The Weekend Ahead

We have a weekend guest.  Riley has come to stay with us until Sunday while her foster home is out of town.   You may recall that she had her first surgery a few weeks ago.  She is doing wonderfully!!  The foster home that is now caring for her is doing an amazing job!  Riley is unable to walk without assistance, so she is walked with a sling to help keep her balanced and to not allow any extra weight on her knee that is still healing.

Riley will be easy enough to care for this weekend because she has to remain confined.  Although she lets us know she's unhappy about the accommodations, her complaints are falling on mostly deaf ears--Well, we may be deaf by the end of the weekend because she can really voice her objections!  It's times like this that you just wish you could explain to them that there's a bigger plan in motion, that this is only temporary and they'll be okay.

 But since we can't do that, we're letting the 'calming medications' do the talking for us.

Tonight in Virginia, there will be two events.  The first, is the prediction of our first frost.  The other is being able to see the Orionid Meteors in the early morning hours of Saturday.  It was reported on the evening news that we should be able to see a dozen or more meteors per hour as the Earth passes through dust left by Halley's Comet.  Because we have a crescent moon, it'll be easier to see meteors...at least that's what they're saying...We'll see.

Enjoy your weekend,  

and the colors of Fall!

Update on a Girl Named Riley

Our weather here in northern Virginia could not be better this weekend with warm temps and lots of sun!  The day started out with a beautiful mist on the field next to us, and my having breakfast with two friends.  Carl is mowing for what we hope will be the last time this season.  The dogs have been outside soaking up the sun too.  The only thing keeping me inside are the mass of stink-bugs covering the side of our house and buzzing all around.  The good and bad of this time of year.

I thought I'd give you an update on Riley.  You'll recall that she's the golden that came to us and needed extensive knee surgery.  Riley had her first surgery on Thursday, and below is the update that I received from her foster home.  It's pretty good news, and I continue to be grateful that she's able to have the surgery and a chance at a healthy, active life. Here is a portion of the e-mail from the foster home:    

"I spoke to Dr Walker earlier today, he said Riley's knee was one of the worst he's ever seen.  Her condition was allowed to go on so long that the "fix" wasn't able to be 100%.  If she had come in earlier, there was a chance that surgery would have made her "normal" but as it is now, we're settling for a compromise. 

The malformation of the tibia was so much that he had to do three cuts instead of one, and the groove in the front of the knee where the tendon is now laying is very deep, a little more than expected.  Riley's patella is now back in place and her foot placement is 80% better but there was no way to make it 100% better because of what she had to work with.  The pain Riley will  feel is not so much what they did to her bones, it's the stretching of the muscles in ways they haven't stretched before."

I hope you will all send good thoughts and prayers for Riley as she begins this new chapter in her life.  She has one more surgery just like this one and a long, hard road to travel, and extensive rehabilitation which won't be easy for her, but it'll be worth it!

I hope you're having a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!    

Riley and a Road Trip

The week is off to a running start.  Carl and I are leaving on Wednesday to go to Tennessee for a couple of days.  We visited there in March and we decided that we wanted to come back when it was better weather and maybe enjoy a few fall colors.  I'm not sure about the colors, but I think that the weather will definitely be better.  You may recall that our friends have a Llama farm, and they've had a couple of new additions born since our last trip. I'm looking forward to getting out of town for a few days and recharging my inner batteries.

We've also had another 'subtraction' in our household as Riley has been placed in a new foster home.  The rescue has decided to go forward with the surgeries, and her first one will be next Wednesday!  I was a little sad to see Riley leave us, but I am so excited for her and that she's going to get the chance at an active and pain-free life!  The foster home that has taken her, is the board member that also attended the evaluation with the orthopedic surgeon.  I have known her for more than 10 years and she has cared for several dogs with complicated recoveries, and there is no doubt that she will be able to handle Riley with no problem--She also lives close to the vet hospital where Riley will be having her surgeries and doing her rehab; it could not work out any more perfectly!

I hope you're having a perfect week too!!  

Update on Our New Girl Riley

Riley was taken to see the orthopedic surgeon, who by the way is the same one who did surgeries on Hamlet, our boy Josh and Sheba too. There was a lot to digest and I'm thankful that a board member from the rescue attended with me to try and remember everything.  

