PudgyMommy
New member
Ok, this is gonna be long.. sorry in advance...
We start with Pudge.
About 3 years ago I told my youngest son (then 9) that he could have his own dog (the Weim we got 2 years earlier really bonded with the oldest and turned out to really be HIS).. So Sean (my youngest) made awesome grades that year and really earned the privilege to have his own dog.. He had a few guidelines to stick with, but could otherwise pick what he wanted, including rescue dogs or roadside puppies... it was up to him... So after an entire summer of researching breeds and browsing spca sites, he decided on the English Bulldog... Then I found out how much they cost (at the time, the cost of upkeep was not an issue, but the initial cost blew me away)... No matter.. I sent emails to the closest bulldogs clubs asking for breeder referrals or advice.. no replies.. at all... but, just out of chance I saw a post from a fellow motocrosser (kids race) that he had 2 pups left from his litter... I immediately contacted him.. he ended up letting us take the female (what we wanted) and make regular payments since he knew us... HAPPY DAY!! Pudge joined our family.
The next couple of years went by without a hitch... dog and boy were happy.. I was happy.. We traveled a lot (to visit my hubby who travels a LOT for work) and the dogs always went with us.. it was a great adventure for everyone... Life was wonderful...
Then last summer, I was laid off. Not the end of the world, we could make it until I found something.. just tighten the belts a bit... Then, over the Christmas holidays, my hubby and I had some marital troubles (please don't ask) and I had some health issues... I entered into a bit of a depression and withdrew from all activities.. my kids are pretty self-sufficient so they just took over additional stuff around the house... Pudge became my reason to smile.. she cuddled with me and really saved me from myself.. Even on my worst day, I could not look at her without smilingā¦Anyway, Hubby and I started to recover and my health improved so the boys and I planned to visit him over spring break... We planned to take the dogs, of course... The day we were to leave, while I was washing the dogs to leave, Pudge started a weird breathing thing.. I thought she was just unhappy about her bath.. she calmed down after about 20 minutes and we were all on our way.. About 4 hours into the trip, she started the breathing thing again.. it was weird.. we thought maybe she was car sick (it was dark by then, and she was normally asleep during night driving).. I was finally able to stop at a rest stop (deep west Texas) and I walked her, gave her water and yummies, and just let her sit with me for about an hour... I tried to look up an ER Vet but there was no cell service... So we set off again... eventually she returned to normal breathing and slept comfortably.. so we finished our trip..(16 hour drive) We were there for a week and she had no issues... ate normal, played normal.. We discussed taking her to a local vet but decided to just take her to our regular vet when we returned home.. So on the way home, she had the same breathing episodes, but only for about 20 minutes each time... way better than on the way there.. the boys and I figured it must be a car thing.. We finally arrived home (ok, really at my sister's house.. it was Easter and she wanted us to stop by for her Easter gathering) and Pudge was looking a little stressedā¦ I walked her and she had a normal bowel movement and drank some water and had a little treat. But the breathing thing really picked up.. After about 20 minutes I had sean take her to a quiet area in hopes that she would calm and recover.. When I checked on them about 10 minutes later it was obvious that this was an emergencyā¦ her gums were white and she would not take any ice cubes or water.. I picked her up and ran to the car.. she lost her bowels and bladder before I got her in the car.. her breathing became worse and I started rescue breathingā¦ my boys (now 12, and 13 years old) jumped in the car and we hauled *** towards the ER Vet (over 45 min away on a good day).. My oldest took over rescue breathing and it wasnāt long before my youngest started compressions.. Those 2 boys performed aggressive CPR on Pudge while I drove like a mad woman.. they had no seatbelts and I was crossing ditched and running red lights.. we made it in 30 minutes..I called in advance to let the vet know we were coming and that CPR was in progress.. . Anyway.. it was too lateā¦when we got there it took 2 minutes just to get someone to run out and take her to the back.. then the ER vet (a colossal ***) just walked out and (with a little disgust) said āthis dog is DEADā.. my son lost it.. silently sat on the floor and lost it.. I argued and made them āwork: her anyway.. but to no availā¦ The rest of that day/evening was a terrible experience that went on and on and on and ended with a late night back yard burial and sitting together on the sofa with a blanket that still smelled like Pudgeā¦ I sob just remembering that nightā¦. I never imagined I would mourn the loss of a pet so much.. I descended into a depression with no boundsā¦ as did my son.. After about a week, I decided my son needed a dog to help him recover (my usually extremely independent child now refused to sleep in his room and was just forlorn).. we eventually ended up with an spca pup (Cato) and the bond and healing has been a beautiful thing for Seanā¦ but I was still empty.. I was falling into a depression like no other.. I was withdrawing from the world..
