Enough is Enough!!
 

I came across this and thought this was just plain cruel.This poor Yorkie is so sick that they say he can hardly walk and that even with surgery he won't live past 2 years. At what point do you say enough is enough. Why put him through so much pain and misery. I think putting this little guy to sleep would be the right thing to do. how sad.

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=6594624


Michelle:thumbdown

That's heartbreaking

I think a little pup with hydrocephalus is a very sad situation - and it's true that they usually don't live beyond two years or so.

The surgery they are talking about is probably a "shunt" so that the fluid can be drained.

Toy breeds like our little Yorkies are often affected with this - and some cases are more severe than others. But, this poor little guy's gait is affected, so he has a somewhat severe case.

And - to make matters worse, these little dogs are usually mentally handicapped as well - They can learn anything very easily with things like potty training being even more difficult than usual.

And to make matters worse, sometimes the surgery isn't successful.

Yes - I think this is sad - even though the poor little guy has a very serious condition - I doubt he is in any pain. And, such a sweet little thing he is. It would break my heart to put him to sleep.

If the surgery didn't cost so much - I wouldn't put him to sleep. I would try to keep him happy and comfortable for as long as I could. But, given the cost of the surgery and everything else involved, it is probably what will end up being done.

It's a sad story.....


Carol Jean


Carol Jean

Oh no! How sad. :( Now I'm upset, why did you have to show me that? :( (that was said in a non-sarcastic way ;) )

So are they saying that the adopter has to be willing to pay $6,000 for surgury, will the rescue pay and give him surgury, or if he doesn't get adopted (for someone to pay his bills) he'll be put to sleep? I'm confused. Thanks!

I visited the website and read as carefully as I could. I think the little dog has already had his surgery - and they are looking for someone to adopt him now.

It's interesting - they take donations for all the medical bills they pay for their Yorkies (and a lot of people do donate). And then they charge adoption fees - which help pay some of their expenses also.

So I think the people who adopt the dogs pay only what the adoption fees are. And, they vary somewhat. I think that actually some of the younger, healthier dog's fees are higher than the fees for the older less healthy dogs.

With that being said - if I didn't already have a house full of pets - and if I didn't work - I would take this little guy in a jack minute. I hope he goes to a wonderful home and is loved and pampered every day the rest of his life. He is really a darling little dog. And, he isn't in a lot of pain. He just can't get around very well at all - and as they said, he probably won't live a very long life. But he does deserve all the life and love he can get.


Carol Jean

I feel like if a dog's way of life is diminished then they are in some way suffering. When a dog can't get up and go play and just be a dog then at what point do you say enough is enough. He may not be in physical pain but the fact that he can't get up and run and play has got to be torture. I think a lot of times when it comes to this kind of thing we often don't think of the dog but more about how we will feel afterwards. I know if this was my dog I would have to put him to sleep. You know things will get worse for him it is just a given. I guess my way of thinking is different from many. I think he would be much happier running around in heaven than laying here for 2 years. JMO

Michelle

That is so sad, and I can see both sides of the argument. He is alive so he should have the best care possible. On the other hand, had they let him die when he was born he would not have to be so sad and frustrated.

He needs to go to a home where someone has the time and patience to just hold him all day long.

That is sad. I would probably have the surgery and hope for the best.

My philosophy is and always will be - if the animal is not suffering and in constant pain then I will do everything in my power to give the animal the best life it can possibly have while it is alive on this earth. I view animals like humans and we are not all born perfect and each person and animal has value while they are alive. They all can teach us something. I would not put down an animal just because it is old the same as my mother.

When it comes to adoption fee's and each organization is different but you are not paying for an individual dog but to support all rescue's that come through their program.


