the first 6 months I had her, than it would have cost me to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, and pay for the puppy shots, and puppy visits. I love her dearly, and she is worth every penny I spend on her. She will need me to constantly be on top of her ears for the rest of her life. She will need to take prescription antihistamines for the rest of her life as well.

For the past 2 years, i have looked at Sophie in a bittersweet way. I love her dearly, but I look at her, and I know that people did this to her. The people that bred her did this, the people that bought her from them did this. She lives in pain because of them. I'm paying for this. I'm cleaning up their mess, because i rescued her. I took that on, and I don't regret it at all, but I want to educate others, and help them understand WHY buying from back yard breeders and puppy mills is NOT ok, it is NOT saving a life...it is putting money in the hands of scummy people to continue to do what they are doing, which is essentially neglecting, and causing harm to the animals in their care, and the future animals they breed.

This is Sophie's first day in her new life...overweight, panting, matted, and dirty

Update on me! Gosh, again, my Mom is SUCH a computer hog!

It's been a busy few months for me and my mom. We celebrated her 22nd Birthday on Halloween. She got in a car accident 2 days after so she spent a lot of time home with me...and THEN she left me over Thanksgiving! She went to Auntie Carolyn's house and didn't take me along, something about not fitting in an "in-cabin bag" whatever that is?!



During November mom bought me footy jammies to keep me from chewing on my foot. Auntie Erika was really nice and made a matching collar! I'm not at all happy about the jammies, but i always love a new collar!


After she got back from Auntie Carolyn's, she found out that i had a terrible ear infection again. She took me to a new vet, and told him she was considering surgery at this point. He gave us another option, and we're so excited, because it is working. My new vet diagnosed me with allergies, and gave me some medicine to help. He put me on an oral antihistamine called Hydroxyzine, and an ear flush called TrizULTRA plus Ketoconazole Flush and told mom to keep putting in the Otomax, and my ears are looking great, and feeling SO much better... mommy and i are SO happy!

Then last month we were getting ready for Christmas. I got some cool new stuff, and mom got clippers.... I'm not so happy about that...hmph! Auntie MJ bought me a pretty Bandanna from Cindy and Oliver! Auntie Peggy took pretty Christmas pictures of me for a rescue fundraiser too! How cool is that!





Look what Santa Paws brought me!!!

Gosh, my mom is a terrible computer hog! She never lets me on here!

Anyways! I had a birthday while I was gone, I'm 7 now! I had a birthday party with my doggie friends at In-N-Out (My FAVORITE place to eat!) and I got all kinds of presents! My mom even made me a Birthday Cake!!!





Last month someone came to visit me! .... It was my Auntie Carolyn! Mom said something about her coming here for Disneyland, and a Cruise, but I know she came down to visit me!

Mom says she's very proud of me, instead of getting lazier as I age, I'm getting more active! I like to chase Tennis Balls now. I even run for them at the dog park! I've been playing with other dogs sometimes too! It's kinda fun... when i'm in the mood.





Some sadder news to report. Mom says if my ears don't get better by the end of the year, she's going to start fundraising for an ablation on my right ear. She says she doesn't want to do it, but she thinks it will make me feel better. It sounds a little scary, but my mom wouldn't do anything to hurt me.




I've been having a very fun summer! Bye For NOW!!!!!

Sophie

My mom groomed me today... she said I smelled! I was perfectly content smelling like myself! She brushed me, which I hate; she bathed me, which I hate; she blow dried me, which i love; and she cleaned my ears, which I really REALLY hate! She washed all my stuff too... I had just gotten some good doggie smell on it too!

Oh well, I guess she's right, I DO look very pretty!

My mom has also been trying to make me ring this stupid bell to go in the house! I wish she'd stop trying to train me to do things!!! I'm a diva, and am perfect the way I am.