now Maggieās storyā¦
So I began applying to various rescue groups and searching ads for people wanting to re-home their English Bulldogā¦ after a lot of scams and a few false starts, I got Maggie on the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] of July.. She was almost 2 years old, had coloring similar to Pudge and was supremely loving and sweet.. She was perfect!ā¦ I smiled (for the first time since losing Pudge) all the way home.. I just couldnāt stop grinning!.. I got her from a young lady who said her first owners kept her as an outside dog and she managed to convince them to give her up.. so now this young girl had Maggie in an apartment but didnāt have the time to dedicate to herā¦Anyway, she kept in contact with me for a few days and promised to fax me Maggieās medical records and paperwork as soon as she could get them from the original family (she had only had Maggie for about 3 months).. Then one day she told me she had court that day and would fax me the stuff later in the afternoonā¦ then nothingā¦ I have not been able to make contact with her since thenā¦. At home, Maggie adjusted beautifully.. she and Christal (the Weim) and Cato all got along great.. she never had a housetraining issue and she was velcro to me.. She was MY BABY.. We were instantly bondedā¦ She did have evidence of worms, so I de-wormed all the dogs as a precaution.. and gave her one of Pudgeās leftover Comfortis pills to rid her of any fleas (although I never saw any evidence of any).. I got her transitioned over to Fromm and she has done beautifullyā¦ Her only issue was a bout with hot spots, which I remedied with past experience with Pudge and some sound advice I read on this siteā¦ she has been doing great.. It was like we always had her and could not imagine our household without her. I usually take her everywhere with meā¦ to pick up kids.. to the park,.. even to work (part time) everywhereā¦ she sleeps with me and is never more than a few feet away from me at all timesā¦ She has never been in a crate before our house.. I was working on crate training and she was doing well.. but one day we were gone much longer than expected and came home to find that she had chewed her way out of it.. crazyā¦ I have not put her in a crate since.. She is allowed to stay loose with Christal (after some doggie proofing) and has done beautifullyā¦. Honestly, she has saved me from myself. She is my life. I donāt know what state I would be in without her influence.. She pulled me from the depths of depression and helped me return to the real worldā¦.I have always prided myself as being a strong person, but it took a snorty wrinkly little dog, with a snaggle tooth and protruding tongue, to rescue me from an emotional state I never thought I could ever succumb to.. I am ashamed, while at the same time, forever grateful.
The dilemmaā¦
Financially, things here are much worse than we expected them to be at this point.. I have not been able to get Maggie to the vet to get her shots and spayed.. I figured she was healthy and I had timeā¦ but that has all changedā¦ Yesterday I woke up to Maggie having what I thought might be a focal motor seizure.. her head was just shaking and she could not control it.. she was aware and able to walk about and follow commands.. it lasted about 12 minutes.. then she seemed to be fineā¦ last night she had three more episodesā¦ this morning I did some research and have concluded that it must either be sudden onset focal motor seizures or sudden onset head tremorsā¦ it is not the seizure or the tremor that scares meā¦ it is the āsudden onsetāā¦ Today she has had at least 4 more episodes.. they last from 5 to 15 minutes each.. So any rational personās advice would be to take her to the vet, right?... Right!ā¦ but I canātā¦ Our situation right now just will not allow it.. I canāt event put enough gas in my car to make it to the vet (25 miles away)ā¦ I would sell my own kidney if I could, but I canātā¦ I feel so helpless and useless to help herā¦ she is not in any pain, but I know the āsudden onsetā and very frequent episodes mean that something serious must be going on with herā¦
I canāt imagine losing her, or giving her upā¦ but I must do what is best for her.. I need to give her to someone who can afford to get her to the vet AND take care of whatever is going on (if treatable) and then love her as much as I doā¦
That is the reason for this post. My husband and kids tell me to just wait and see, or to take her to the vet.. but they donāt understand that this could (and probably will be costly) and I just donāt have it.. I donāt even have the ability to get her in for a regular visit, much less lab work and other testsā¦ and I am afraid Maggie might not have the time for me to get itā¦ My family is afraid I will just fall apart if I give her up, but I have told them I would rather give her up knowing she will be loved and cared for, than for her to suffer or perishā¦ They said I will never find someone to lover her as much as meā¦.. So that is why I am on this website.. I have been following yāall since before we got Pudge and recognize a lot of the āregularsā so I would feel safe handing over my sweet Mags to someone from here.. I am so heartbroken over thisā¦ but I have to think of Maggie, and not myselfā¦ My husband will be mad.. but he can just get over itā¦ I want Maggie to be happy and healthyā¦ And I canāt assure the healthy part by myself..
