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Huckleberry ("Huck")
Oh Boy ... this is very hard.. Hi My name is Renee and I have a beautiful
Rhodesian Ridgeback boy named Huckleberry, he came here from Texas
when he was 8 weeks old and is now 9 months old and lives with us on our ranch
in Visalia, Ca. He got hit by a car on August 2, 2005.
He is home now but his leg is badly broken and his nerve in his leg
may or may not be damaged. I am so tired and feel like I have also been run over
by a truck :) I am 99% sure he will lose his leg... I am devastated...
I am so grateful for this site and the stories of the people about their sweet dogs.
I am comforted to know Huck will have others like him. It's both a terror and kind of
cool he may have only three legs. I am still in shock about this and have a hard road ahead
with Huck. He is young and strong and I feel will be able to adapt. I will send pictures
of him after he has the surgery but here he is a few days ago, playing as usual, with his
big dogs toys :) Thanks for the site and a place to fall.
Blessings,
Renee & Huck
Friday August 5, 2005
Update:
Cynthia~ Thanks for the sympathy, I am sure you are the only one I've talked to about this
who can truly relate just now. No, the driver didn't stop and our neighbor saw him get hit
and he saw the truck that hit him speed away. It was all my fault for not getting him in his
yard in time and leaving him out just a little longer than usual. We live out in the country
on a 30 acre walnut ranch. I am only comforted by the fact that I could save his life,
as expensive as it was and is going to be OK, it is the very least I can do to help him
keep his life. We have gone through puppy class at PetSmart and he is a great student,
he is still such a puppy, he hasn't even learned to lift his leg to pee :) So sweet...
He was hit just after stepping onto the road, in his right front shoulder, the vet said
he may or may not have permanently damaged his nerve that wraps around his upper arm, but he
did shear off his arm at the growth plate in his shoulder but the leg is intact but hangs dead
and he has a compound fracture in his forearm as well. It could be repaired but the nerve
may not heal and then after the costly ($3000 or more) surgery it still may not heal and he
would in time chew off the leg ... yuck ... it sickens me to think about going forward with this
but I am taking it one step at a time, I was considering checking around to other vets for
second opinions but I don't know.... the emergency vet said the same thing as my regular vet so....
And he has no other injuries and is now at home with us and doing well, it was hard to get him
to pee and he had to learn how on three legs but he was so cute, he figured out that by getting
to the fence if he leaned his head against it he could have more balance to pee and then he was
ready to go back and lay down to rest. He is adjusting.... and I guess I am too.
We go back to vet this morning for another pain patch, which are absolutely the greatest things,
because he has had no pain! I am so grateful for that. I will keep you updated and thank you
for the email...It helps to process my thoughts and keep a perspective. A million thanks
and I would love to hear about your girl Cassie some more...
Take care and God Bless, Renee & Huck
Saturday August 6, 2005
Update:
Hi~ Huck had his amputation today at 12:00 and had a little trouble but is doing great now....
The vet tech told me that everything went great until they were all closed up and they saw
a pulsing and knew it was bleeding inside so they opened him back up and fixed it and he is
doing great. He may even come home tomorrow! I will let you know,
Renee
Thursday August 11, 2005
Update:
Cynthia~ You are a very kind person...If you had told me about any of those things
before I would probably not have been able to sleep, you have helped me to feel better
about this absolute horror! I know that they don't have an emotional attachment
to their limbs like we do but that's just it WE DO! I have had to get my mind around the fact
that dogs don't see the world like we do and I am soooo glad for that!
I am saddened by the thought of people looking at him and thinking he should have been
put out of his misery, which is what a few people (Older) said should have been done.
This infuriates me... If my son had a leg amputated they wouldn't think of ending his life,
and my animals are my responsibility and my children with more legs :)
Cynthia, I am so grateful to you I hope you realize (I am crying now) just what an extreme
blessing God has called you to be for us who have to face this horror with our beloved pets
in a world that can be so dismissive to human suffering let alone the cruelty inflicted
on the pet population in our world. I am asking God to continue to give you strength
and compassion and empathy for people in the situation of feeling so desperately saddened
and scared for their pets. You do such a great service in enlightening and coming alongside
those who have endured such tragedy, please don't ever stop. I sent some money to the owners
of Faith...that story touched me most of all and I have learned and commiserated with all
of them on your and Cassie's site. Cassie is such a sweet looking dog and I am sure you
have been loved by her beyond measure. I am very excited to get Huck home and help him
heal and get back to his carefree happy guy self. I would love for Huck to be on your site.
Thanks a million and I will get pix to you as soon as he gets home.
Friday August 12, 2005
Update:
Cynthia~ The vet told me about every detail and that's good and eww...
He said he likes to leave as much muscle as possible in case atrophy develops
and its going to shrink a lot sooo...yes he has a big lub of a shoulder and he was
ready to go at the vet's and they went to get him out of his pen and he had licked open
his stitches soooo that's why the collar. I take it off when I feed him and take him out
to potty and socialize. In these pictures he just came in from his morning outside
and he was tuckered out, but its so cool how he has adjusted to this point, he couldn't stand
for very long without giving out and laying down, today is the first day he went out
and did his thing and then came in and crashed. I am so glad he is a happy guy when he is
outside, I can tell he is very happy to be back home and go to his usual spots in the yard
to potty and check things out. He did the cutest thing today he actually was standing up
outside and scratched his collar with his hind foot and didn't get off balance, I am impressed
and I told him so :) I am curious to see if he will ever pee and lift his leg...
as for now he has a very low squat :) Oh itching... yay... I didn't think about that,
he will really itch when its healing I bet... That collar isn't going away for awhile...
Anyway Thanks so, so much for checking on him, you are very kind :) I look forward to seeing
his picture and story on the site, when can I see it? And tell my friends and family to look?
Talk soon, Ren
Here is Huck and his buddies, Rescue dog and Pickle (the pillow) taking a nap. :)
Sunday August 14, 2005
Update:
Cynthia~ Thanks loads for the site space... I am thrilled that Huck has his own section
and is in great company :) I forgot to tell you about the cost...I was quoted $400-$500
from this last vet to amputate, eveyone else was $800 and up, anyway I came prepared for it
and he only charged me $300 for the whole bill! 3 days' hospital care included... I am so blessed!
Huck is doing well and just a little draining...dripping actually from the wound.. I keep it clean
with anti bacterial wipes and will call the vet tomorrow and see about putting neosporin on it...
or something, he would like to start scratching but I keep him still... I am glad that means
it's healing :) Thanks for the kindness and Huck's story told, Ren and Huck :)
Sunday August 14, 2005
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