While perusing the craigslist ads (As I do when I'm bored), I found this plea for help:
I figured I could post it here and send her the link if anyone had any suggestions on how to help. So, THIS IS NOT ME, just trying to help someone out.
http://wichita.craigslist.org/pet/1756237901.html"It is with a heavy heart that I place this post. I have decided to try to find a good home for my black Standard Poodle.
Jack is about 4 years old, not neutered, and is current on his rabies
shot. I did not buy his papers, because we just wanted him for a pet.
He is perfectly housebroken, although he is not above checking out the
trash can for something interesting, and counter surfing is like an
Olympic sport for him. He loves to go for car rides, and will sit up
regally, and never budge. He is shy, but warms up. He ignores kids,
loves other dogs, and chases cats that won't stand up to him. (We have
one that he torments, and one that he wouldn't dare mess with.) He is
gentle natured, and is happy to spend his day lounging on the couch.
He's a total couch potato.
So why are we parting with Jack? His ears. We have fought his ears for
2 years now--the whole time we have had him. We have tried everything.
We have had him to two different vets. We have had him on antibiotics,
swimmer's ear medicine, peroxide treatments, vinegar solutions, ear
mite medicine--everything we could think of, read about, or had
suggested. We have changed his dog food, at the recommendation of
several people who posted here in response to my request for advice
about 2 months ago. We were hoping it was something as simple as a food
allergy, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Most recently, I have been taking him to the groomer each week to have
his ears professionally cleaned and medicated. By the time I take him
the next week, his ears are full of blood again. She thinks it might be
genetic, or that he might need some very expensive testing done to find
out the root of the problem. We are at the end. We've had some life
changing events in our family in the last couple of months, and this is
more than I can do.
His ears smell horrible. He whines if you bump his ears. He is in
pain. We are to the point that Jack has had enough. We are unable to
cure this problem, so I wish to either find someone who is
knowledgeable about ear problems in poodles and can help him, or I am
going to have him put to sleep so he is no longer suffering with this.
I tried unsuccessfully to contact his breeder shortly after we got him,
but she will not return emails. The groomer believes the breeder is
avoiding us, thinking that we want our money back because she didn't
disclose his ear problems. I don't know. I just know that this has gone
on long enough.
I am not trying to make money off Jack. I just want him to go to a
great home with someone who is more capable of giving him the care he
needs. He really is a great dog. I will not let him go to just anyone.
I am hesitant to give him away for free, because I don't want someone
to just take him without thinking things through, and not giving him
the care that he needs. For this reason, I am requiring a donation to
the Humane Society, the zoo, or other animal charity of your choice, in
a check form, that I will mail in to be sure it is carried through.
For more information, feel free to email the anonymized CL link. Thanks for reading.
"