Shadow and Sadie Update -- UPDATED, 7-4-14

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

UPDATED 7-4-14 -- Kathy and Rick remain totally in love with Shadow and Sadie.  Since my last update Shadow had to have a lump removed from his eye.  I had this checked out at the Vet here before he left and he said it was a Meibomian Gland Adenoma and that it wasn't anything that we needed to worry about unless it grew or started bothering him.  Well, a few weeks ago it grew, apparently overnight.  It was very large and very nasty looking.  They rushed him to the Vet and they made arrangements for Surgery on that Monday.  After the surgery the Vet called Kathy and told her it was much more involved and difficult surgery than she anticipated and that it looked very suspicious so she wanted to be sure to take enough to get as much as absolutely possible in the event it was malignant but also to save the eye.  Long story short, it was a very long, difficult week for Kathy and Rick, but the all clear came on Saturday and everyone celebrated once again.  Shadow did not like the cone, so they spent a lot of time just sitting with him and trying to distract him during 10 days with stitches.  So, finally after several cancelled SPA appointments because of both of their surgeries, this week they finally got to go in for their summer cuts.  So, for now everything and everyone is doing great.  We hope to get up there to see them sometime soon.  Here are some updated pictures.

His eye following surgery

Poor exhausted big boy after his SPA day!

The Princess before her haircut!

The Princess after her spa day!

ORIGINAL POST:

If you recall, Shadow and Sadie were the brother and sister pair that belonged to my neighbors and lived outside, that were recently placed through the DRC.  It has been approximately 5 months since they went to their new home in Columbus.  I speak all the time with their new Aunt Kathy.  Their new Dad has been really sick and most of the care of them has been handled by Kathy.  I now know that they are a family that was just meant to be.  They have been such a comfort for Rick during his healing and Kathy who has been staying at Ricks house for a last few months is just head over heels in love with them.  In the beginning they slept at the back door and they felt they were supposed to be outside.  Now Sadie sleeps with Rick and Shadow usually sleeps in the living room with Kathy.  Shadow is Kathy's boy.  Kathy recently lost over 140 lbs so she sort of relates to Shadows weight issues so they have sort of bonded.  She also felt bad that Shadow just sort of let Sadie rule the roost and have all the attention so she has really brought Shadow out of the background and he now demands his attention time as well.  He is also a toy hoarder and takes all the new toys that come into the house for himself.

The transition has not been without its issues, but I have never seen a more determined family to make sure they can make it work for everyone.  It started with a new fence because Miss Sadie quickly figured out the escape routes from the old fence.  Then there were many tests trying to figure out if there was something related to Shadows weight issues.  Which nothing has been found.  He has also had some diarrhea issues that have not been too pretty, but so far they haven't figured out what is causing that.  We knew that Sadie had a couple of seizures prior to her adoption but sort of thought it was heart worm related.  It has since been determined that it isn't.  She had a couple of really bad ones and the Vet now has her on medication for them.  She has only had one small one since then that wasn't nearly on the scale of the first two.  The thought of her having those out in the back yard alone was just about more than Aunt Kathy (or I) could bear.  She is doing much better and is an attention demanding little girl.  Her coat is absolutely gorgeous.  It is so long right now and they manage to keep her mat free.  Kathy did trim her head and got it a little short, but she looks adorable all the same.  The latest news is they found a very large lump on her rear leg that appeared  seemingly overnight.  The vet removed it last Friday and because it was very hard and very large he wanted to be sure he got clear edges just in case so her had a very large incision.  Then the wait began for the results.  Kathy said she could tell by the Vet's voice on Friday that he was nervous.  However, yesterday the all clear call came and everyone celebrated last night with some new toys. Of course Shadow was hoarding them by the end of the evening.  Shadow is very attached to Sadie and he had a hard time when she was gone at the Vet's.  Rick had to give him lots of extra attention that day.  Shadow also hates being locked in a room when Rick has to leave so he gets the run of the house and does fine.  Sadie has to stay in the Dog room because she tends to chew things up.  Shadow will normally just lay outside of Sadie's door while Rick is gone.  

Rick and Kathy are both just ordinary people living in little small houses.  Kathy still works and Rick is on a disability.  Even with all of the expenses that they have incurred by the illness of both dogs, plus all of the initial expenses with the fence and getting beds and toys and grooming etc., Kathy still asked me for the address to send a year end donation to the DRC.  They are so grateful that they were selected for these dogs.  She reminds me all the time how excited they were to be chosen as their new home.  

I had some doubts initially about how this was going to work out with Shadow being so huge, and there being two of them, but I can honestly say that I have never seen a more devoted family.  It is always so cute because they weren't really familiar with "doodles", they just fell in love with Shadow and Sadie and their story.  So, she is always e-mailing me about these cute little things that they do and I always have to tell her yep, that's a doodle thing!  

Here are the latest pics I've received.  Kathy got a new phone for Christmas so she could send me pictures.  

Shadow hoarding the new toys

Sadies incision from surgery last friday

Sadies gorgeous coat

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so glad to hear news of Sadie and Shadow. They really captured our hearts.  It really sounds like they are in the perfect family for them.   I am sorry about the health problems - both human and dog, but hope the worst is behind them.  Sending doodle hugs and good wishes to all.

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

Thank you for the update. I love these stories, absolutely heartwarming. I also hope for many healthy days in the future for all. Shadow and Sadie finally have the family to love them and for them to love. 

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Thanks for the update. It sure looks like these two found the perfect loving home. I hope they are over any health issues now. I just love the photo of Shadow and the toys!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Such a nice story for these two gorgeous doodles.  Thank you for sharing with us.  

[Kai Stone]

I joined the site because of this update. ;) Kathy's my mother and Rick's my uncle so I get to see them frequently and try to post videos of their progress. They are doing well. Shadow is very possessive of all of the toys and guards them, and even tends to sleep with a toy. He's silly. And Sadie will stare you down until you pay attention to her and even then you are not off the hook, attention hog. ;)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Hi Kai -- welcome to DoodleKisses.  We all thank you so much for loving Shadow and Sadie.  I just went and looked at your website and watched all the videos.  The look so happy and so loved.  The one I loved the most was the one where they were outside and fetching.  What I noticed in this one was that Sadie was fetching as well.  When she was still here and we would go visit she wouldn't leave our side to go fetch.  She just wanted to stay and get attention.  Now it shows that she is getting so much attention and love that she feels secure enough to go and play fetch as well.  Love that.