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05/12/18:
Hi, Scott. That was not a judgment, just a statement. You did tell us she has a severe heart murmur but is not on medicine for it, but Vetmedin is used for murmurs and for serious conditions such as congestive heart failure. She has ear infections, which we didn’t know. Thank you for sending the medication for that. Skin issues are common in Airedales, but we didn’t know about the large black patches on her. She also seems to have a urinary tract infection noted by Sue. Sue’s assessment was that she was in pain walking and getting up from lying down, so she called her vet and he ok’d giving her Tramadol. Sue’s vet is going to see her tomorrow and do a full check up. Her teeth are pretty bad but at her age and with a heart issue – murmur or CHF – anesthesia is a serious risk, as it would be with trying to remove the growths. We very much appreciate that you had her brought up to date and had her heart worm test performed. We knew, of course, that we were getting an elderly dog who had some health issues; I did not think you were dumping an unhealthy dog on us. Yes, you and Chrissy have obviously done right to get her to this age. No doubt.I am very happy that we have someone who wants her and will care for her for however long Darcie lives. She’s getting along great with Sue’s other dog. So all is well.
I’ll be happy to keep you updated as we go.
JackieOn May 12, 2018 at 3:37 PM Scott Gardner
Jackie,
I saw your post about Darcie and you saying she was not healthy, and that was upsetting. Darcie is healthy for her age. Our vet is very conservative and we have been using him for 7 years. He has not been concerned with the growths that Sue seemed worried about. When they appeared a couple of years ago we felt the risk of having her put to sleep to remove them was worse than her having them. She also mentioned her teeth being cleaned, vet has not mentioned needing a cleaning until this last visit, again not sure at her age and heart condition that I would feel safe putting her to sleep for a teeth cleaning. Her heart murmur is bad (5 out of 6) and has been that way for the last 10 years. I feel we have done something right with her for her to have lived as long as she has. I really feel she has several good years to live. If you all feel we are trying to unload a unhealthy dog on someone I will be more than happy to go back and get her. She is a very happy dog and comes from a family that loves her very much.
ScottFrom Molly
He is such a sweet boy. He just hasn’t learned acceptable behavior. But he didn’t hurt Po so maybe he would have let her go if I hadn’t overreacted. He has all the Airedale power and tenacity and should have been taught manners when he was young. He does need someone knowledgeable enough to teach him now that he has a big boy body.05/12/18: Spoke to Lance today re what he thought about Karen and her training advice:
Going through clicker training and establishing rapport. She’s a very smart dog. She’s responding well. She still hasn’t warmed up to Afton but she’s not growling issues. They changed. She was eating privately but in a little space in the bathroom but moved it to a different place that more enclosed. She likes that. She is more comfortable because in the other room she would eat till it was gone then leave. Or she’d rush out and come find him and lick and then go back. She eats a little and then lie around and half an hour later she’ll eat more. Also when Afton walks up to her and pet her and he gets close, if she changes her body position maybe lying on one side or turn away, he’s accepting that as an acceptable way to communicate that she doesn’t want him near or that close. He steps in to make her feel better, he invites her to go to the bedroom or get some distance. Low level rewarding for not growling but to move herself.He found that Karen sent an email in his spam folder to do another visit. They want to walk. Used to walk with a purpose and his German manner had to have dog at his leg. Let her meander, walk more slowly so she doesn’t feel like she’s stalking. He is using the transitional and also uses another one that he made. The end of it is carabineer and a knot to tie and slide the leash and can wear it around his waist.
He plans to schedule another visit from Karen, but he’s out of town this coming week. I told him we’d pay for the next visit and evaluate from there.
05/12/18: Tracey & Rob have applied for a SOAR dog, either Della or Denise, a bonded pair. They don’t want both. I gave them a good review with Brad Ruth of SOAR.
05/12/18: Sue picked up Darcie from Scott and his 13-y-o daughter, neither of whom appeared to be sad about losing her.
Convo with Sue:
She’s not in great shape
Scott gave her a whole box of crap OTC stuff glucosamine chewsShe’s walking around In back yard
Definitely has hip arthritis issues and needs to be on something for pain gabapentin or tramadol
Never had her teeth cleaned
Lot of skin problems
Box of dry kibbleThey’ll feed Good food Blue Wilderness and maybe Omega 3
Talked about she gets bloody diarrhea. Falls a lot. She’s in pain.