This is, by far, the hardest thing I have ever had to face in my entire lifeā¦
If there are any of you out there who are within driving distance to the area northwest of Houston Texas, AND can get my sweet baby to a vet asap AND can afford to take care of whatever is wrong with her AND will lover her like their own child.. then she could be yoursā¦ I will check references if I donāt recognize your user name.. Also, I promised my husband and kids that I would not make any ārashā decisionsā¦ but to me, that only means waiting a day or two.. I donāt want to risk Maggieās health because we are emotionally whimpy..
I know that was longā¦ it has taken me 3 hours to type it out (sobbing like a baby the whole time)ā¦ thanks for reading.
We start with Pudge.
About 3 years ago I told my youngest son (then 9) that he could have his own dog (the Weim we got 2 years earlier really bonded with the oldest and turned out to really be HIS).. So Sean (my youngest) made awesome grades that year and really earned the privilege to have his own dog.. He had a few guidelines to stick with, but could otherwise pick what he wanted, including rescue dogs or roadside puppies... it was up to him... So after an entire summer of researching breeds and browsing spca sites, he decided on the English Bulldog... Then I found out how much they cost (at the time, the cost of upkeep was not an issue, but the initial cost blew me away)... No matter.. I sent emails to the closest bulldogs clubs asking for breeder referrals or advice.. no replies.. at all... but, just out of chance I saw a post from a fellow motocrosser (kids race) that he had 2 pups left from his litter... I immediately contacted him.. he ended up letting us take the female (what we wanted) and make regular payments since he knew us... HAPPY DAY!! Pudge joined our family.
The next couple of years went by without a hitch... dog and boy were happy.. I was happy.. We traveled a lot (to visit my hubby who travels a LOT for work) and the dogs always went with us.. it was a great adventure for everyone... Life was wonderful...
Then last summer, I was laid off. Not the end of the world, we could make it until I found something.. just tighten the belts a bit... Then, over the Christmas holidays, my hubby and I had some marital troubles (please don't ask) and I had some health issues... I entered into a bit of a depression and withdrew from all activities.. my kids are pretty self-sufficient so they just took over additional stuff around the house... Pudge became my reason to smile.. she cuddled with me and really saved me from myself.. Even on my worst day, I could not look at her without smilingā¦Anyway, Hubby and I started to recover and my health improved so the boys and I planned to visit him over spring break... We planned to take the dogs, of course... The day we were to leave, while I was washing the dogs to leave, Pudge started a weird breathing thing.. I thought she was just unhappy about her bath.. she calmed down after about 20 minutes and we were all on our way.. About 4 hours into the trip, she started the breathing thing again.. it was weird.. we thought maybe she was car sick (it was dark by then, and she was normally asleep during night driving).. I was finally able to stop at a rest stop (deep west Texas) and I walked her, gave her water and yummies, and just let her sit with me for about an hour... I tried to look up an ER Vet but there was no cell service... So we set off again... eventually she returned to normal breathing and slept comfortably.. so we finished our trip..(16 hour drive) We were there for a week and she had no issues... ate normal, played normal.. We discussed taking her to a local vet but decided to just take her to our regular vet when we returned home.. So on the way home, she had the same breathing episodes, but only for about 20 minutes each time... way better than on the way there.. the boys and I figured it must be a car thing.. We finally arrived home (ok, really at my sister's house.. it was Easter and she wanted us to stop by for her Easter gathering) and Pudge was looking a little stressedā¦ I walked her and she had a normal bowel movement and drank some water and had a little treat. But the breathing thing really picked up.. After about 20 minutes I had sean take her to a quiet area in hopes that she would calm and recover.. When I checked on them about 10 minutes later it was obvious that this was an emergencyā¦ her gums were white and she would not take any ice cubes or water.. I picked her up and ran to