Adoption Fees

Our adoption fees are based on the age, size, health and temperament of the dog and can range from $50 - $750. A fellow rescue group wrote the following which sums it up for all rescue groups:

Recently someone asked, "Why would you charge $500 for a rescue pet? Why not just place it in a good home?" The answer is because we need adopters who are willing to support all rescue pets, not just the dog they adopt. A young, healthy dog might cost us $150-400 in vet care, and many people will want to adopt it. An older one with health issues can easily cost $500-1500 in veterinary expenses, and it may require months of foster care for rehabilitation; yet we can only ask a minimal adoption fee, and it may be a long time until anyone comes forward to adopt it. Fees from the younger, more adoptable dogs help offset the cost of caring for the others. Most of our dogs have a sad story to tell, and some have suffered through years of neglect or abuse. We hope that you too are willing to give an opportunity for a better life to ALL of our dogs by supporting them through adoption fees. Without these funds, our rescue efforts would not be possible."

Thats just it this little guy isn't old. Oh well we will never agree on this topic. I love my little guy like crazy but I would never subject him to all the test and so on that can come with something like this. We aren't talking about a broken leg, allergies, or something that is treatable that will allow him to live a complete normal life. My grandmother just recently had to put her dog down because he was so old that he was having complications. She loved that dog to pieces. She like many here said she would do all she could for her previous poodles. She spent a ton of money on her last 2 poodles to keep them going. Finally the vet said you really shouldn't be doing this.They were 13 and 14. When her last dog got really frail she swore she would never put him through what the others went through. TO me that is doing what is best for the dog.

Michelle

i dont think this pup should be pts he isnt in pain and as for not being able to run and play he has never been able to so he knows no different he might get a bit fed up that his legs dont work as well as he wants them to but he sounds as happy as he can be and as he is a little slow as well he wont think the same way as a normal dog would, tye and zac were starved of o2 when they were born zac more so and he has problems with learning things ie potting training took years and years but he is the happiest dog i know always wagging his tail though he cant play ball or other games like that as he dont understand them he has his own games he likes to play like blowing raspberries on his tummy or blowing in his face he thinks is really funny and saying ba ba boo in his face, also annie isnt the type of dog who likes to run about and play she would much rather be cuddled and carried about and only likes the same type of games as zac and there is nothing wrong with her. i say if this dog isnt in pain and people make games up that he can enjoy and hes happy then just make sure that he has the best life possible untill he gets to the point were he is in pain or is unhappy. bless him id take him in if i could.

That's so sweet that you would take him. I honestly would get attached, and two years wouldn't be enough for me. :( I know I shouldn't think of it that way, I just can't help it. :(

That is extremely sad and heartbreaking. I am at a loss for words. I am just sad for his situation

I just couldn't put this little guy to sleep.

The notice on PuppyFind said that "he is alert, barks, gives kisses and is just as cute as can be, his brain doesn't know how to tell his body to work so Petie can't walk real well". (He can get around a little -- but not very well.)

His quality of life is all that he has ever known. I'm sure he has adjusted to this and is able to enjoy life very much - and he is certainly capable of being loved and loving back.

I was thinking that even though he doesn't get around well - he certainly could be put in a carrier and go many places. And, he can have different places to lie down around the house where he can always be with people.
(When my dog was a pup - I had a bed in almost every room -so that he could be where I was.) And, he probably lies around and sleeps a lot - but all of our dogs do this.

This little guy has already had his surgery - and I don't think there is a lot of testing that he needs to go through in the future. At this point, I am hoping that someone with a kind (and very strong heart) will take him home and enjoy the rest of his life with him. I am sure whoever does this will feel that they have been given as much from him as they gave to him. I honestly feel that it would be a privilege to take care of this little guy. I really wish I could.

****** I have had to put pets to sleep before. My dear cat that was 14 years old and getting thinner and thinner and finally couldn't eat..... and my favorite dog of my life because of an injury. I know there are times when this is the kindest thing to do - and we all know it is heartbreaking and not an easy thing to do.

I just don't think this little pup needs to be put to sleep. His ability to get around has been compromised, and he may live only a few years, but he is certainly capable of being loved and kept comfortable during that time. And, most of all, I know he will give a lot of love and happiness back to any person who takes him home. He has a lot to offer whoever chooses to share his life with him.

