New additions to the ah Company/Family!

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 07:32:39 AM

OK while some may think this is off topic (and I guess it really could be!), it's really not! My sister & I drove a group of Special Olympians this past week end to Springfield, MO to compete. This is the second time we've carried this group from an organization called Crossroads. Well to make a long story short, while we were headed back to our hotel my sister saw a sign for "Lab Puppies 4 sale". Well I have been wanting a puppy for sometime now to replace our last dog Kumho who was known to roam before that disappeared a while back.
So we called the # and got directions and went and saw the puppies. Well I was hooked and had to have one! I have always really wanted a Chocolate Lab (I had black ones b4) & I really wanted a boy, but all the males were blonde (or yellow) and the females were all chocolate!
OK well I couldn't make up my mind, and my sister said you could get one of each then they'd have a playmate! OK big softy I am I bought one of each!
OK now as I said we were on a BUS trip, and had a bus load of Special Olympics competitors to transport home after the games. Well 2 things; #1 How do ya hide to curious pups from 42 curious "super special people"? And #2 What do ya name them?
Well my sister said "why not let the group help name them (I wanted Sampson & Dalila), but hey why not let the group feel important and let them suggest names and vote on it?
OK so we did just that and the names voted on the most were Kross & Rhodes (hence crossroads was the name of the group!LOL!).
So I introduce KROSS & RHODES! And their "New Dad!" As well as the group who named them!

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 07:37:21 AM

Here is Kross by himself!

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 07:38:40 AM

Here is my little sweetheart Rhodes! (don't let that sweet little innocent face fool you, she is the mischievious one! )

plyonsMC9 · June 02, 2009, 07:50:31 AM

Great story & Pics Knuckle.

Great way to start the day!

Kind Regards, Phil

RJ · June 02, 2009, 08:11:17 AM

BK -

Hopefully, when they get a little older, they'll visit the vet, otherwise you're gonna have a bunch of intersections!!

cody · June 02, 2009, 08:54:29 AM

Good looking shirt lol.

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 04:31:35 PM

Quote from: RJ

BK -

Hopefully, when they get a little older, they'll visit the vet, otherwise you're gonna have a bunch of intersections!!

Yes RJ they will be going to the VET and be society friendly pets!

BK

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 04:32:19 PM

Quote from: cody on June 02, 2009, 08:54:29 AM
Good looking shirt lol.

I thought you'd like that shirt! LOL!

BK

DaveG · June 02, 2009, 04:36:49 PM

Man, I thought we were gonna see the Setras!

Busted Knuckle · June 02, 2009, 04:46:51 PM

Quote from: DaveG on June 02, 2009, 04:36:49 PM
Man, I thought we were gonna see the Setras!

Dave you didn't pay enough attention! # 742 is the back drop for the group photo! (I show all my children off!)

BK

John316 · June 02, 2009, 06:35:50 PM

BK,

Those are GREAT looking dogs. I love labs. I think that they are some of the smartest, sweetest, best dogs out there.

God bless,

John

PADoug · June 02, 2009, 08:38:18 PM

Bryce!

Congrats! They are good looking pups! I understand about wanting to be a good "Daddy". I love my itty bitty dachshund. She's not much of a traveler though.

Just a thought...Since some very special people helped you name them, have you thought of some very special schooling for the pups so they could be "coach" dogs on some of these trips?

I'm a former Easter Seals Counselor, and I have two friends in the Educational field. I remember some discussion about Labs being trained for that sort of help, but that was twenty years ago. I could ask if they know of anything, but, I thought I'd mention it here first. I know that dogs are "employed" in nursing homes up here for visits to shut-ins.

I guess I should stop watching "Animal Planet". My apology, I'm just thinking you have a "golden" opportunity, no pun intended. See what happens when I stay up too late, I get these "WAGs".