the car.. she lost her bowels and bladder before I got her in the car.. her breathing became worse and I started rescue breathingā¦ my boys (now 12, and 13 years old) jumped in the car and we hauled *** towards the ER Vet (over 45 min away on a good day).. My oldest took over rescue breathing and it wasnāt long before my youngest started compressions.. Those 2 boys performed aggressive CPR on Pudge while I drove like a mad woman.. they had no seatbelts and I was crossing ditched and running red lights.. we made it in 30 minutes..I called in advance to let the vet know we were coming and that CPR was in progress.. . Anyway.. it was too lateā¦when we got there it took 2 minutes just to get someone to run out and take her to the back.. then the ER vet (a colossal ***) just walked out and (with a little disgust) said āthis dog is DEADā.. my son lost it.. silently sat on the floor and lost it.. I argued and made them āwork: her anyway.. but to no availā¦ The rest of that day/evening was a terrible experience that went on and on and on and ended with a late night back yard burial and sitting together on the sofa with a blanket that still smelled like Pudgeā¦ I sob just remembering that nightā¦. I never imagined I would mourn the loss of a pet so much.. I descended into a depression with no boundsā¦ as did my son.. After about a week, I decided my son needed a dog to help him recover (my usually extremely independent child now refused to sleep in his room and was just forlorn).. we eventually ended up with an spca pup (Cato) and the bond and healing has been a beautiful thing for Seanā¦ but I was still empty.. I was falling into a depression like no other.. I was withdrawing from the world..
now Maggieās storyā¦
So I began applying to various rescue groups and searching ads for people wanting to re-home their English Bulldogā¦ after a lot of scams and a few false starts, I got Maggie on the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] of July.. She was almost 2 years old, had coloring similar to Pudge and was supremely loving and sweet.. She was perfect!ā¦ I smiled (for the first time since losing Pudge) all the way home.. I just couldnāt stop grinning!.. I got her from a young lady who said her first owners kept her as an outside dog and she managed to convince them to give her up.. so now this young girl had Maggie in an apartment but didnāt have the time to dedicate to herā¦Anyway, she kept in contact with me for a few days and promised to fax me Maggieās medical records and paperwork as soon as she could get them from the original family (she had only had Maggie for about 3 months).. Then one day she told me she had court that day and would fax me the stuff later in the afternoonā¦ then nothingā¦ I have not been able to make contact with her since thenā¦. At home, Maggie adjusted beautifully.. she and Christal (the Weim) and Cato all got along great.. she never had a housetraining issue and she was velcro to me.. She was MY BABY.. We were instantly bondedā¦ She did have evidence of worms, so I de-wormed all the dogs as a precaution.. and gave her one of Pudgeās leftover Comfortis pills to rid her of any fleas (although I never saw any evidence of any).. I got her transitioned over to Fromm and she has done beautifullyā¦ Her only issue was a bout with hot spots, which I remedied with past experience with Pudge and some sound advice I read on this siteā¦ she has been doing great.. It was like we always had her and could not imagine our household without her. I usually take her everywhere with meā¦ to pick up kids.. to the park,.. even to work (part time) everywhereā¦ she sleeps with me and is never more than a few feet away from me at all timesā¦ She has never been in a crate before our house.. I was working on crate training and she was doing well.. but one day we were gone much longer than expected and came home to find that she had chewed her way out of it.. crazyā¦ I have not put her in a crate since.. She is allowed to stay loose with Christal (after some doggie proofing) and has done beautifullyā¦. Honestly, she has saved me from myself. She is my life. I donāt know what state I would be in without her influence.. She pulled me from the depths of depression and helped me return to the real worldā¦.I have always prided myself as being a strong person, but it took a snorty wrinkly little dog, with a snaggle tooth and protruding tongue, to rescue me from an emotional state I never thought I could ever succumb to.. I am ashamed, while at the same time, forever grateful.
