THUNDER HILL GREAT DANE RESCUE
UPDATES ON STAR THE GREAT DANE PUP
Before I took the picture Star was resting her head on Thunder and both were asleep. Thunder is a Great Dane I took out of a pound 3 years ago. She is old and was found in a pen in the back of the pound in the morning. There wasn't even a note telling what her name was. She has been a wonderful and loving dog. As you can see, I decided to keep Thunder. That is where I got the name, Thunder Hill Great Dane Rescue.
UPDATE: 4/8/00 As I was letting a lab mix rescue outside who just had pups days ago, Star ran in the laundry room to take a peek at the tiny pups. It was so cute to watch her look at them trying to figure out what they were. She was careful not to get too close.
UPDATE: 4/9/00 Star had a very wet accident in my laundry room. It is not her fault. She can not hold it very long. Unfortunately her urine went under my wash machine. I hurt my shoulder days prior but do I wait for my husband to get home to help me move the wash machine? Of course not. I am WOMAN. I can do anything. <ha ha ha>. I did it. No problem. OUCH!!!!! Where is that Tylenol and ice pack? <grin>
UPDATE: 4/10/00 I made Star's appointment. She is going to Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital for her surgery on 4/24/00. She will have to stay there for several days.
Taz my little Pomeranian rescue found in the middle of the road at 5 months old suffering from head trauma, is coming over to make sure Star knows he is the boss. ha ha
UPDATE: 4/18/00 I could not believe all the wonderful responses I have received regarding Star. Yes I have received a few donations and I'm so thankful! What is really amazing is the very caring people who could not afford to donate their own money, came up with creative ways to raise money for Star.
Students at a school are attempting to make up hand outs about Star's story and going to local businesses in their community to try and get some donations. Other people are making up donation cans to put in local veterinarian's offices and in businesses around their towns. I can not thank everyone enough. I had no idea I would get this kind of help for Star.
UPDATE: 4/24/00 My husband and I left the house by 8:00 am with Star for her trip to Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital. I laid down the back seats of my Explorer and put a big round doggie pillow in the back for Star to lay down on for trip. It was 117 miles one way. Star was restless and kept moving around in the back of the Explorer. She of course slobbered all over the back of my seat and almost got my hair. <grin>
In the waiting room she got to play with another dog and got lots of attention from other people. Two of the school's staff heard there was a Great Dane in the waiting room and had to come out and see Star. When it came time for her appointment she happily trotted in the exam room. The Dr. did a full exam on Star and feels there is a problem with her regarding urinating but what exactly they don't know without many tests. They will run a urine sample plus draw urine from her with a needle (don't worry, I was told she really won't feel it), take X-Rays and run a tiny microscope up inside her to see what is going on. All of this will cost $600 just for the diagnosis.
If there is no other choice and Star needs surgery, the cost of the surgery will cost an additional $500 provided there are no complications. If the situation is worse than the tests showed than the cost could run $1600 to $2000. I will know Thursday after all the tests are completed and they start the surgery. Star has to stay at the Veterinary Hospital until Friday or possibly till Monday or Tuesday of next week. I will know Thursday when she can come home.
I know Star will get lots of attention at the hospital especially by the two students that came out in the waiting room to see her.
UPDATE: 4/25/00 Star's IVP tests came back normal. IVP is an Introvenous Pylagram test. It is an X-Ray of Star's urinary track, kidney, bladder... Tomorrow the vet hospital will do a Cystoscopsy which is a tiny microscope inserted up the urethra. It doesn't look like Ectopic Uriter. It looks like a primary sphincter mechanism incompetence. This means that the sphincter doesn't close down tight enough causing Star to have urine accidents. This might be able to be controlled by medication.
UPDATE: 4/29/00 Well Star didn't need surgery at least not for now. The Veterinarian at OSU feels the problem of primary sphincter mechanism incompetence might be corrected with medication. I have to give Star one pill of Phenylpropanolamine 50 mg three times a day for 5 weeks. Star goes back for a recheck to see how the medication is working.
