seeking help/advice for blind JRT mix - RESCUED!!!

[maxwells mama]

Hi,

I found out about this website from one of your moderators and am so excited about all the fantastic information listed here for pets with disabilities. I am writing because I volunteer at a shelter in southern NH and there is currently an 8 yr old Jack Russell mix who is blind due to cataracts. The shelter would like him to have eye surgery, done at cost by a somewhat local vet specialist - but it will still cost a minimum of $1500 and there is no guarantee the surgery will even work.

I have spent time with this dog (Buddy) and he is a total love. He seems to do fine with his disability and I am worried the shelter is not only creating a barrier to him being adopted (cost of the surgery....not many people can afford that kind of expense), but that Buddy will be subjected to an unnecessary procedure that may not work.....not to mention recovery time. I have read enough to know that blind dogs can (and do) adapt well to their environments - especially when in a loving home with someone who understands their disability.

Does handicappedpets.com help in situations like these.....is there a network, a rescue, or a foster that could step in and intervene or adopt him? I've fallen in love with this dog - he is so sweet and loves his tennis balls. However, he cannot be adopted to a home with cats (which I have) and I believe he has to go to a family with older children (this information was most likely gathered during behavior/temperament testing).

Keeping my fingers crossed that Buddy's angel is out there somewhere.

Jennifer

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

There are a world of blinddog rescuers out there! I suggest BDRA for starters and also JRT rescue.

I presently have 2 blinds (one is deaf as well) and they get along BRILLIANTLY! Please read the stickie in this forum and I also recommend KarenG's wonderful site, http://www.blinddogs.net.

For a chat board with a lot of experienced folks who love to talk blinddogs, I recommend http://www.blinddogs.com.

Welcome to our world!

Buddy will get along just fine, JRTs arent the sort to sit around quietly, moaning, why me, dear lord why ME???

He will get on with the business of life. But do read the stickies to make sure he is safe, happy and sing a song to him. Sound and touch are incredibly important. You are my Buddy, my only Buddy, you make me happy when skies are grey ... well yiou get the idea. He will LOVE to hear his name in a silly sing-song.

Here are three famoose blinddogs: JemmieJem, with Dede, her mama, Gabriel, star in 2 states of the deafblind world AND the Late Great Possum with her precious HANDS (my cuz Christy)

LWARC EVENT 2007

[maxwells mama]

Thanks so much for all the links and fabulous info! I will be sure to look at all of it.

Buddy certainly isn't the type of fella to feel sorry for himself. He is a sweet, happy boy who loves to go for walks around grounds of the shelter, and play in the back kennels. He is happiest when playing fetch with his tennis ball....and the most amazing thing is that when he loses track of it (I think he still has some vision) I tell him to use his nose - and he does! He's such an amazing little guy.

While his disability is not posted outside his kennel, when I am there on the weekends volunteering, he seems to get passed by a lot. Not sure if it's because he's an older dog or if because he's a JRT. I have noticed that older dogs get adopted out at much slower rate. Not only does Buddy not look like most JRTs (he has long, wire-haired coat), he doesn't look his age and is usually as cool as a cuke.

And yes, when I am out in the kennel with him, I get right down on the ground and talk to him and throw his ball and massage him (am half way through a animal massage certification program).

Thanks again for all the support! I've haven't figured out how to attach photos yet, otherwise I would show off this cute boy.

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

Did I mention blinddogs should wear a chest harness for walkies? The Gentle Leader, to be specific. The D ring is at chest level and keeps pup on perfect lead and in a good comfort zone. With any degenerative eye disease, you want to keep pressure off the neck and up for walks. Don't know how active Buddy is, but he is JRT. A blind, older JRT would be PERFECT for so many people. Two things they have to remember. He is NEVER off lead unless in a securely fenced area (my fence gates are padlocked, because a blinddog can FLAT OPEN THEM ((heart attack city, let me tell you!)) ) and teach the stairs very first thing. My deafblinds have SAILED up and down stairs but until they are mapped, no no and one more no. It's easier to teach up than down, so start w ith that. They can count. Yes, they can. I had one deafblind who suffered severe CCD (OCD for dogs) and would spin spin spin at top of stair case, go down a few, spin some more, get to the ground level and spin spin spin. How she always knew what step she was on, I'll never fathom. But she never fell down them.

Have you read the stickies? Go to KarenG's tips page as well. She tapped a LOT of blinddog families and compiled a great list. Wherever Buddy ends up, we'd love to have his family join us. WELCOME and thank you for making Buddy's time special. That is incredibly important. Our pups are so sensorily deprived that to deprive them of humans is a torture worse than death in my opinion. My Gabriel would certainly die in rescue. In fact when Allicks was spayed, I wouldn't let her spend the night in hospital. She's only blind. She would have been terrified and so I took her home and we were up all night gagging, vomiting and cramping. She was in serious pain (let's face it she had a full hysterectomy), but I was right there with her. I too wish there was foster for Buddy. That would be yuor most urgent quest, I think. I have met a couple of lethal whites who were in cages here in Beaufort County. They were both eating their chain link fences and incrediblyl stressed. They needed out and right now. We were fortunate to find families for both.

