Saturday, August 17, 2013

A Dog Named Chase




He is the size of a deer. He has a seizure disorder, a broken ankle that was never fixed, he's missing half his teeth. His medication costs more than our monthly electric bill and has to be given every twelve hours, meaning either JB or I are up early each morning and have to plan ahead for his evening dose. He howls like a wolf several times a night, waking us from a sound night's sleep and he turns his head when we try to give him treats, even chicken. Until this week, he has refused to do his business while on a leash, requiring major planning whenever he is anywhere but in our fenced in backyard.

JB and I did not sign up for all this when I had a dream about a dog named Chase and then there he was on Petfinder, Chase, a six year old retired greyhound who was lucky to be rescued rather than put down. I do not like having a dog who must be on a leash when not in a fenced area because, we're told, he will hit 58 miles a hour in four strides and has no knowledge of traffic and no nose to find his way back home.

The howling has been almost the worse, but Chase's aloofness is the hardest of all. We have been trying to woo him with soft words, body rubs, cookies, comfort. Sometimes he will make eye contact but most often he barely moves. Sometimes he sleeps twenty three hours a day, at least four of those hours the effect of his seizure medication. He will not come when we call him, does not play, rarely wags his tail. Sometimes he just stands there, ignoring us. 

BUT.

Dear Chase,

We are noticing differences. We can see that you are trying. We are so happy that we've finally found cookies that excite you, that you come for them when we call you. We are so happy you like being scratched under your neck, and don't think we don't know that you are looking at us more; that you come in the den and stay with us each morning while we have our coffee. 

This week you traveled with us much more easily. Thank god your bathroom habits have become more flexible. We know you like routine and it's unfortunate you ended up with a family who gallivants more than stays settled. But we'll try to be your routine; us and your dog bed. 

You cannot continue to howl at night. A dog behaviorist has made suggestions and you do seem to be doing better. We can handle one howl a night until you figure out you don't need to howl at all. We know you lived in a crate 23 hours a day when you raced, and probably many other dogs howled too. We know you have not had a close relationship with a person or a family and that living in a house with people is totally foreign to you. We know that you have had to learn to live and cope in ways that we cannot even imagine. 

Yes we have wondered if we are the right placement for you. Yes the greyhound adoption agency would take you back without question. But no you are not at risk of being sent back. We want this to work.

And this week, for the first time, it seems like you want it to work too. We're glad.

Love from
us your family







28 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear that Chase is coming around even the tiniest bit. I guess it will take a long time with this dog. He just wasn't socialized. Now he acts more like a cat, being indifferent and all. I hope someday he learns to love and be loved.

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    1. We hope this too, Barbara. We hope it's two steps forward for every one step back :-)

      Love
      kj

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  2. I love you for this post and love you and JB so much for all that is behind the making of the post. The comment box I'm writing to you in is just opposite Stella's picture. Dear Stella. She opened your hearts so fully that there is room for Chase and those idiosyncrasies, and even more room for Chase to grow as your family member. Chase is really something, and so lucky to have you. He is beautiful. He is yours. You are beautiful. You are his. ♥♥♥

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    1. Thanks Lydia. What a nice comment to read first thing this morning. Chase is a handsome guy. Last night, after I wrote this post, he howled almost a dozen times throughout the night. Aaaargh! We are trying this and then that. It's a problem we have to solve because both JB and I wake up exhausted.

      Sigh...... :-)

      Love
      kj

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  3. What a wonderful and loving post, kj! Chase is such a beautiful creature of God; it is so sad that he had such a rough start in life. But if any Humans can help him, I'm sure it is you and JB! I echo Lydian's sentiments about your beauty, and the beauty of your relationship with Chase.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    desert.epiphanies@sasktel.net
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

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    1. Thanks rob. These racers have horrible lives and they are allowed to race only until age 6. 25,000 are retired each year and approximate 17,000 are rescued and hopefully adopted.

      We have our hands full with this guy; one day at a time!

      Love
      kj

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  4. Poor Chase! It's like he's a afraid if he even breathes wrong, it will all disappear. So glad he found you and is realizing (however slowly) that he can relax and enjoy!

    Are you loving those bionic knees?

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    1. Hi Cindi, I actually don't think chase is afraid. He seems more 'remote', kind of in his own world.

      My knee: !!! It is a process. It is very stiff and sometimes painful. Months still ahead for physical therapy. But each day is alittle better

      Thanks always for coming by

      Love
      kj

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  5. Oh my goodness I never thought I would find another dog like skip. If not for the breed he and chase could be twins! Skip had a fractured skull when I got him.whenever I took him for a walk in town people knew him as the crackhouse dog. it definitely made for some interesting strolls. Although there was only one altercation.It is taken four years but I have to say this year we have absolutely turned the corner and skip is quite possibly one of the best dogs I've ever loved. Im so happy that you JB and chase found each other. Hope your knee is doing well as is the rest of you! Thank you for this post it made me teary and that doesn't happen much.

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    1. Oh Zoe: I kind of like the idea of making you teary :-)

      So nice to hear about you and skip. So you understand! Last night was rough! It took our Stella a year to relax and I hope that happens with chase. The difference is that Stella tried really hard to do what we asked. Mr chase is oblivious :-) but we're all working on it

      My knee has begun chapter 2. I think there are about five chapters in this story :-)

      Have a great day, Zoe
      Love
      kj

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    2. So Kj, I came back to this entry because I went to bed early this evening in hopes of catching a bit more sleep and skip had one of his now very infrequent howling episodes... I remembered that one of the things we were told by an animal behaviorist was that being a pack animal he may be howling for his pack (which without rereading I think you suspected of Chase). Anyhow what she had said was that he might benefit from having something (or a couple of things) that smelled of another dog. So we got a blanket from our neighbors dog and traded a few toys with him...it worked...