The dilemmaā¦
Financially, things here are much worse than we expected them to be at this point.. I have not been able to get Maggie to the vet to get her shots and spayed.. I figured she was healthy and I had timeā¦ but that has all changedā¦ Yesterday I woke up to Maggie having what I thought might be a focal motor seizure.. her head was just shaking and she could not control it.. she was aware and able to walk about and follow commands.. it lasted about 12 minutes.. then she seemed to be fineā¦ last night she had three more episodesā¦ this morning I did some research and have concluded that it must either be sudden onset focal motor seizures or sudden onset head tremorsā¦ it is not the seizure or the tremor that scares meā¦ it is the āsudden onsetāā¦ Today she has had at least 4 more episodes.. they last from 5 to 15 minutes each.. So any rational personās advice would be to take her to the vet, right?... Right!ā¦ but I canātā¦ Our situation right now just will not allow it.. I canāt event put enough gas in my car to make it to the vet (25 miles away)ā¦ I would sell my own kidney if I could, but I canātā¦ I feel so helpless and useless to help herā¦ she is not in any pain, but I know the āsudden onsetā and very frequent episodes mean that something serious must be going on with herā¦
I canāt imagine losing her, or giving her upā¦ but I must do what is best for her.. I need to give her to someone who can afford to get her to the vet AND take care of whatever is going on (if treatable) and then love her as much as I doā¦
That is the reason for this post. My husband and kids tell me to just wait and see, or to take her to the vet.. but they donāt understand that this could (and probably will be costly) and I just donāt have it.. I donāt even have the ability to get her in for a regular visit, much less lab work and other testsā¦ and I am afraid Maggie might not have the time for me to get itā¦ My family is afraid I will just fall apart if I give her up, but I have told them I would rather give her up knowing she will be loved and cared for, than for her to suffer or perishā¦ They said I will never find someone to lover her as much as meā¦.. So that is why I am on this website.. I have been following yāall since before we got Pudge and recognize a lot of the āregularsā so I would feel safe handing over my sweet Mags to someone from here.. I am so heartbroken over thisā¦ but I have to think of Maggie, and not myselfā¦ My husband will be mad.. but he can just get over itā¦ I want Maggie to be happy and healthyā¦ And I canāt assure the healthy part by myself..
This is, by far, the hardest thing I have ever had to face in my entire lifeā¦
If there are any of you out there who are within driving distance to the area northwest of Houston Texas, AND can get my sweet baby to a vet asap AND can afford to take care of whatever is wrong with her AND will lover her like their own child.. then she could be yoursā¦ I will check references if I donāt recognize your user name.. Also, I promised my husband and kids that I would not make any ārashā decisionsā¦ but to me, that only means waiting a day or two.. I donāt want to risk Maggieās health because we are emotionally whimpy..
I know that was longā¦ it has taken me 3 hours to type it out (sobbing like a baby the whole time)ā¦ thanks for reading.
I live in Canada, so am not able to help you, or know of anyone in the States, but I just wanted to say to you I am so sorry you are having to go through this, and it must be very hard to make this decision. I can't imagine having to make that choice, but like you if I was in that situation I would do everything in my power to do what was best for my baby. You love her enough to let her go, so she can get the help she needs, and a loving home as well. There are a lot of Rescue and Adoption groups on this site, you can find them in the forums, and contact one in your area to see if they can help foster, and care for Maggie. Sending hugs, love and prayers that you find her a great home, and someone that can help her get the vet treatment she needs. Please keep us posted.
I know you're in the right place for help and I'm sure in one way or another it will work out for Maggie, she's beautiful<3 You're a great mamma for putting Maggie first, thinking of you guys.
Have you considered care credit? (google it.) This way you can act now instead of later, when it may be too late.
to EBN....so sorry to hear about your predicament but I am sure there is a solution coming from somewhere. Care Credit may help with the immediate help needed. Our thoughts will be with you and your baby bully.