Riley has, 'Grade 4 Medial Patellar Luxation.'  She was likely born with compromised knee joints so this wasn't from an accident.  What we're seeing today is a result of tendons being too tight, that has caused her knee caps to move to the inside of her legs, causing her legs to draw up.  Over time, the quadrecep (muscle of the thigh most responsible for walking) has tightened up and the tibia bone in the lower leg has become warped. The good news is, is that she's not in any pain, and surgery can be done to try and fix it.

The bad news is, is that it'll be 4 procedures done in two surgeries, and 6 to 8 months recovery at the very least. The key to success with these surgeries will be the months of physical therapy afterwards.  This includes an underwater treadmill, cold laser therapy, passive stretching, etc.  Dr Walker (surgeon) said that if the commitment can't be done to do the therapy, there's no use in doing the surgery.  It's critical because the muscles need to be stretched and re-trained.  As I said, it was a lot to digest.  

~Riley during the 'dirt debacle' on Saturday~

I spoke to the board member afterwards about everything.  I had to be honest with her and tell her that I feel stretched pretty thin these days.  I don't know that I have the time to be able to give Riley all that she will need.  I feel like it's her one chance to have a good healthy and active life, and I don't want to short-change her.  Of course I feel guilty, but this isn't about me, it's about giving Riley all the time and the dedication she deserves.  I'm hopeful that the board member understood.  

Finally, some of you asked about where the money will come from to pay for Riley's surgeries.  When we bring dogs into our home, we pay for all their food, etc.  But anything beyond that, like these surgeries, the rescue will pay for. The rescue that I work with is a large 5 state rescue that has generous donors and vets who give the rescue a discount for treatment.  Riley will be no exception.  The surgeon has offered to discount his service, and all of her physical therapy will be discounted as well.  (The rescues total cost for Riley will be around $10,000)

Riley has settled in nicely here.  But I do think that she will and should be moved to another foster home.  But until the Board of Directors of the rescue decides what to do, and who should take her, she'll be just fine here, living in the 'group home!'  

~In Our Yard on Sunday~

The Arrival of a Girl Named Riley

~Toby celebrating the return of the internet! ~

As you can see, our internet (and our land-line) have been repaired and I can once again step away from my world and take a peak into yours.  I've really missed reading about what you're up to and I look forward to catching up!  

It has been a busy few days and there has been a lot going on.  I was asked by the rescue on Friday if I would consider taking a new foster dog.  I have to be honest and say that I've really been trying to cut down on our expenses and decided to not take in another dog.  I'd received a mass e-mail from the rescue earlier in the week asking all the foster homes to consider taking an eight year old girl named Riley.  What first caught my attention was her having what could be considered a 'boy name' like our beloved Rudi, and Reggie.  But Riley had some 'special needs.' And as I read the e-mail about her, knowing foster homes are at a premium, I remember hoping that the rescue would be able to find a place for her.  I then forgot about Riley until I was asked specifically if I would consider taking her.  Not being able to say no of course I agreed.

Riley's story is of course a bit of a sad one.  Her family lost their home.  Unable to care for her, and unable to take her to the apartment that they were moving to, they contacted the rescue. Times were really difficult for this family, and another dog that they had, a Papillon died from heart-worm.  Riley had not been to the vet since 2007.

~This is how Riley stands~

Among some other issues, Riley is handicapped.  She is lame in her hind-limbs.  As you can see in the picture, she has a slumped posture and is unable to fully extend her back legs, walk or stand normally, and can't even be taken for a walk.  Stairs are very difficult.  Riley needed a home that was easy to navigate inside and out and on one level, a house like ours. I picked her up last night, and she's a nervous wreck.  She is pacing and panting and is so confused by what is happening to her that she won't settle down or eat, and has barely paid attention to the other dogs.  It's times like this that I wish I could just tell her that she's going to be okay.  But all I can do is give her lots of reassurance that hopefully she'll soon understand.

At the moment, Riley does not have a lot of 'outer beauty'  like Sheba or Reggie.  She has a severe overbite and because of the poor condition of her coat, she was shaved down completely.  Her eyes and face are full of worry.  However despite what's on the outside, I'm finding is that she has a kind heart and gentle personality.  For some reason, I'm finding myself humbled by her this morning.  I am hoping that the rescue will allow her to be seen by an orthopedic surgeon to see if anything can be done to help her.  I am hoping that I can make a difference for a girl named Riley.

~Riley~