Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let there be snark.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

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Walter

Walter’s Fund In Action!

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We have an update from Lisa at Athenspets, and it’s mostly good news!

In the past 30 days, BJ peeps donated a total of $1898.79 through the thermometer.  Big thanks to all who “bought” the .pdf of the calendar and also to everyone who donated, regardless.  There were some $50 and $100 calendar sales, so thanks to everyone for their generosity. :-)

The shelter has used up its medical funds for the year so they’ll likely have more medical expenses for the next 3 months (though the director plans to keep paying for things, just with us pitching in a little more–the county is still figuring out what is really needed to run the shelter since for years the former director just euthanized animals instead of asking for the money necessary to treat them).

Lisa asked me to let you all know how much they appreciate our support for these special animals.

🧚‍♂️

WHO HAVE WE HELPED?

Sadie!

We paid $1387.69 for an ACL repair surgery for Sadie, a friendly somewhat older pittie who was at the shelter. She actually needed two ACL repair surgeries but the shelter covered one of them. (In the photo, she’s on the left; on the right is her now-brother Nelson who also came from our shelter.)

Van Helsing!

Van Helsing (now Donnie Darko) needed follow up care from his FHO (he was having pain issues), which cost a total of $470.12.

Magnolia Cupcake!

They covered a dental for Magnolia Cupcake, a senior dog with awful teeth (the shelter paid for her heartworm treatment), which cost $965.64. (On the right in her photo; Blue, on the left, was also a medical case when he came in to the shelter.)

🧚‍♀️

Sadie, Van Helsig (now Donnie Darko) and Magnolia have since been adopted!

After all that there is still $3,501.08 in the fund!

🧚‍♂️

Remi!

They also have a 10 week old puppy (Remi) who had a septic joint (I don’t know the cause) and needed an amputation – not sure of the exact cost yet but it will be ~$500. She’s currently recovering from her surgery, then a local rescue group plans to take her.

Update on  Cindy Lou!

Her tumor is not cancerous, but will regrow unfortunately. She’s at the shelter currently and they’re focusing on finding her a home to be in–she’s an active girl and sitting in a kennel is not good for her.  They are really hoping to find something for her soon. :-(

🧚‍♂️

After Remi is taken care of, there will be about $3,000 left in Walter’s Fund, which is where we like to be so they have options when a special case comes up.  So we’re not asking for donations at this time, but I know at least one of you generous peeps will ask for the thermometer, so I am including it.

🧚‍♂️

Oh, and no Walter’s Fund post would be the same without Walter (and Ellie).

Walter's Fund in Action! 2

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RIP, Walter

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Some sad news from Debit:

Today I made the appointment to have Walter put to sleep. He’s been increasingly unsteady and slower to get up and move around. My vet upped the dosage on his current pain meds, but it was clear that Walter’s pain was not significantly eased. But he was still happy, still wagging his tail, still getting around okay.

Yesterday when I came home from work, Walter ate his dinner, but with no enthusiasm. When he walked it was slow and halting. I added another half dose to his meds and hoped it was just a muscle twinge, but this morning he had less of a walk and more of a hobble. He ate his breakfast, but slowly and had to sit down midway through it. When he finished, he walked up to me with his tail tucked between his legs and his head down. And so I decided it was time.

The vet will be here around 1:00. Until then, I’m giving him love and treats if he wants them. When it’s time, he’ll go to sleep with his head on my lap and being told he’s a good dog.

I know you’re on vacation and honestly debated about whether or not to send you this. I hope you won’t let this ruin your time with your lady friend. Obviously I’m sad (currently ugly crying as I type) but I knew this was coming and am honestly relieved that Walter will have an end to his pain.

He’s been such a joy to have in my life. Thank you for rescuing him and then trusting me with his care. I wish I could have given him more time.

Here is my absolute favorite picture of Walter:

That toofy smile kills me. He was a good boy, hit a rough patch for a couple months, but had a great ending. A lucky dog, and I think we were all lucky for having met him. Thanks Debit for giving him such a great ending.

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Walter Update

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I was actually in bed and realized if I did not post this I would have hell to pay. From the other day:

So, Walter had his evaluation for the clinical trial I’d mentioned. He was not a good candidate, since he has issues in basically all of his joints and this trial only treats one. The good news is that he’s an excellent candidate for the stem cell trial, which will treat multiple joints. The even better news is that even if he winds up in the placebo group, at the end of the trial he’ll get the same treatment as the control group. I can also keep him on the Rimadyl, so yay.

Before the trial starts he’ll get a full work up; blood, x-rays of his hips, elbows and knees, etc. Today they diagnosed him with a moderate case of laryngeal paralysis. It’s not a super huge thing, but it was another reason he was not a good candidate for the injections trial, as that required anesthesia and laryngeal paralysis complicates matters. It also explains the excessive panting and his lack of barking. It won’t be an issue this winter, but next summer he’ll have to be kept cool and quiet so he doesn’t overheat. They also kind of want to poke the tumors and biopsy them. The vet in charge examined him and afterward looked him in the eyes and said, “Is there anything normal about you?” Walter wagged his tail.

