I haven't been able to write about this.
This is the last photo I took of Chase, before we turned him over to a very kind man and his wife and their three greyhounds and one son, in a process called 'surrender.' They will foster Chase until another family wants him. They may end up keeping him as their own. We hope so.
That is what we did: we stopped trying and surrendered. My ego wants you to know I have never given up on a dog and never returned one. We did try.
Too many things didn't work: Chase began to howl several times a night. JB does not do well woken up like that every night. He hated going to Provincetown: he willed himself not to leave the house for up to 24-30 hours and he was traumatized being there even days afterward. Most days he slept most of the time and rarely got us to greet us. We weren't sure how much we mattered to him. His teeth are in bad shape and sometimes he wouldn't eat.
We got his seizures under control but sometimes he would startle or freeze and we sometimes noticed a thick siliva from his mouth. We really questioned, and maybe still do, a head injury as a result of a known collision on the racetrack. He needed five pills two times a day, we arranged an animal communicator to 'talk' with Chase; she told us he is in too much pain to care much about us.
He stopped going on walks. He was not happy. Nor were we.
We are relieved. That's the truth. I try not to think about Chase too much right now. We've talked to the very nice man about once a week and he tells us Chase is doing great. He says and we agree that he needs to be with other dogs. A highlight of life at the track was greyhounds together as a family, even though they were probably in crates a good deal of the time.
He told us last week that Chase has just been diagnosed with Cups disease; horrible inflamation and infection in his mouth. All his teeth will be removed next week.
We feel terrible about that. The very nice man says he has seen greyhounds without teeth before and that Chase will be fine.
JB is not ready for another dog. Probably I'm not either. In time, that will change. I have vowed to do my part in rescuing dogs as much as I can in life. It's tough to admit that we were not able or willing to do what Chase needed. But it's the truth. He is back with his greyhound family and we are glad for that.
Love
kj
Not everything we want, or try, actually works. You gave Chase a wonderful loving, home, but it was not the kind of home he needed. I'm glad he's where he seems to fit in better. I'm glad you could surrender him.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Thank you for a comforting comment, rob. What you said is how we want to feel
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kj
A difficult decision, but really what was best for you guys and for Chase. I hope when you are ready you are able to find and help a dog with fewer problems.
ReplyDeleteThanks, cs. He'll , Stella had a bucket of problems. But we were able to work with her through them. Chase and some of our core needs just couldn't mesh. It was hard to admit. :-(
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kj
After seeing my last three dogs grow old and/or sick and slowly deteriorate, I'm not ready for another dog either, and I don't know if I'll ever be.
ReplyDeleteSnow , so many dogs need and deserve homes. I don 't think we could or would have let chase go if he wasn't returned to a permanent foster care organization, and a good one
DeleteWe will rescue another dog or two no doubt. Probably a little more slowly xo
Love
kj
I adopted a black lab once a few years ago. He was very quiet and mild. Turns out he was dying so we spent a shit load of money on him and got him fixed up. He was a lovely dog but unfortunately he was also an alpha male and I couldn't handle him when he was healthy. It was too hard trying to train him and care for Katie. I even wrote to the monks of New Skete for advice. I couldn't give him the time he needed because of Katie so I surrendered him. It was awful and I felt like such a failure. But it worked out. Take care woman.
ReplyDeleteI surely understand deb. Thanks for telling me xo
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kj
I really feel for you guys and for Chase. I'm glad he's with other dogs now, it must be more comfortable for him. You have to console yourselves knowing that you did your best, you realiy gave it your all and sometimes that just doesn't work out.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you both.
Thanks Mim . It's sad and it's a relief too
DeletePs see you SOON? ! Xoxo
It's cool I'll be the callous commenter. It is a dog, an animal bred for human entertainment that spent most of it's life being cage fed and forced to run for human enjoyment and profit or loss. He is free now. You're such a fashion maven anyway you need one of those purse sized dogs. If doing the right thing feels bad then I would suggest therapy for the therapist.
ReplyDeleteLove Ya Kiddo but someone had to put this into perspective.
Ooh mark. I'll be round to answer this? Dogs solely to entertain? Me with a purse size pooch? Grrrrr. You must be having a hell of a day
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kj
I never wanted to tell you kj, but the dog was out of it's comfort zone as well as the bad teeth. If you wanted her to not howl you would have had to cage her.
DeleteAnd yeah a Chou or Pomeranian.
DeleteMark, we did try caging (crating).
DeleteYou are right about the comfort zone.
But not so about me. I can 't tell if it's a class assumption or you see me that way, but I am most certainly not a little dog girl. No offense to little dogs (except those in purses) but I lean to 40 lb mutts
Love
kj
To old to take a joke anymore Kiddo?
DeleteKJ, This all makes me so sad. I am sad Chase is in pain, I hope he finds his forever home. When you do venture out for a new dog, take your time. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie. I'm not sure chase can bond in the way we hope for with our dog families. He seems very different (aloof) than other greyhounds we 've met and god did we try
DeleteLove
kj
You all tried hard and it took time to figure out the right path. Sorry it wasnt easier .
ReplyDeleteThanks Zoe xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove
kj
Kj, I think he needed to be with other dogs. Plain and simple. It's what Chase knew, and being away from it - maybe it was just too much change, and too stressful. You guys were great to him, and I dearly hope he will be happy now. Sounds like he is in good care. xox
ReplyDeleteI think that's it too, Pam, I hope he is comforted being around other Greys . I 'm not convinced his pain can be truly lessened though , and that makes me doubly sad
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kj
Oh KJ, you did the right thing. That comment by the animal communicator hit me between the eyes - he was too much in pain to care about you. And it sounds like being with a pack is the most comfortable place for him in this life. Goddess knows you did everything for him, and it still wasn't enough and he was miserable and making you miserable too. Sending many blessings for his adjustment to his new life and you both to yours. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda. You've said this as I feel and see the situation. Much appreciated
DeleteLove
kj
Ok, I've tried three times to leave you some words, not necessarily wise ones, but heartfelt words. I'll try again.
ReplyDeleteChase is exactly where he needs to be. He needed his "tribe," which was the only comfort he knew for most of his life. You tried and tried and lavished him with love, but he was damaged and needed to retreat. Period. Someday you two will see a dog and say, almost in one breath, "We need to save that dog."
ReplyDeleteYour P-town place is wonderful. Love the chandelier over the table. Glad you're doing the distressed ivory. Love it all and love you. I spent 40 minutes catching up and now feeling good.
S
Sharon, thank you always xo. I want you and Jeff to come to Ptown. This is a formal invitation :-)
ReplyDeleteI love you too. So glad
Love
kj
kj, u did ur best. and thats quite enough. love and hugs.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you too, hdwk. Always nice to see you here
DeleteLove
kj
I find myself feeling much relief over this news, kj. Something was amiss, you gave it your all in spite of that. Chase will probably never thrive, but I do think he will do better now. Here's what I think: I think that you saved his life. At the time you rescued him - at that very time - I don't think there was anyone else and, without your stepping forward on his behalf, he likely would not have found a home and would have been put down. You were his Stop-over Place. All is well. ♥
ReplyDeleteSad and glad, glad and sad.
ReplyDeleteI know you know this, but sometimes things just don't work out. I don't mean that in a trite way at all, but there are just things (hopefully relatively few) in life that all the try and love in the world cannot overcome. I know you feel sad right now, but I hope one day you can let another dog into your life and it has a better outcome. I feel like I know your heart, and I know you did all you could. But you have to choose what is best for all, and I think that you did.
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