[Bitsy]

You are welcome....I just wanted to suggest that you start a new thread for this where you can get more suggestions and expert opinions. Good luck and I'm so glad you did a rescue.

Originally Posted by tjwarder

Thank you Bitsy. Is there a definitive way to know for sure if she is in heat and if so, how far along? I am working on a Plan C (getting someone to come to the house) but it doesn't look promising. Plan B would be to either (b)(1) Board her at the vet or (b)(2) Have her spayed and boarded at the vet while we are gone. Boarding without spaying could have almost as much risk as the training school. Probably fewer dogs and more control there, but no guarantee. It would be 'easy' (logistically) to have the spay done and all her recovery at the vets, but it makes my heart hurt to just leave her, not know if she's okay, and not be there to reassure her afterwards. I don't know if she needs that, perhaps that would work well, but none of the options 'feel' right. Even being gone doesn't feel right, but it is unavoidable and it was better that we accepted her when we did rather than leaving her in a bad situation. Even though we love our local vet, and he has always provided competent and compassionate care for our previous (much larger) pets, I would like her to be seen by a vet who specializes in small breeds. A Dallas vet has been recommended here, and if we spay/board then I would want to have it done at his facility. Any other things I should consider? Sorry for so many words, I know you are not my priest, manicurist or bartender . I'm just very glad I happened to read this thread and realized that taking her to the obedience school (unspayed) was a very bad idea.