Honey Update!!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Honey is in the most capable and and loving arms of Dr. Beam and his staff in Alvarado, Texas.  I spent some time with her before his staff took her in the back.  They explained she would have her surgery by Friday or Monday at the latest.  She then will begin a grueling and painful, for the first several weeks, 4-8 week rehabilitation.  Dr. Beam's assistant explained that because she is young it will probably be no more than 6 weeks and may be even quicker.  That is good news.

Before I departed his office to start back to Savannah I asked if I could see her again.  They took me back through their incredible facility to their kennels.  She was standing there in her large kennel with her favorite sleeping rug and her toys, but looking forlorn and confused.  I sat with her and held her through the kennel while she licked my ears, also known as Doodle Kisses.  I promised I would come back for her soon.  I then left.  It was not a good.....for me.

After regaining my composure I headed toward Savannah making it to Minden, LA before stopping for the night.  Tomorrow early evening I will make it back home. All-in-all I will log about 2800 miles.  Well worth it to me...and Joyce. 

Please keep in mind this was a DRC family effort.  We all participated whether it be making flight arrangements, the vets devoting their time and resources, her fosters, her transportation, those who donated for her surgery or the many who gave morale support to the latter.  As Jacquie commented today, we, DRC, are a family and a family can do awesome things together.

OK...time to get some rest and hit the road again tomorrow.  Thank y'all for everything EVERYONE has done.

Nite.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So excited for all of you! Travel safely! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Safe, speedy journey. What a lucky doodle she is. She will be so happy to meet the rest of the crew.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Congratulation Guinness and Roscoe! You're going to love your little sister!

[Janice Jones]

Happy days and safe travels. Thanks you for being so kind and caring! You make the world a better place to live in!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

wishing you safe journeys and a happy reunion. We are all singing along with you :)

[BG and Gavin]

YAY!  Have a good trip!

[DJ & Chance]

Safe travels!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Wishing you a safe trip!

[Adrienne]

Safe travels!!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Safe travels...excited for Hobey...to have such wonderful forever parents

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I love this story❤

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Made it safely to the Cane 9 Creek RV Park in Heflin, AL.  We try not to drive more than 5 hours a day with several breaks in between.  The trip up I-16 and I-75 was without incident, but as we got close to Atlanta the traffic got heavy and crazy.  Don't quite understand why folks feel it necessary to drive in excess of 80-90 MPH on a crowded road. Regardless, and without fail, to compound the tension it began to rain and continued until we cleared Atlanta and started west on I-20.  Since we have been doing this for years and, recently, for 18 months full-time in 2011-2012, we know not to exceed 60 MPH.  Not safe and we demand safety.  Our Doodles even have seat belts/harnesses.

Tomorrow is another long day, but we are used to those.  Clinton, MS will be our next stop before we land in Kilgore, Texas.  This is where we will park for several days while we collect Honey from Dr. Beam's Alvarado, Texas Veterinary Clinic/Hospital. We will acclimate her to our pack and proceed to Pensacola, Florida for several weeks for some swimming therapy.

We are excited, yet apprehensive. Our RV and home are not at all huge and with three doodles one can only guess what the results will be. The yard at home, however, will be her Doodle Romp center.  Although the house is small, the yard is large and entirely fenced in.  She will have the run of the place, always supervised of course as both Rosco and Guinness are, and she can get lost in her own corner if need be.  

Made it safely to the Cane 9 Creek RV Park in Heflin, AL.  We try not to drive more than 5 hours a day with several breaks in between.  The trip up I-16 and I-75 was without incident, but as we got close to Atlanta the traffic got heavy and crazy.  Don't quite understand why folks feel it necessary to drive in excess of 80-90 MPH on a crowded road. Regardless, and without fail, to compound the tension it began to rain and continued until we cleared Atlanta and started west on I-20.  Since we have been doing this for years and, recently, for 18 months full-time in 2011-2012, we know not to exceed 60 MPH.  Not safe and we demand safety.  Our Doodles even have seat belts/harnesses.

Tomorrow is another long day, but we are used to those.  Clinton, MS will be our next stop before we land in Kilgore, Texas.  This is where we will park for several days while we collect Honey from Dr. Beam's Alvarado, Texas Veterinary Clinic/Hospital. We will acclimate her to our pack and proceed to Pensacola, Florida for several weeks for some swimming therapy.

We are excited, yet apprehensive. Our RV and home are not at all huge and with three doodles one can only guess what the results will be. The yard at home, however, will be her Doodle Romp center.  Although the house is small, the yard is large and entirely fenced in.  She will have the run of the place, always supervised of course as both Rosco and Guinness are, and she can get lost in her own corner if need be.     

Stay tuned for we may be able to get some live feed of our meeting.  More to come.  Nite.