[maxwells mama]

Buddy just has a regular collar and leash. Some of the dogs at the shelter have a sensation harness because they are pullers. However, Buddy is not a puller so wasn't given one. He does really well on leash, doesn't pull at all - just bops along with his cute little JRT ears flopping away. Am not sure how much he gets outside. My work schedule is such that I am only able to get to the shelter on weekends. I know he has been up on the adoption floor for at least a month, which means he's been at the shelter for close to 5-6 weeks as there is an assessment/quarantine period for all in-coming animals.

Buddy is the first blind dog I've ever interacted with, and it's already been a huge eye opener. I have a huge soft spot for seniors and special needs animals - he falls into both categories.

I have spent time perusing the BDRA website and the blinddog.net site as well - lots and lots of great info. It looks like at the very least I could do a courtesy posting for Buddy - but I need to get permission from the shelter first. They can be a bit territorial about working with rescue groups....

Not sure what you mean by "stickies" so will have to go to the main page and see if I can find what you are talking about. Buddy is most certainly going to make a great dog for someone - I just want to make sure he goes to the best home possible...with people who will understand his "disability" and treat him like a valued member of the family. He deserves that much.

Thank you again for all your support and suggestions.

[Christine]

Hi Jennifer!

So glad you made it. Buddy sounds like a little love. This is a general question for everyone. Would it be harmful to him NOT to have the cataract surgery? If so, would they consider not doing that and letting the adoptive family take on that expense if they want to. Where will they get the funds to pay for that? It sounds as though whoever adopts him will be expected to reimburse them, or did I misunderstand?

Have they or are they going to list him on Petfinder? Is this a kill shelter? (Praying, here.)

If you want to email me the pictures, I will post them for you.

Bless you for what you do!

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

I'm with Christine. If he doesn't medically need the surgery (is he in pain?) I would leave it be. We recently polled our membership on micropthalmia, asking how many have needed treatment as a fellow rescuer is having her first exp. w/it.
Out of maybe 40 or more eyeballs, none of us have needed to treat. We do bathe the eyeballs from time to time with opticlear or warm water, but any dog's eyes get grit and dirt and stuff in em. Everyone without exp. thinks enuke (enucleation) is the answer, but hey, they simply don't require it.
Click on Blind and Deaf Pets above. The two very first posts are the stickies.

[maxwells mama]

Hi Christine!

Buddy is in a no-kill humane shelter. However, they do euthanize for behavior and disease - I don't believe Buddy falls into either category. The shelter is not paying for the surgery, but they are at the very least highly recommending it. I know there preference is to find someone who will get the surgery done. I also know that most people who find out about medical issues will walk away from an animal and not adopt. There are folks out there with the willingness and financial resources to do it, but they are few and far between. As I said in my initial post, I worry that they have placed an unnecessary hurdle/barrier, making it more difficult for Buddy to get adopted.

I believe medical decisions such as these come down from the staff vet, and are made as a "team" - although I am not sure who the team consists of. I asks questions when I can without "prying" and I do have access to animals' charts - I took a quick peek at Buddy's but need to scan it again. I know some of the staff think I'm a bit of a busy-body....but I see myself as an advocate for the animals. Like most shelters, this place is under-staffed and the bottom line is that the animals suffer - especially the dogs (not enough attention, outdoor time, etc) so I intervene when I can...especially for animals like Buddy. It's a bit of walk on the high wire though....I know that volunteers have been asked not return to the facility because they crossed the line or stepped on someone's toes.

I do the bulk of the photos for the shelter's website and I do recall the Volunteer Coordinator telling me once that they are linked with Petfinder - but I am not sure if their account is current or who does the posting.

And if Buddy is in pain, one would never know it. He's one of the sweetest, happiest dogs. I will look further into the situation and see what else I can find out - but it won't be till this coming weekend. In the meantime, they have posted him on their main page as the Pet of the Week.

I will send you photos of Buddy - thanks so much for posting them for me!

Jennifer

[Christine]

Here is the cutest little guy you will ever see! I just know his new owner is out there.

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

omg! banging head!!! he is ADORABLE!

[maxwells mama]

I KNOW!!! and he has a personality to match!!

[critters]

As I said in my initial post, I worry that they have placed an unnecessary hurdle/barrier, making it more difficult for Buddy to get adopted.
r

I have to agree with you, but I don't know how you can change it.

[maxwells mama]

i don't know how to change it either. i often feel helpless and hopeless. i've contact several rescues on his behalf and am waiting to hear back. it seems quite difficult to change systems - due to politics and egos, etc. but i will keep plugging away when and where i can.

[Christine]

I contacted the Jack Russell Rescue of Maine about him and got this answer:

Hi Christine!

Poor guy! It's unfortunate that cataracts and other eye diseases are all too common in Jack Russell Terriers. If only people knew that blind dogs are like any other dog, they just need time to memorize a house layout and yard boundaries!

Can you tell I had a blind dog? He was blind for 10 of his 14 years, and he was an awfully important part of my childhood.

We don't have any available foster homes right now. I'm terribly understaffed. If someone can help me get some pictures of this guy up on my website with a bio or story, I'll gladly put him up and funnel some applicants his way if I have anyone who would fit the bill for him. I'll also forward his story to the "powers that be" at Russell Rescue and see if there's anything the organization can do.

Jane
http://www.mooserun.org/rescue
http://www.russellrescue.com
http://www.russellrefuge.org
http://www.therealjackrussell.com/rescue

[Christine]

Jennifer, I moved this thread to Rescue and added his location, so we can keep him in the limelight.