He had stress shedding, and an increasingly pungent odor about him that I also attribute to stress (like a wet dog rolled around in popcorn). It’s a good thing I have an appointment with the groomer on Saturday, as I’m pretty sure my dinner guests on Sunday won’t find his particular fragrance an enhancement to their appetite.

And from today:

Took Walter to the groomer and he got a bath to get rid of the aforementioned order. His coat, despite some bare patches, actually looks really thick and glossy where it’s fullest, so I have hopes it will fill in nicely.

I’m scheduling him with a canine massage therapist. She specializes in sporting and agility dogs, but also works with a lot of geriatric dogs, so I think she’ll be a really good fit for Walter.
He’s making it up the stairs every night now, and sacks out on one of his orthopedic beds next to mine. I’ve caught Julian sleeping next to him, but I’m never fast enough with my phone to get a picture.

In short, he’s doing good. He’s on track for the stem cell trial, is getting bloodwork done this weekend to make sure the Rimadyl isn’t fucking him up, and will probably get a full body massage twice a month.

I don’t get a full body massage twice a month, the lucky bastard.

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Walter after a Week

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walteroneweekatdebit

It’s hard to believe I found Walter just a month ago and he has already been in his forever home for a week, but time flies, I guess. Debit passes on the following:

I have discovered that:

He does not eat cat vomit. I know this because my daughter did not want to lower herself to clean up a fresh pile and called him over. “Knock yourself out, buddy!” she said. He sniffed, raised a dubious eyebrow and then walked away.

He will eat his fish oil gel caps like they are dog treats. I’ve been giving them to both dogs mixed in with their breakfast. Ellie normally just wolfs them down with her food, but sometimes she discovers one, rolls it around in her mouth with a thoughtful look on her face, and then goes “ptui.” Walter snaps it up off the floor and then snuffles around for more.

He does not house soil. For the first couple of nights I had him gated in the kitchen with a pet bed, but once it became clear that he was not having bladder/bowel control issues he’s been given free roam of the house. He’s a very, very good boy and will come up and snuffle at me if he needs to go outside.

He found his voice about four days after he came here. He barks to be let in if I don’t hang out with him in the yard. If he’s outside and someone walks by, or pulls into our driveway, they get a volley of barks, letting them know There is a Dog and This is His Yard. Naturally, once they come in the yard he is all wags and nudges for petting.

However, he is also very protective. He can’t make it up the stairs to my room. Except for when we’ve had service people in that needed to go upstairs. Then he follows us up the stairs and sticks by me.

He’s moving so much better. I credit your rehab program: lots of good food, gentle exercise and plenty of love. His muscle tone is improving, as his is energy level. He’ll trot around the backyard with his tail up and he’s always up for a walk in the park with Ellie.

After one week, it seems as if he’s always been here. The cats treat him like they do Ellie; someone to rub up against and hang out with. I’ve yet to witness them sharing a pet bed, but I know it will happen once winter sets in.

My vet said the bare patches on Walter’s elbows are most likely from his having to sleep on bare dirt or concrete. The hair might grow back, it might not. When I bought this house, I’d planned on pulling up the carpet since the hardwood underneath in in great shape. But for now I’m going to leave it. It’s less pleasing aesthetically, but it makes me happy to know that Walter can lie down almost anywhere in the house and it will be soft.

Here’s a video of him rolling in the grass.

And by request, him barking, because I had never really heard it:

He looks really noble and wise in the picture up top. Also, I have the letter from my vet and spoke with the Sheriff, and we will be pursuing animal abuse charges starting on Tuesday.

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Fuck Trump. Here’s a Video of Walter Going on a Walk With Ellie (and Debit, of course)

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Debit passes along these updates:

1.

Quick Walter update before I head out to work: he’s doing great. He’s just a happy guy who likes to eat, sleep and get scritches. His mobility seems to be better and (fingers crossed) he’s scratching less at his ear, so hopefully the meds are working. This morning he barked at the back door to be let in from his potty break, a perfectly Walter-ish bark; deep and gruff, just like his namesake.

I’ll try to get some video of him moving so you can tell me if there’s an improvement.

2.

One more bit of news. I was checking out the U of M’s vet clinic physical therapy options and saw they had some clinical trials going on. Walter is scheduled for an evaluation appointment with this one: http://www.vetmed.umn.edu/centers-programs/clinical-investigation-center/current-clinical-trials/steps-study-effectiveness-and-safety-ia-injection-osteoarthritis-dogs on September 15th. If he’s not a good candidate for it, or if he does poorly off the Rimadyl, there is another trial coming up for stem cell injection that allows Rimadyl. Either way, he gets the full medical work up, xrays and evaluation that he would need before he would start the physical therapy anyway.

She sent me those this morning, and I called her around noonish and told her basically that she’s not going to get away with text only updates because I’ll have a damned riot on my hand and poor Anne Laurie and Betty Cracker clean up enough of my damned messes as it is. This showed up a little bit ago.

I can tell you he is walking about 300% better than he was when I got him, and better even than when he left here just the other day.

Fuck Trump. Here’s a Video of Walter Going on a Walk With Ellie (and Debit, of course)Post + Comments (80)