Sun, 16 May 1999 19:37:02 EDT - from Susan

OK, I'm between Scarlett and Molly (like in Ringwold the red-headed actress) for a name. I'll be at the shelter at 8 a.m. I'll meet my vet at 8:30 a.m.

My vet is great ~ they're actually a husband and wife team. I found them when I was looking for a vet to neuter Rusty (Carla's little boy) and work with IMPS on prices. The other two vets that I had dealt with my girls were a bit elitist and wouldn't budge on price. When the Scotts agreed to help IMPS, they became the vets for the girls also. I figured it would only be right to give them the ability to charge me full price on my girls when asking for help on rescues. (Very profitable for them given Lexus' recent illness and the three physicals they had last month!) Anyway, I'll report in tomorrow once I know how we're going to proceed. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for Scarlett/Molly. Let's hope that we can do well by her and her pups.

Thanks for everyone's responses on this little girl. I know that given her particular medical situation that IMPS will be hard hit with vet costs even though the Scotts discount for IMPS. Any contributions for her care will be GREATLY appreciated. Also thanks to all who have agreed with my decision to "rescue" her ~ although I knew what my heart told me to do, I also realize that many might think that having a broken leg and being pregnant are too big of a responsibility to deal with ~ financially and otherwise. Certainly the shelter was amazed when I said that IMPS would take her. THANKS to all of you!

Susan

Mon, 17 May 1999 14:17:10 EDT - from Susan

Our little red angel is actually a chocolate angel, who I've now named Nestle (Hershey sounded like a boy's name). She was waiting for me this morning. What a pathetic site. She was shivering in the back of the cage holding her paw up (it's just dangling) and basically surrounded by wet papers and "the softies". I carefully lifter her out of the cage and placed her into my pet crate, and she tried to snuggle into the soft towel that I placed inside. I signed her out of that place (I couldn't even look around, it was so depressing) and took her to my vet. The shelter let me have her x-ray. Her leg is badly broken and will require surgery and a pin. This will more than likely negatively affect the puppies, so the vet is prepared to abort them if necessary and spay her while doing the leg repair. It's not my first choice. In a perfect world, they would all be fine, but we have to take care of "mom" and what's best for her is to have her leg repaired. Of course, at this point, I'm not sure if she is pregnant. The vet tech couldn't tell this morning whether she is or whether she just had a litter. Also, if she is pregnant, we don't know what affect being hit by a car had on the litter or the pain meds that she's on. There are a lot of question marks here, so I've put my faith in Dr. Scott to make the proper decisions. I'll probably know something late this afternoon. I called at noon and they were cleaning her up, but hadn't done any exam (they were swamped this morning). Most likely, she'll stay overnight and I'll pick her up at some point tomorrow.

Although I did not ask for an estimate of costs, I'm quite sure that this will hit the IMPS account pretty hard. She needs surgery, shots, heartworm test, fecal exam, either care for the pregnancy or spay, etc. Even discounted, this won't be inexpensive, but if you could see her, you'd see that she's worth every penny. For those interested in contributing to Nestle's cause, please make checks payable to Susan Lyons, IMPS Account and mail them to me at P.O. Box 770672, Naples, FL 34107. She, IMPS and I appreciate your kindness.

Many thanks!
Susan

Mon, 17 May 1999 17:27:06 EDT - from Susan

Nestle wasn't pregnant afterall. Apparently she has been and perhaps more than once. The vet will have more info for me tomorrow when I pick her up. She's severely dehydrated and needs proper nutrition. The vet guestimates her age to be about 5 yrs. old. She is heartworm negative, but has hookworm, so she's being treated for that. Her leg has been repaired and the vet feels that it had been broken for some time as fibrous tissue was forming around the break. This little girl needed us badly by the sounds of it.

She'll be ready to be picked up at the vet tomorrow morning. Vicki, we need to come up with a transportation plan as soon as we can.

Thanks all. I'll update again tomorrow when I have more concrete information.

Susan

Fri, 21 May 1999 09:52:03 EDT - from Nestle

<< .smoozin with the Bankers, eating McDonalds sleeping on the sofa and watching TV.....Ahhhh the good life....Pam N Friends>>

And it got even better, Auntie Pam. Last night, Mama and I slept in bed together. The other girls were in another bed and Mama and I had a spare room all to ourselves. I started out in the crate, but after an hour or so, I did my routine (the one that worked so well at 2:30 am the night before), so up I went into the cushy bed with the nice soft comforter. I fell asleep resting against Mama's chest and I stayed their ALL night long. I didn't MOVE. I knew I had a good thing going so I wasn't going to spoil it.