      It seems that since that time an evening like tonight only happens when skip is ill. He has been having stomach issues and heaving all day (he has colitis periodically). It started by slowing down and then it finally faded out ...so it could have been just a natural occurrence, but I think the other dog smell had something to do with it ... also I don't know if it was because he was familiar with the other dog from when we went on walks??? Just thought it might help...good luck! Z~

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  6. If there were more people like you two in the world....... it would be a far better place. On the last photo of Chase I definitely can see that there is a bonding starting. I see it in his eyes. It takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of effort, but it will work. I know that for sure

    Wieneke

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    1. Wieneke, thank you for the confidence!!!! After last night I'm saying little prayers :-)

      I was glad to post these pictures if chase for you. Kisses to Bella

      Love
      kj

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  7. Kj,

    Please don't give up on Chase. You and I have special dogs that need us because most people would not put up with the stress. My Bella was stand offish for the first year, but now she knows I won't give up on her and she knows I love her and she shows me lots of love now. She is still afraid of thunder and so many things and we just take it one day at a time.
    Kisses to Chase, he needs lots and lots of kisses.
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks Annie. We won't give up. Bella is so lucky to have you. I know it hasn't always been easy. Chase is at my feet as I write this and clicking his satisfaction that I am rubbing his leg :-)

      Love
      kj

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  8. You have my respect for your compassion for a dog that might not ever be the pet you envisioned. Now that I'm dogless, I often comfort myself by remembering how much trouble and expense dogs can be when they're ill, especially now that vet prices have soared in a similar manner to MD prices.

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    1. Snow, I won't even admit how much we spend on chase's meds. We've been shocked by how much each month. We discovered Costco's pharmacy and that's cut the cost by a third

      Would you consider an older shelter dog, snow? So many older dogs deserve homes in their later years and I know you would give that. Plus I know you would so value their gratitude...

      Love
      kj

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  9. You have me in tears!!! I just cannot take a dog story.

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  10. I'm so glad he's settling in and doing better. Greys are such gentle, sweet creatures, but often skittish. Our old grey is now having regular seizures, which is so sad to see.

    Just a note - the top sped of a greyhound, at the top of their game, is 45 mph. And they can't all hit that. But it's true that they can run like the wind and will bolt if they see something chase-able. They have a sense of smell, it's just not nearly as good as their vision (being sight hounds, after all), so once they've covered some distance, they can get confused about where home is. And they will indeed run right out in front of a car. Before I knew to be careful, ours nearly dislocated my shoulder when he suddenly leapt after a squirrel.

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    1. cs, of course I had to check your facts about speed and it seems you are mostly right but not entirely :-)

      I am sorry to hear about your grey's seizures. That is so tough on the dog and the family. Chase's have been under control for almost six months, a huge blessing.

      I read your latest post last night. You could/should write a book!

      Love
      kj

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  11. it all takes patience doesn't it? Life, dogs, knees...we're always being challenged by wanting/expecting immediate results. And to have a stand offish dog with all the love you two have to give, how frustrating is that? but with patience and love, he will continue to come around. He can't forget 6 years of conditioning but it sounds like he is learning - slowly, tentatively, to trust you two. I'm glad.

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    1. Astute comments, Mim. We have the patience but we do need the sleep! Got to figure that one out .

      Guess where I had dinner last week? As good as before :-)

      Love
      kj

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  12. oh kj, i hope this works out for you guys. all i know is that some dogs, like our mia, hate to have their daily life disrupted. we found this out when we took her to the beach with us earlier this year. she seemed ok in the car, but when we arrived, she urinated in the house (something she hardly ever does unless stressed) and seemed very ill at ease the whole time. now when we go to the beach, we've since decided to leave her at home where she is most comfortable and have a wonderful dog sitter take care of her. i don't know if this is the case with chase, but as much as we love our mia and love to have her with us on vacation, we realize she is much better off at home in her known surroundings.

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    1. Hello Amanda! Same here: we've had a pet sitter stay with chase but the howling, so many pills, and his sometimes not eating has led us to a local kennel and he seems much more relaxed there; probably because he is so used to crates and other dogs.

      But he has to adjust to the house in Provincetown! We will all be spending increasing time there! That he will now pee when on a walk is a huge improvement.

      Been thinking of you. I owe you a snake comment-- yuck!

      Love :-)
      kj

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  13. All I see in this post is simply love... you will make it with Chase.. I can feel love is going to win x

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  14. I think Chase is going to make it, in your home. He is lucky that you have a good understanding for his background and needs, and as well his behaviors.
    How sad to think he lived in a crate for 23 hours a day.
    He does indeed look like a deer. There is something so sweet about this face.
    It really sounds like he is coming around abit, in very small steps.
    Brenda

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  15. I haven't visited in ages...but as always, I leave having smiled, even when reading 'heavy' stuff. I just wanted to say thank you for adopting Chase and for working with him and for treating him like an equal with feelings and intelligence. I am working with some kitties I got back from their homes...because their owners didn't want to work with them...makes me sad but more glad that they are now safe again with me and if there is a forever home out there for them, I must choose wisely and help make their golden years really golden...

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