Mr Beebs son Sydney is very ill

I had just lost Beebs in July and a month later found out that Sydney had cancer and cardio myopathy. We have been on a tread mill of surgery and meds ever since and the questioin is what will end his life first. His heart or return of the thyroid carcinoma? I was so shocked by this news I started having my own chest pains. The cardiologist told me he has from 3-6 months to a year at the top end. I had so hoped to make up for all the time lost with a handicapped Mr Beebs and make it up to Sydney...

Last night I made a duck and he and my husband ate it.He gets liver, heart, beef, ice cream cones..afterall what I waiting for? He already has a heart condition and cancer floating around his body.We go for slow walks and he sets the pace.Rides in the car.I wish I didn't know what I know because everyday I look at him and wonder when is his heart going to stop. Its why I haven't written in so long...because I miss Mr Beebs so much and know Sydney will be joining him soon. I've revolved my life around those 2 boys and don't know what I'm going to do with myself when they are both gone.

Mr Beebs May 18 1997- July 19 2009

When I am able to grasp the enormity of this loss I will write the tribute my boy deserves.Until then I take every day moment by moment as every thing around here reminds me of the Beebers. I won't wash his bedding or toys...and poor Sydney is lost without him. He scans the horizon for his Dad as we walk in the park. Maybe if we are lucky he really does see him.I hope so and deep inside I know he's okay and there is peace in that place. In time

the pain will be replaced with the joy he created in our lives.This picture was taken on our last camping adventure one week before he passed away. My angel

The fun never stops on Pawson Rd

Mr Beebs will NOT use the new wheel chair in fact he bit at it which really upset me. The owner of the company actually came by and we tried a dozen different techniques and to no avail. The stump continually slides out and it must be painful for Beebs. At this point I figure I can carry him around the house and yard but my husband comes with me to the park and we both take an end of the towel and walk him at his pace while he sniffs. He seems to like the company and the assistance and is a happy clam as usual. I now have 2 $500. wheel chairs which i would be willing to loan to anyone who has a dog that would use them. Maybe I could put a flyer up at the animal hospitals around and perhaps someones dog will benefit. He is a willful dog and I get the feeling he feels trapped in the cart and is uncomfortable because of the stump/end of the bone being under pressure. I was in tears about this last week but realized I have done all I can do and that in the end he like myself will depart this world. I feel at peace now..I'm going to play it out until he gives me the "I'm ready" sign. As of now he eats like a horse and still gives off such a strong alpha male vibe that big and small dogs alike cower when he makes even a peep! The other day in the park a little Hungarian dog pounced on him and when he let out a rumble the dog rolled over on her back and licked his jowls! Even as a cripple he still has the authority thing all over em. Sydney had 6 teeth pulled and no I must brush his teeth every night...give them anti biotics, deramax, tramadol....Like I say the fun never stops around here and I am developing very powerful arms and shoulder muscles!

We cancelled our sailing trip up to Province town Mass. and instead rented a motor home so we could travel up to Maine and take the pups with us. I'm actually excited to go and have my babies with me to look after. It may be Mr Beebs last vacation with us so I'm going to make it a great one!

Pressure sore developing?

Well Mr Beebs can't be lifted 100% of the time and being the willful gladiator that he is, drags himself around on his stump. This is not good as it has worn away a bit of hair the size of a quarter and after researching bed sores and pressure wounds this soft spot could become infected very easily. Apparently bed sores are what killed Christopher Reed so they are not to be taken lightly. I've been blotting the spot with an antiseptic and neopsorene on a daily basis. The difficulty is the stairs all over our house which makes hie wheel chair dangerous to use. There are times I just feel like I'm throwing my heart against the wall. This battle has raged for 3 solid years and the surgeon responsible for this is being investigated by the Ct Board of Health. However the board or peers that reviews these cases must be on a volunteer basis so that it could never be said that they were "paid" to come to any particular conclusion. Mr Beebs and I have come along way together and when the time comes to say goodbye I believe a part of me will die with him and a part of him will inspire me for the rest of my life.

Mr Beebs is handicapped but has new wheels!

Well I always knew that amputating his back leg would put enormous strain on the existing leg over time. Well it has finally given out and he can no longer support himself on it anymore. He is truly crippled in that he can only "drag" himself from here to there and it is painful to watch. I've been thinking and praying about him it seems like forever and have wondered is it time to let him go. Sadly he is full of life and joy which makes a decision like that really difficult. He doesn't want to go anywhere and continues to eat and play with his toys and Sydney and I. What I did do is scrap the eddies Wheels i bought him because it was forcing his centered back leg into a forced position and Beebs would not take one step in it even as a crippled dog. So...I drove up to New Hampshire with my Dad and Beebs and went to Walkin Wheels which is a softer gentler version of a dog cart. Once he got in the cart he literally kept walking around and around the parking lot. I brought it home with us and we are in training because he needs to get moving again and I need to fine tune the fit so that it doesn't hurt his groin. The last 3 years have been one big steep learning curve and were still going! He is back in the park and grinning because he can move better than he has in several years I would imagine. he has run over my foot with his cart and of course rigging it means lifting his back end up and into the neoprene sling so that I can fasten it to the frame. he is 92 pounds so this has caused me to pinch several nerves in my shoulders which make my hands go numb from time to time. Other than that we are still pursuing our case against the Dr who started this incredible hardship with the CT Board of Health. That is a whole other banana which I have let take a back seat to making beebs and Sydney happy and healthy. Tim and I had planned a sailing adventure this summer but with Beebs new condition thought better of leaving him with someone other than us. So...we have rented a motor home and will take both dogs on vacation up to the down east coast of Maine and into Canada. It will be wonderful and I'll be able to take care of them and have fun at the same time. It all worked out and we can sail some other time. I feel confident that these new wheels will bring a quality of life to Mr Beebs which he certainly deserves and it will make our family more normal once again. The people at Walkin Wheels/Handicapped pets are warm, supportive and competent.The owner himself help to fit Beebs the day we were there. He kept saying "I just want the dog to be comfortable". I'd highly recommend their product as it is adjustable and well designed. Hats off to Walking Wheels! I'll be sure to take a photo I can post of The beebers in his new gig creating as always more attention and inspiration from everyone who meets him.