I had breakfast this morning, then Mama took me to the store and bought me a "Mad Dog" to play with. Now we're at work and I'm on a cushy pillow that Mama brought from home in a chair right next to her. Pretty soon I'll do the routine that I've learned so well and she'll put me in my favorite place ~ her lap. Boy am I smart or she' just one big mush over me. Probably a little of both.

Well, I'm going to catch a few winks before we really start working today. Bye.

Love,
Nestle

Fri, 21 May 1999 14:14:31 EDT - from Nestle

Whew! What a morning so far. Mama and I have been doing all kinds of work today. Busy, busy. Now, I'm going to take a nap for awhile ~ guess where??? :):):):):)

Mama told me that tomorrow morning she's going to take me to see Lonnie who's coming to Ft. Myers to transport me to Tampa where I'll meet my new mom, Vicki. I'm a bit scared, but I guess I'm excited too. I hope the new family likes me. I'll be a really good dog for them if they decide to make me part of their family. If not, Mama told me that she'd come get me and try to work something else out. I know she's really sad now because she doesn't want to let me go, but I know that she really can't keep me. She did what she could for me and I know I own a big piece of her heart. That'll always be mine, and I'll be lucky 'cause I'll also have a new family to love me. Who's better than me? :)

Thank you for being my ride tomorrow Auntie Lonnie, and I'll see you tomorrow new Mama, Vicki. I'll have all my wordly goods with me and would like to have a nice cushy place to sleep and a lap to lay in. I do need a little extra help right now because I'm still recovering and can't walk very well. I hope I won't be too much trouble. As Mama keeps telling me, I'm really worth the extra effort.

Off to sleep now. Bye.
Love,
Nestle

Sun, 23 May 1999 18:02:46 EDT - from Nestle

Well, I made it to Kissimmee on Saturday afternoon I really miss Mama Susan and I know she misses me it was hard to say goodbye.Aunt Lonnie picked me up from Mama Susan and brought me to my second Mama Vicki. She said I was beautiful and so sweet. We got to my new home and I was a little scared but after a while I started feeling right at home. I follow Mama Vicki everywhere she goes she takes my bed with her where ever she goes because she knows I want to be close to her. Mama Vicki say's I go pretty fast for only using three legs I like everyone here they all love on me so much. Mama Vicki told me I'll be going to see a doctor tomorrow about my eye's and then on Thursday to have stitches taken out. I got to sleep with Mama Vicki and Papa Jim I have been given both of them lots of kisses.
Well, mama Vicki say's it time for me to eat so I'll bark at all of you later. Mama Susan I. Love You and miss you hope your not to sad without me.
Mama Vicki will write tomorrow about my eye's.

Vicki,Shadow,Deke,Nestle
IMPS FL

Thu, 27 May 1999 17:15:51 EDT - from Vicki

Well, we are back from the vet. Nestle still has a long way to go. Her back leg is not broken or fractured but it is severely dislocated she will need to have a pin permanently place to align her ankle bone back in place. Her front leg is healing nicely she is starting to use it more.Dr.Bogan also found another mammory tumor that needs to be removed. And her teeth (what's left of them) and gum need a good cleaning.
Her estimated cost for everything was $1,124.52 but I sighed her up on a wellness plan that will run me $39.99 a month with that plan her estimated cost went down to $658.94. There is also a small chance the pin in her front leg won't work, then they would have to permanently place a pin there and the cost of that would be extreme.
But he said her leg is healing good and he doesn't suspect that to happen let's keep are fingers crossed. Nestle's care all together is going to reach over $1,200.00 and I know a lot of people think that it is crazy to spend that much money on a "dog" But, Nestle is worth it she has been thru so much. She deserves a chance she deserves to be loved and I am not giving up on her. We have decided to adopted Nestle She is already a part of our family. We are willing to take on the responsibility of care for her
I couldn't see anyone else caring for her (except Mama Susan of course) she is the most wonderful little girl she has won are hearts and we are willing to do what ever it takes to make her better We love her! Well, writing this is making me cry so I'll finish this up Nestle has a vet appointment in three weeks to look at her leg (X-rays) they will then set a date to do surgery they will do everything at one time.
I'll keep everyone posted on her progress.

Vicki,Shadow,Deke and Nestle
IMPS FL