<p>ANDI!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!!</p>
<p>
You’re reading my mind as usual, girl! Was just gonna ask this question.</p>
<p>I’m off to see Patch in a couple of minutes…will update when I get back.</p>
<p>{{{{{{{hugs, andi}}}}}}} love, ~b.</p>
<p>Hey-
You guys are hurting my feelings-
I mentioned the doggie diapers, with a link to 2 websites, in my post # 76. Nobody’s reading these? :(</p>
<p>jym~</p>
<p>I actually did visit the websites! I must have missed the doggie diaper part! Last night was really emotional around here…we had my D’s 16th b-day amid our angst over Patch, so I didn’t read as carefully as usual. I’m so sorry!</p>
<p>{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} ~b.</p>
<p>Ok, you are forgiven… 
. Read the bellyband websites too.
Happy sweet 16.</p>
<p>
bellyband? Please do tell.</p>
<p>Bellybands are cloth bands with velcro. You put a pad inside it and wrap it around a male dog’s abdomen-- helps with bladder control. I have a link to one website in post # 76, I believe.
heres another site <a href=“http://www.bellybands.shoppingcartsplus.com/page/page/1272207.htm[/url]”>http://www.bellybands.shoppingcartsplus.com/page/page/1272207.htm</a>
or <a href=“http://www.wrinkydinks.com/kennelkomforts.html[/url]”>http://www.wrinkydinks.com/kennelkomforts.html</a> (for “belly bands and ***** britches”)</p>
<p>cyber licks and wagging tail to your precious Patches - with love from Ginger, our Chow-terrier mix and her feline friend, Hazel…</p>
<p>we are all pulling for Patches and your family, and sending healing wishes at this difficult time</p>
<p>First of all, I’d like to thank you once again for all of the good wishes/positive thoughts for Patch. And most especially, I’d like to thank you for listening–for providing a safe place for me to come and talk about this very difficult subject.</p>
<p>Today, Thursday, started out with a small bit of hope. I talked to dh this morning early, and he had already been in touch with the vet. The vet had indicated that there had been some slight improvement in Patch’s conditon, so I hurried out there with some of his favorite treats. When I saw him, I realized that somewhere along the lines of communication, some wishful thinking had been infused. The only thing that Patch had done that he hadn’t done before was haul his weary body inside from the outside yard by the force of his own will. He literally had to DRAG himself in, no small task for that large a dog.</p>
<p>I spent about an hour with him, talking to him, scratching behind his ears, petting him softly (he’s still bruised and sore), feeding him his favorite foods, and just sitting with him. The vet’s office was having him stay out on the floor, not in a kennel (as he couldn’t go far anyway <em>sigh</em>) so that he could get a great deal of interaction during the day. The people who are taking care of him REALLY like him. The woman who was there today expressed shock that he was nearly 13 years old…she said he resembled a much younger dog and that he must be well cared for. He is certainly much loved. :)</p>
<p>This afternoon, my oldest daughter and her boyfriend went out to visit Patch. When she came back she was crying softly, very disturbed by the condition of her previously vital dog. It broke my heart to see her so distressed because as a parent, each of us hopes to be able to protect our children and fix any wrongs, and this is something that I simply cannot fix.</p>
<p>Dh took the younger two out after that to visit.</p>
<p>Between S2’s two basketball games, I went back out to the vet’s. They had moved Patch into a kennel for the night, and he was resting on a thick comforter. I placed a small stool within the kennel and sat there with him in the quiet of the early evening. Suddenly, it all hit me—the senselessness of the accident, the capriciousness of fate, the frightening and frustrating condition that Patch does not have the capacity to understand, the heartache of my children over their beloved pet—and I leaned down, laid my head on his, and SOBBED, uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop…the tears just kept flowing. Having only my keys and cell phone with me (and no Kleenex), I removed my light jacket, buried my face in it, and just sat there crying and shaking for what seemed like forever. And all the while, I could feel Patch’s little cold nose nuzzling my leg…</p>
<p>Finally, the vet’s closed and I had to leave. I had to go back to the second basketball game looking like hell, eyes swollen and red. After the game, I had an errand to run, and a short time later, I got a call from my oldest D.</p>
<p>She said, “Mom, the STRANGEST thing just happened.” Panicked after all we’d been through I said, “WHAT?? Is it something BAD??” And she replied, “No…just <em>really</em> strange.” And she proceeded to explain:</p>
<p>Upon coming back from play rehearsal, she parked the car and then glanced up. At first she thought she was losing it. At the exact site of Patch’s accident, where he was hit by the car a week ago last Sunday, she saw a dog. A dog that looked nearly identical to Patch! Not believing her eyes, she went to take a look, and sure enough, there was a dog, shaking and shivering and TERRIFIED, sitting in the street between two of our cars. She was a hunting dog, just like Patch (though I think a German shorthair–Patch is an English Setter) with his EXACT coloring–white with tan highlights, and yes, OMG, even a tan “patch” over one eye, just like our dog! </p>