-------------------

With all the experience I have had in medicine, I can't tell you how many babies are born with hydrocephalus (the same problem this little pup has). And these little babies all had to have the same operation the pup had (a shunt placement). Also these babies often have diminished mental capacities and gait and other problems. It would never enter anyone's mind that they shouldn't live as long and as comfortable a life as possible to its fullest extent.

This isn't a pet that is old and sick and in pain. It is a young little puppy that was born with what I would call a handicap - and, unfortunately, because of it, he can't live as long as other dogs do. I still wish I could take him. I would.

Carol Jean

Go get him Carol! :happyboun :D

Wish I could BabyFidgette!!!!

I work - have two dogs - and don't have a fenced yard (which shouldn't matter in this case).

But - he needs to be with a stay-at-home mom. Don't you agree?


Carol Jean

"!My philosophy is and always will be - if the animal is not suffering and in constant pain then I will do everything in my power to give the animal the best life it can possibly have while it is alive on this earth. I view animals like humans and we are not all born perfect and each person and animal has value while they are alive. They all can teach us something. I would not put down an animal just because it is old the same as my mother."

You do not put a child to sleep just because its handicapped,you love and cherish them as special people,so we should do what we can to make what time they have quality time,if its a child,dog, even a hamster!!!! We can so we should.

Well I love my dog to death. But you can not compare an animal with a child. I would do everything I could to help my own dog IF that meant he would lead a FULL and NORMAL life. If not then yes I would have my dog put to sleep. As for my child that is totally different.My child has been close to death before. Of course we did everything we could. When it comes to animals sometimes when you do all you can they end up suffering more . You just can not compare an animal and a child....

Michelle

i guess it depends on what you call a full and normal life? my zac has a full and normal life as its all he knows as with this dog its all he knows, also should dogs who are disabled blind or deaf be pts as they dont have a normal life compared to hearing seeing walking dogs no i dont think so. as long as they are happy not in pain all dogs have a right to live but yes i do think some people keep dogs alive more for there own benefit than the dogs sometimes.

Oh, yeah. You're right. :( He would have had such a loving home with you. (sigh) And then we could have heard updates.

Yes - we keep a lot of pets that live far less than a full and normal life.

Birds in cages. Fish in tanks. Hamsters, lizards, mice, ferrets, hamsters, etc. etc. etc. And, we keep hundreds of animals in zoos. None of these animals live close to the way they would if they were living as they were meant to live.

I had a beautiful little Conure (a small parrot), and I often looked at him and felt sorry that he couldn't soar through the heavens with a flock of 50 to 100 other Conures like himself somewhere in South America as he was meant to do. I think he would have enjoyed that more than being kept in a cage.

But, my little Conure was bred in captivity and born to be a pet. He never knew any different, and he bonded with me (he never knew one of his own kind), and he danced and sang (and even talked) and rode on my shoulder all over the house. He was happy, playful, and affectionate. He sang to welcome every new day and tucked his head beneath his wings while he slept every night. Even though he wasn't free and couldn't fly, he enjoyed being alive.

I am sure this little puppy, even though he can't get around very well (like my Conure who couldn't fly) could enjoy every day as long as he is comfortable and would enjoy loving and being love by whoever cares for him.

Remember dogs don't live in the past or in the future. They live in the now. So - everyday, this little puppy is comfortable and able to love and be loved is a special day and a special time for him. He doesn't think about what happened last week or last month, and he's not worried about tomorrow or next month or next year. I think it would be wrong to put him to sleep as long as he is comfortable - only because he is crippled and won't live more than a few years. His life is already going to be shortened -- why take what little he has left away from him?

Carol Jean

hear hear:)

Carol,you have stated my feelings on the subject very well.Cathy and Yoshi:thumbup:

All animals are brouhgt into this world with differences some are more apparent than others but that is what makes each pet so unique and special.Sometimes the the ones that have the most challenges can teach us so much in a positie way in that life is very precious and short.In giving back to a pet that has special needs is a joy in itself to help one to have the best life possible for his\her time on earth.Cathy and Yoshi

Bless his little heart.:(

YEs Bless this little boy and our prayers go out to him.