It was so cute when my husband and I went to pick her up last night at the Vet hospital she was so glad to see us. She was practically dragging Abby the vet student through the waiting room to us. Star was so bouncy and exited and trying to visit with everyone in the waiting room that Abby suggested we go back in an exam room to talk. Star happily trotted beside us till we go to the doors to go back to the exam rooms. That's when she planted all fours on the floor and sat down. Everyone in the waiting room said, "Awwwww." My husband had to pick Star's butt up and push her through the doors. Again when she was the exam room she did the same thing again. We got her in the room and had to quickly shut the door because she was making her get away. As soon as she realized she wasn't in there for tests she started loving on me, pawing me and putting my arm in her big slobbery mouth.
Everything looked normal in the tests except that Star's bladder was just a little far back than normal which is called a pelvic bladder. The vet bill so far totals $462.21. I have no idea how much it will end up being after I get the final statement, after the rechecks and if the medication doesn't correct the problem.
I am still in need of donations for Star if anyone would like to help. I am hoping the cost won't end up being too much more but I have to plan for anything. So far I haven't heard from the people offering to make up donation cans and the kids at a school who were trying to raise money. I have a feeling it just didn't work out for them. I appreciate that they at least tried.
I took pictures at OSU and of Star in the exam room. As soon as I finish the film on that roll and get it developed I will post the pictures. To see a copy of the initial vet bill
UPDATE: 5/10/00 Last Saturday I took Star to my counties adoptathon. The adoptathon is put on by the Medina County Animal Shelter. The purpose is to raise money for the shelter and get homes for all the dogs and cats at the shelter that day. Animal rescue organizations are invited to set up a booth and promote their rescues. I was there promoting my dog rescues, bird rescue and Sugar Glider rescue.
Star had a wonderful time and was so good. She loved all the little toy breed dogs better than the larger breed dogs. Across the isle from our table were the mini pincher dogs. Star loved them but there was one little mini pin that wanted to just eat Star up. It was so cute watching this little dog growl and bark at Star, who wanted nothing but to be friends with the little guy.
Later that day a priest was there and did a blessing of the pets. He went up on stage, said a prayer than sprinkled holy water on the dogs below the stage. Star was blessed and when the water hit her she couldn't figure out where it came from. She was looking up at the ceiling.
My daughter took Star for a walk up and down the isles to have a look at everything. On the last isle was a petting farm with all kinds of exotic animals including a wild turkey. Star happily walked down the isle until the Turkey spotted her. He jumped up, raised his feathers and gobbled at her. Star reared up like a horse and was headed for the hills. hahahaha Everyone around was laughing. Later that day my daughter could not get Star to go anywhere near that last isle. Even from afar the Turkey would gobble when it saw Star and she would look for a place to hide. It was so funny.
A band was playing outside and when one of the members saw my daughter walk outside with Star he had to stop playing and come over to see Star. He just loved her. After that when my daughter walked outside with Star the band would yell, "Star!"
I was so proud of how well behaved Star was that day. When she wasn't walking around she quietly laid on the floor behind my tables while I talked to people. I was busy telling people about my rescue organizations, helping them find the right pet and educating them on proper pet care. Even though it cost me money to print up brochures and literature to hand out to people, I love doing these type of functions. I meet some very nice people plus I get to help people with their pets and I do so enjoy that.
UPDATE: 7/7/00 Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this page. Star is on her way to a new home via another rescuer. I will miss her but I've had other Dane rescues since her who needed me and I found them new wonderful homes.
I want to thank everyone who sent in donations and good wishes. I couldn't have done it without you. My rescue efforts continue and every now and than someone still sends in a donation to be used on any of the rescues and I thank those people also. Without your donations I couldn't rescue the volume that I do. So if someone ever asks you if you do rescue work you can honestly say, "Yes," because without your donation I would have to turn some dogs away for lack of funds. You are truly wonderful people.
