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.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Sweet Doodle dreams, Honey! 

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

She is so beautiful,,and looks so peaceful! Glad to hear she is fitting in with the boys!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

She looks exhausted but peaceful thanks to the love you guys are giving her.  Happy to hear she is fitting in so well.   What a doll!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Well, it's been trial and error with Honey's rehab. She gets tired very fast in the high heat and humidity here in Pensacola so we are taking it very slow. Also, her hind quarters are so atrophied from her genetic condition acquired at birth that she still cannot do a lot of things she should. But, this will pass for we have the time, patience and love for this little girl to make sure she gets the care she needs so she can run and play with the best, namely, our Guinness and Rosco. :)

The past few days have been, mainly, walks and short swims in the Gulf and it has really exhausted her. Since we will be moving on in several days, she will be in a down mode. As I type (it's 11:10AM CST) she is soundly sleeping on the sofa next to me. Needless to say, the rest of us, including Guinness and Rosco, are quite run down, too. All are in down mode at the moment.

Her rehab in the Gulf improved with advice from some posters on several different sites regard life vests. We did get one for her and Rosco and she immediately lost her fear of the water, but overdid it with respects to her limited abilities.

Guinness and Rosco have been a bit slow to understand what is going on. We expected it of Guinness for he is, solely, a people doodle. Rosco, however, surprised us with his attitude early on. They both know she is ill in some way and that she is a puppy so they kind of avoided her. That coupled with they have been the only two in their domain for three years made it a slow warm up period. It is going slow, but it is going. Rosco has been the first to get close to her. Last night he laid next to her and put his head on her. Good start. 

Our time here is almost over. Wednesday we move on to Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, FL. There is a doggie friendly beach there, also, where Honey will continue rehab. We will stay there a week before moving on to our home base near Savannah. We feel so blessed with Honey.

 

 

[Christine & Shelby]

Thanks for the update.... I love seeing Honey Updates and hearing how she is doing and how the rest of your pack is adjusting.  Sounds like she is settling in just fine and making steady strides in her recovery!   What a wonderful life this special girl will now have :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

It's always good to hear from you Dane. Thank you for updating us on how Honey is doing. It's sweet to see Rosco cuddling up to her. Good luck with the rehab. We are all rooting for her! 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thank you for the update.  It  gives us a much better appreciation of the steps towards rehabilitation which I find really interesting. You can so clearly see the atrophy in your second picture :( Not surprised that she's having a harder time in the heat/humidity. I was glad our last heat wave finally broke because Finn was showing signs of stress.  He just does not take the heat well and even with air conditioning, I had to put fans around the house, give him ice,etc.

Your first and last photos are just precious! I thought I was done with happy tears for Honey, but had to open a new box of kleenex!  God bless!      

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do believe Honey is the one blessed with you. Slow and staedy wins the race. What you are doing is wonderful. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I so agree....you said it perfectly F!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

These are the sweetest pictures and thanks so much for updating us.  Just take one day at a time and give yourself some time to sit back and relax too!  Take care of you too Dane!  You are just the best and we all appreciate all the love, care and time you are giving to Honey and your two dogs to adjust to Honey's rehab. 

[DJ & Chance]

One day at a time, the love between the dogs will grow, and Honey will continue to heal.  We are pulling for the entire human and canine family!  Adorable photos.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

My, oh my....what can one say that has not been said already? I do admit when I see an updated post from you...I actually get excited...such a great way to start the day with good news from you!! The entire group effort & story is such a "feel good" episode to read & connect with!! It makes me so happy to know there are such good people in the animal world. In my culture we would call you an Ultimate Menche!!