She has black welts over her body, like you get on your heels. Callouses?Sue will take her to the vet and have senior blood work done.
Jackie Cash | 901-438-5782
http://www.airedalerescuegroup.com
Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/airedalerescuegroup05/12/18: Sue has Darcie and is heading back to Roswell.
JMC has committed continuing medical care coverage for Darcie and no adoption fee because of her age. I will send a contract for Zero $.05/08/18: I spoke to Margaret (also known as Maread – pronounced like parade – the Irish version of Margaret). She sounds much older than her 61 years. It has been many years since she had an Airedale, approx 7 years or so. She had Seamus who had thyroid cancer but did pretty well until he got older and started having seizures. One day he just started bleeding and they had to take him in and have him put down. Flower, the terrier mix from the shelter, pined for him, so they got an Airedale puppy from breeder in AR. Rosie was a wonderful dog. She too began having seizures and had to be put down at 12.
Margaret is a realtor and works some; husband is retired and home all the time. They saw the FB post for Darcie and she just spoke to them. They are not interested in Maggie because she’s too young for them.
They live in a zero-lot home and had a grassy area that was small. But when her daughter and her husband and their Labradoodle lived with them for a while, the dog destroyed the grass. So they’ve installed decking and there is no grass. They live in a community that has dog parks within its boundaries but they don’t have a yard. Thus, they want an older dog that doesn’t need to be walked.
I told them we’d go ahead with a home visit. They’re not in a hurry, but to get them approved, we should go ahead with it.
They want a senior dog only.
05/06/18: Susan Mioduser is interested in Darcie. (See her post) She wanted to make sure the stairs in their house (2 sets 7 each) to go inside and out would not be a problem for Darcie.
JMC spoke to Scott Gardner and he said she goes up and down their front steps with no problem unless they’re wet. If the stairs are carpeted, she’ll do fine. She walks up their steep driveway a little slowly, but she does it regularly.
I told him about Susan and he said he could probably arrange to take off work and meet her half-way between Atlanta and Bham.
05/06/18: Susan Mioduser from Atlanta is interested in Darcie. (Susan has helped rescue many times.)
Put a call in to Chrissy to see if Darcie can handle stairs. Susan’s home is split level. They live upstairs. To take her out she would have to go down stairs – 2 sets of 7 steps.
Address:
1080 Taylor Oaks Dr., Roswell, GA 30076Got an Airedale when she was 11. Her mom got an Airedale in the late 60s. Got an Airedale puppy. Last Oct she was nearly 15. Got her from breeder in AL. She was having arthritis in back legs. They have stairs. They did acupuncture and they had insurance. Vet came to the house. Katie was a prima donna. All girl. She communicated and what she knew – she had been in this life before. Loved makeup, lipstick. Had thyroid problem. Urinary problem – embedded vulva, so urine would go retrograde. Had a mass on her chest got removed. Woke up that morning and she knew this was it.
She works at home all the time. They have stairs. Split level to go up to living area. 2 sets of 7 stairs. They didn’t walk Katie at the end bc she got so tired. They would walk 2 houses and back. She has another dog – border terrier mix. She’s 12. She tends to be alpha but not aggressive at all. Fenced in yard. Must go upstairs. My-O-dissur. Polish. Grandfather came here.
05/07/18 JMC spoke with Karen – notes:
They were receptive. But it’s tricky. Not a good read on the family. Felt kind of stilted in a way. Usually she has a really good flow. When it’s not really flowing, you just got to sit with it and try to figure out what’s happening. Very self-conscious about the child. Wife was present. When you don’t know what’s going on between spouses, you’re clueless. Substantial space btw the two of them. Their boy has big time issues – lots of denial. Asheville has its own kind of pseudo-sophisticated hippy vibe. People don’t talk about these things. Child has meltdowns. The parents don’t yell back but you can feel your guts and your heart restricting. There’s that edge of control question. All toddlers have their screaming meltdowns.Lilly feels it. They accepted those facts. Coming to the realization that there are certain facts that are part of what’s going on. It’s a breakthrough. No denial. Lilly didn’t seem to be a threat to anyone. She was attentive, bright, eager, wanted to participate. Then conflict. Lilly knows she’s not an only child.