Anyway, has anyone else heard of this kind of training? The dogs are supposed to be housedogs until they are "on duty" to provide comfort, support, and protection which comes naturally anyway. In any case, you have a pair of winners! Congrats again!

RJ · June 02, 2009, 09:57:26 PM

PADoug -

In answer to your question, yes, there are various groups around the country that train dogs to be "personal assistants" for developmentally disabled folk.

Since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) back in 1990, there has been a marked increase in their use.

We're all familiar with Guide Dogs for the blind, they've been around for years. Now dogs are used for hearing impaired and mobility impaired, just to name a couple others.

Those that are not used as blind guide dog are known as "service animals", and, for that matter, do not have to be dogs.

Here are some references:

http://www.equipforequality.org/resourcecenter/ada_serviceanimals.pdf

http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086158_train-service-animal.html

http://www.affluent.net/sara/

FWIW & HTH. . .

JohnEd · June 02, 2009, 11:14:36 PM

BK,

I had a Cocker for 16 years.....Bizy Bitch. She was my constant companion and slept under my arm every night. No fleas, ever. I have always been opposed to the neutering and spaying of MY pets. That is not to say I wanted any puppies, I don't. In Europe, I am told, and in Canada they do this differently. The spay is replaced with a "Uterine Hysterectomy" and the ovaries are retained(by the bitch). The point of this is that she will keep all of her natural hormones and NOT be plunged into post menopausal old age. Without the ovaries she gets bone loss and weight gain and loss of energy. Nobody notices these changes as they have never experienced the animal when it is intact. Trust me....there is a difference worth going for and an animal worth preserving. I had a hell of a time finding a vet that would do my surgery. I even called the vet that did Bizy and he was located in San Diego and I live in Orugun. He had retired and the new vet would not perform the surgery.

Found out that the operation WAS popular in the USA but it fell to being rarely done and most/none will do it today. The head professor at the Or. State Sch of Vet Med told me the op was not complicated and that it had been taught 20 years ago. Seems it takes 5 min longer to tie off the stuff and use sutures rather that an elect heat needle. I paid an extra $80 to have my current little girl operated on and the vet is 68, as the professor said he would be if I ever found one. My next move would have been to start looking in Canada.

Bizy left three spots in the bed that were smaller than a dime and she was not odorous in any way in her entire life. Without the uterus there is no "flow" either.

My males are fixed with a vasectomy.

Yes they do couple and I have to ignore that but that is a small price to pay for their energy and spirit.

YMMV but this sure works for me. I wish you the absolute best of luck with your new companions and many many years of joy.

Your fellow dog lover,

John

JohnEd · June 03, 2009, 03:28:29 PM

BK,

To answer your question in the thread that has dissapeared or seems to have: The operation is called a "uterine historectomy" or "uterine spay". Maybe both are correct. In a Bitch, the ovaries aren't separate orbs as in women. For them the ovaries are attached and integrated to the uteris. To preserve them they need to retain their blood supply and be cauterized. The surgery is delicate but then all surgery is that but further it is slightly more complicated. Often additional and more varied anesthetics are called for and that adds considerable cost to the surgery if they ar needed. My vet refunded me $250 because it took less time and he used fewer drugs than his worst case estimate and he quoted his worst case unbeknownst to me. His surgery is completely self contained in a sealed glass room and it "rents" by the minute and he has three staff assistants. When was the last time a Dr. gave you a substantial rebate? Along those line I have only heard of a single attorney that rebaited retainer fees and I drank with around fifty of them for years and I speak with authority.

I think you will have to search for a Vet....I sure did. Not wishing you bad luck now.

If you meet with no success in your area try Canada. They are closer to European ethic and morals and are known for quality work. At least according to Pre owners I have met, not to mention MCI guys. The surgery takes less than an hour and the girl will be returned to you under the influence of a light tranq. Your care is to keep her quiet for 5 days.....no ball retrieving.

My girl went NUTS.

Good luck BK and keep me updated,

John