<p>D called to the dog to try and get her to come inside, but the dog was totally frightened, and refused to budge. D somehow managed to pull the terrified dog from between the cars and brought her inside. She has a collar, but no tags. D fed her and we’ve been babying her all night. She is a real sweetie and loves the kids, though it took her a few minutes to warm up. She’s definitely someone’s beloved pet, and tomorrow, we will begin the search for her owners. </p>
<p>It was a very healing thing for my D to be able to help this sweet dog. It was what she needed after feeling so helpless and hopeless in the face of Patch’s condition. Even after we find this dog’s owners, we will treasure the short time that we were able to nurture her. Not knowing her name, we have given her a temporary one: Karma. </p>
<p>Thanks again for listening. It truly means a great deal to me.</p>
<p>love, ~berurah</p>
<p>I sent a PM…</p>
<p>Berurah – your family is just the best. So much love there. You guys truly are a blessing to both people and animals! </p>
<p>Oh I so hope that your beloved Patch is feeling better soon.</p>
<p>Hey, b, I’m so sorry to hear that Patch isn’t healing as quickly as you had hoped. I know what it’s like to have a dog that’s really a part of the family and can’t imagine how hard this is on you, your husband, and your kids. It’s such a blessing having a vet and staff giving Patch such loving care.</p>
<p>How wonderful your daughter was able to rescue that poor dog out in the cold. He would have spent a miserable night outdoors and might not have made it. I hope you find his home today. </p>
<p>Keeping you in my thoughts…</p>
<p>Beruah, It is almost as though the strange dog was there so that you all could all find some comfort (both the freezing dog, and your family). I just read this thread for the first time, and I am so so sorry to hear about Patch.</p>
<p>That’s an amazing story about Patches 2.0 I’ll be interested in hearing this dog’s story. Keeping the good thoughts!</p>
<p>B - still thinking of you, and following the thread. Your D and that second dog were there for each other! How wonderful. I’m sure it made your D feel like she was helping Patches in some way – paying it forward for the neighbor who found Patches. What a great response from her in this tough time. I am also impressed by how your whole family is taking turns visiting Patches. We’re pulling for him.</p>
<p>Wow— very weird, very neat about your rescue dog. I hope her owners are trying their best to find her. If one of my dogs was lost I’d sure hope that there’d be some kind soul out there to take them in.
As for Patch, if his condition remains the same, will you be able to bring him home? I think you all deserve to be near each other, and it would be good for humans (and dog), if it’s at all possible.</p>
<p>lspf~</p>
<p>The whole set of events last night <em>WAS</em> very weird! To be honest with you, D was a bit spooked, but in a good way, fortunately. I’ve made bunch of calls this a.m. in an attempt to find Karma’s owner. I still have a few more to make, and then later, I’m going to take a picture of her for my kids to take around the neighborhood and post at the ends of our street. Problem is, it’s in the single digits right now, temp-wise, so I don’t know how much door-to-door we’ll be able to do! :eek:</p>
<p>OMG, though, Karma is SOOOOOOOOOOO sweet!!! We’re all in love with her already, although, as my oldest D pointed out yesterday, it generally takes less than 20 seconds for she or I to become seriously attached to an animal! <em>lol</em> Karma follows me EVERYWHERE and just LOVES cuddling and petting. I found her on point to my D’s guinea pigs (well, their cage, anyway <em>lol</em>), where she stayed firmly planted for over 30 minutes. Hunting dogs really ARE unique! </p>
<p>We are continuing to monitor Patch’s condition carefully, and we are looking for workable ways for us to bring him home. He’s having continence issues which are much easier for the vet to deal with as they are set up with a large tub right next to where Patch is and the manpower to lift him often. The vet did say, though, that Patch doesn’t “hospital well,” as he misses us, so right now, we are going out very frequently to spend time with him. He will probably remain at the vet’s through the weekend, after which time we will have to take another look at his condition and make some very serious decisions. </p>
<p>I’ll update when I get back from the vet’s in a bit.</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Just wanted to let you know that I check the thread daily for updates on Patch and am continuing to hope and pray for the best. It is so hard to look into those loving eyes and not know for sure what they understand…I do believe that they have no doubt of the love you feel for them however.</p>
<p>What mkm said. Just thought I’d check in on this one before heading out. Sending prayers and healing thoughts Patch’s way.</p>
<p>mkm, mstee and ALL of you who check this thread for updates on Patch: <strong><em>THANK YOU</em></strong>. Your thoughtfulness and loving care truly do make us feel less alone. </p>
<p>love, ~berurah et al</p>
<p>Checking in all the time here, too.
If Karma really is a GSP and you end up keeping her you are in for some fun. Our Kramer is a delight and he’s a purebred GSP. He thinks he is a tiny little lap dog and will sit on anybody who is in “his” chair :rolleyes:</p>