Had some matter of fact info sharing about critical development periods. Sent info to them. Yellow flag – he did apply the info and read through. Didn’t do as much of an accounting. He did not share with his wife what she sent. She was engaged when Karen was there. They have Changed where the food bowl was and didn’t know not to leave the food dish on the floor. Open to figuring out a better place and time to feed her. Wait till the kids were in bed before feeding.
No kids and dogs through doorway together. Agreed to put gate on front porch. Maybe a baby gate in the kitchen. Child’s floating is unstructured and everyone reacts to him.
Harness is better for her but couldn’t get a handle on whether they’re using it correctly.
———- Original Message ———-
From: karen comstock
To: Jackie Cash
Date: May 7, 2018 at 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: Assessment of rescued AiredaleOops correction: They aren’t using a Freedom Harness. They are using the head-halter/leash combo that Cindy trained and they report that she is never reactive when that is on during walks. I talked to them extensively about how to walk a dog to avoid conflicts and to prevent unconsciously initiating the predatory sequence.
On May 7, 2018, at 9:27 AM, karen comstock
Hi Jackie,
I had the phone consultation with Lance to establish some background and connection and to give initial instructions regarding management and leadership for Lilly. I met with the family on May 2nd for 2+ hours and sent support materials the next day. We discussed that I would make a follow-up call to answer any questions and check-in on progress. Priority for this family is providing separate space for Lilly during the times of day when the children are either at their most active or most emotional. Also paramount is that the family acknowledge that certain aspects of their home life are very stressful for Lilly because of the emotional outbursts of the children. Therefore, providing safe-haven for Lilly behind gates or in a quiet room is simply respectful and considerate so that she knows what to do when there are melt-downs from the little boy. We talked about the logistics of where to feel Lilly her meals and to put the food bowl away between meals rather than leave it out.
We also discussed that another house-call consultation for a neighborhood walk-about would be helpful to address any remaining leash reactivity.
The family is concerned about Lilly’s high-prey drive. They are already using a Freedom Harness but they aren’t taking advantage of the double attachment for better control. Further to their concerns about prey drive, the family is planning on fencing their front yard for more security.So, I’d like to send you a paypal invoice. Owed for the 1st visit is $130 as quoted. I can do the follow-up call + leash-walking lesson for $110.
Do you want me to bill that together? Or separately? The second call will be this week and the second session will be scheduled for early next week.If the family doesn’t make the changes I suggested or those changes don’t have the optimal results, I will talk to them about different calming tools like ThunderShirt, DAP collar.
I am confident that these few changes will make a big difference for Lilly and I am pretty sure I got through to the parents about common-sense handling of children and dogs. I think it is essential, though, that I see them again to make sure as the parents were difficult to read and Lilly showed stress signals each time the little boy appeared. Let me know what other information you would like from me. I am happy to talk on the phone too.
Karen Comstock MA CBCC CPDT
Aunt Karen’s Lucky Dogs
828-489-834405/04/18: No rabies tag. Wants another tag. Maybe his vet will issue one; if not he may be able to go back to the original folks and get one. Getting his HW and flea/tick preventative. Beau is his fifth Airedale. He’s built – solid and is 1-1/6 years old and will be a big boy. Very smart and listens to commands. He’s good with everything but “come.” Will ask vet for recommendations for trainer.
I told him what I believe about Tami Wahl and how she got Rory.
05/04/18: JMC spoke to Jill Moxley again on 05/02 and she said John would call Cindy to talk about Maggie.
Got this from Cindy 05/04/18:
Jackie,
I never heard from John. I will assume this was a whim or husband and wife not on same page on getting another dog.Cindy
04/30/18: Per Cindy:
Maggie has become a really good dog with structure and exercise.
I am sure her issues are her tendency toward over excitement and anxiety with new things . She is really not aggressive . She is inclined to be obedient when you are patient and consistent with her.Thanks
Cindy