Breaking News!!!!

On the front page of Today's New Haven Register News Paper is an article about the upcoming law suit filed against Melvin Pond and Central Animal Hospital! Apparently their careless behavior killed another veterinarians dog who basically drowned to death and had a sponge left in its abdomen. I am more than willing to help this case as I have the Connecticut Board of Health investigating Dr pond as of DEC 2008. I am so happy to know that justice will be served and that these deeds will go punished as they should this is a banner day for me and the Beebs. I will try and contact the attorney representing the plaintiff in the case. Please go to the papers web sight and read the article...it was only a matter of time when this would happen.
These are the very same culprits in Mr Beebs demise and if they feel anywhere near the anguish , heart ache and pain we have felt in these last 3 years it would be a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. I will cheer the day justice is served.

Not great lately

Poor old Beebs is having alot of trouble with his back end these days. he can hardly maneuver to poop or pee and is very unstable. i have taken him for acupuncture and chiro recently and hope it will help him. He is still very alert and eats and plays with his toys. Its very upsetting to see him struggle to move around. I was afraid that back leg would be brutalized after the amputation and I was unfortunately correct. That was why i had held off on the amputation for so long. If he can't stand himself at 90 pounds and will not use his wheel chair.....
I'm praying the treatments put life and energy back into his hind quarters I dread with all my heart what may come if I can't. He is still so happy and vibrant....he wants to live.

Back on Anti biotics

Oh well here we go again. Mr Beebs has had a difficult time walking once again and Sydney has taken to sniffing his penis which has always indicated something going on in that region.The vet says prostate infections can be chronic and given scar tissue in which to hide very difficult or impossible to kill. So back on cephalexin....a moderate to low dose enough to remove any pain he is experiencing from that infected gland.When Sydney stops drawing my attention to the area I will know its at bay. My dog Sydney with his awesome ability at sniffing out trouble is my best diagnostician! He has sniffed out numerous problems before and has been right on the money.
Besides all that I am busy reading legislative law books and animal advocacy research so I can get my game plan focused. I need to do this before school starts so that I devote the time I need to my studies and getting me that much closer to my political science diploma. I have a good feeling about 2009, in spite of the fact that my sister of 48 years is fighting off liver cancer at the moment. In many ways these tribulations have made me appreciate time and its rapid motion forward even more. We don't get it back so I want to treat every day with purpose. That's my new motto! Make it count Lori!

I feel change in the air...

I'm doing my homework for my beautiful dogs and everyone elses in Ct. No pet should have to be put down because there has been negligence, complications, or any other disaster that is no fault of the pet or its guardian I was just reading a case in CT in which these poor people had their vet work on an enormous hernia on their dog.The vet was not well versed in this procedure and the dog began swelling and the vet dismissed this as a natural occurance.The issue went on and on and the vet couldn't admit they were over their head basically.In the end after the owners begged to have the vet do something the dog went into shock and had to be put down.The vet had sliced into a vascular area and the dog literally internally bled to death. The CT AVMA suspended the vets license and the vet had to pay them $1000 in a fine. In the meantime the people who loved that dog payed all kinds of fee's to save their dog from this vets surgery and what they got is an I'm sorry. Tell their hearts that....
How can this be reasonable in this day and age? I was stunned reading the report and realized just what I am up against.'The cake and eat it too crowd."Not all vets by any stretch...because my personal vets saved my dog and I would do nothing to harm them or any other decent practitioner. However I can't help but see the injustice in taking the best care you can of your companion and yet the practitioner shares virtually no responsibility when they injure or bring about the death of your pet, leaving you and your family sobbing and asking why? No one sobs over the loss or damage to a table or chair ...maybe some do...but I suspect most see these beautiful creatures (our pets) as a blessing in our lives, no less than a family member. A being present in all our holiday photographs...after all we name them, we celebrate every new moment in our lives with them.Good or bad. How can it be that they share the same worth as a table or chair? Maybe for some...a very , very small percentage of people, but by and large the people I have come to know here at home and the nice people that continue to ask about Mr Beebs from states far and wide years after this disaster started. Ilove my dogs...and the law in 2009 does not reflect that reality.I am not alone .Todays animal law is a misplaced reality that must evolve if it is to measure who we trully are in 2009.
My dogs are not less...they are just different.